Ms. Yvonne Johnson
Email: wyjohnso@mpsaz.org
Phone: 480-472-4459
Biography
I have been teaching at Westwood since 1987. I was hired by then Principal Jack Joyce to teach Yearbook and English, upon the retirement of John Donovan, who had done the book for 20 years! The next year John retired completely from teaching and I also took over Newspaper. This is my 23rd year advising the yearbook, and 22nd advising the newspaper.
I currently teach Yearbook, Journalistic Writing (formerly Newslab), Journalism, and a brand new class, Introduction to Digital Publications; but I have also taught World Mythology, Principles of English II and Sophomore English while I have been here.
A graduate of Thatcher High School (in southeastern Arizona), I also graduated from Eastern Arizona College and Brigham Young University. At EAC I played volleyball a year (EAC took the national junior college volleyball championship that year) and was editor of the school newspaper, The Gila Monster. At BYU I was also Managing Editor of the BYU Daily Universe.
Following my graduation in 1978 I worked for two newspapers as a reporter and editor, the Idaho Falls Post-Gazette and then, returning to Arizona, the Phoenix Gazette.
Wanting to teach, I returned to ASU to become certified. I then moved back to Thatcher, where I taught at a small local school, Fort Thomas Junior-Senior High School, where I was librarian, taught an English class, did yearbook, and was JV volleyball coach.
After five years at Fort Thomas I made the move to Westwood -- a move I have never regretted.
During my years at Westwood I have worked with hundreds of students, some who have gone on to careers in journalism, but more who have simply enjoyed their work and what they learned being on a publication staff. I sometimes now have students whose parents I taught!
High School: Thatcher High School - Thatcher, AZ
Associate of Arts: Eastern Arizona College - Thatcher, AZ
Bachelor of Arts: Brigham Young University - Provo, UT
Masters in Secondary Education: Northern Arizona University - Flagstaff, AZ
Certification: Journalism, English
Endorsements: Reading, ESL