Today our guest is Dr. Cynthia “Mama J” Johnson - Educator Consultant, Author, and speaker with a message of HOPE. We talk to Dr. Johnson about the vital role of school, family, and community partnerships in education. She emphasizes the need for a new approach to transform our education system from a "village of despair" to a "village of hope." She shares that by fostering intentional partnerships among schools, families, and communities, we can build stronger relationships and create positive change. Dr. Johnson, affectionately known as Mama J, also highlights the importance of involving families in the educational process to improve student outcomes. Learn More About CharacterStrong:  Join us at the 2024 CharacterStrong National Conference Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Attend our next live product preview Visit the CharacterStrong Website Dr. Cynthia "Mama J" Johnson is an educator, speaker, consultant, and author. She began her educational journey in 1987, working in K-12 schools in rural, suburban, and urban environments as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, professional development coordinator, adjunct professor, director of alternative education, and executive director (until June 2024).  Since 1993, Mama J has served as an educational consultant, working with districts across the county.  Her research and work focuses on school connectedness and belongingness, reaching and teaching diverse student populations, effectively educating students who live in poverty, school-family-community partnerships; and disrupting, interrupting, and dismantling barriers to changing student outcomes for marginalized, underserved, and underrepresented youth. Mama J keeps it real, tells it like it is, and lets her light shine wherever she goes.