Carroll F. Johnson, Schools Integrator, Dies at 99

Carroll F. Johnson, an AASA honorary life member who was one of the first superintendents in the United States to voluntarily use busing to integrate an urban school district, died on Oct. 1 in Sarasota, Fla. He was 99.

AASA Executive Director Dan Domenech said: “Dr. Johnson was an AASA member since 1971 and was a regular attendee at our national conferences right up until 2009, when health prevented further attendance. Awarded our Distinguished Service Award in 2005, he was a courageous leader willing to take unpopular stands for the betterment of the lives of students and learning. His legacy is a great, and he will be missed.”

Speaking for the many superintendents who knew and admired Dr. Johnson, Thomas Rogers, superintendent of Nassau County BOCES on Long Island told us, “Dr. Johnson probably influenced literally hundreds of superintendents as mentor, college advisor, search consultant and more. He was president of NYSCOSS about the year I was born. A great man. A life to be celebrated.”

Johnson also is a recipient of the Horace Mann League's Outstanding Educator Award.

A memorial service to celebrate his extraordinary life is set for Saturday, Oct. 20, at 10 a.m., at Plymouth Harbor Chapel, 700 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, Fla. Light refreshments to follow. (The family welcomes friends to share memories and thoughts of Carroll at the service.)

Donations can be made to the following scholarships, important to Johnson: 

1 – Carroll F. Johnson Scholarship Fund:
      Teachers College, Columbia University
      Office of Development
      Box 306, 525 W. 120^th St.
      New York, NY 10027 

2 -- Carroll F. Johnson Scholastic Achievement Dinner
       Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents
       672A Heritage Hills
       Somers, NY 10589

An obituary appeared in The New York Times:  http://goo.gl/Dj9xT.