California Educator

August/September 2022

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T H E R E W A S an educator on stage when the winner of the 2022 Mrs. American pageant was crowned on August 19 in Las Vegas. Elk Grove Education Association member Karen Johnson had a good feeling that she might get to wear the tiara. Johnson earned a spot in the national competition by winning the 2022 Mrs. California American pageant, held in Bakersfield in June. e recently retired second grade teacher is honored to represent educators. "I'm so excited to be competing for Mrs. American," says Johnson, who won the spot in the national pageant on her fifth try. "Finally hear- ing my name called as Mrs. California, I was literally jumping up and down on stage!" e Mrs. American Pageant is a beauty competition similar to Miss America that was established to honor women who are married. " When you're a teacher and you hit a wall, push through it. Whatever your dream is, never give up." — Karen Johnson, Elk Grove Teachers Association e 58-year-old Johnson recently retired after 30 years teaching at nearly every elementary grade level in Elk Grove Unified School District, saying that after a career in education it is "time to chase other dreams." She plans to substitute teach and hopes to enter teacher recruit- ment to share how rewarding it is to be an educator. Johnson's experience competing in pageants goes back to 1985, when she was crowned Miss Black Sacramento. at was the year the Sacramento Kings basketball team moved to the capital city, and Johnson was tapped to sing the National Anthem before a home game at Arco Arena — a performance she repeated for the following 10 seasons. Her students at Robert Fite Elementary School have supported and celebrated Johnson during her journey. Much to the delight of the school community, she arrived at school in her sash and crown on the Monday after winning Mrs. Californian. "Everybody was just thrilled. e kids wanted pictures with me," Johnson says. "It was fun picking them up and taking them around for recess in the sash and crown." Her message to her students that day and beyond: Never give up. It's a mantra that has inspired her as an educator and as a beauty queen. "I had to fail first, but you take those lessons and you learn," Johnson says. "Don't give up. When you're a teacher and you hit a wall, push through it. Whatever your dream is, never give up." Johnson says she represented for educators when she stepped on stage at the Mrs. American pageant. "I carry you in my heart to show a shining example of who teachers are and what we can do," Johnson says. Follow Johnson's Mrs. California American adventure on her Instagram at @karenmeeksjohnson. Karen Johnson at her school a month after winning the 2022 Mrs. California American pageant. Educator Wins State Pageant After 30 years in the classroom, Karen Johnson is chasing other dreams By Julian Peeples 51 A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 C

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