Millennium Magazine_6th Ed

94 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine U pon her undergraduate graduation, Yvonne A. Johnson struggled with what career path she wanted to pursue, and in the meantime, worked on her father’s farm. When a vacancy arose at a rural school close by, her mother encouraged her to apply as she could possibly take a liking to the work. To her surprise, Ms. Johnson found herself deeply loving teaching, and she has continued to work in the field since 1951. Ms. Johnson received a BS in education from the Northern Illinois State Teachers College in 1951 and an MS in education from Northern Illinois University in 1960. She also holds an honorary PhD from Sycamore Community Unit School District from 2008. In 1951, she took on her first teaching role at the Love Rural School before heading to teach at West Elementary School in Sycamore, Illinois. She taught in Sycamore until 2002, and has since been a coordinator at the Media Center West School. Notably, the Brookfield Zoo Encounters named the Australian area after Ms. Johnson in 2015, and the College Science Wing was named in her honor in 2014. In 2006, she was the recipient of the Clifford Danielson Outstanding SycamoreCitizenAward, and in 1993, shewas namedOutstandingAgricultural Teacher in the Classroom by the DeKalb County Farm Bureau. Similarly, in 1971, Ms. Johnson was named a DeKalb County Conservation Teacher. Looking back on her fulfilling career, despite being granted numerous awards and recognitions, Ms. Johnson is most proud of her time as president of the Sycamore Public Library Board from 1984 to 1998. During that time, she was part of the process in restoring part of the library and building its addition. Today, the building is worth more than $3 million. Ms. Johnson is a member of the National Education Association, National Science Teachers Association, Illinois Science Teachers Association, Illinois Education Association, Sycamore Education Foundation and the Council for Elementary Science International. She is also a board member of the Service Agency and a volunteer with KishHealth Systems Northwestern Medicine. In her free time, she enjoys gardening and crafting. YVONNE A. JOHNSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EDUCATOR Media Center West School Sycamore, IL EDUCATION