Sue Cramton Johnson
Class of ’79 Liberal Studies
Assistant Superintendent
Savanna School District, Anaheim

As a student at Cal Poly Pomona, Sue Cramton Johnson’s immediate goal was to become a teacher. She received her bachelor’s degree in liberal studies before earning a master’s in education from Cal State San Bernardino and an Ed.D. in educational leadership from the University of Southern California. Johnson spent many happy years as a teacher in elementary school before she set her sights on administration. Her teaching experience has proved beneficial to her current position as assistant superintendent for the Savanna School District in Anaheim.

“As an administrator, it’s important to be responsive to the teachers and their concerns,” says Johnson. “They are the most important people in the classroom because they influence the lives of children every day.”

Indeed, she has spent 25 years in education, beginning as a teacher for Wrightwood School District before advancing to her present position in Anaheim. As assistant superintendent, duties include managing curriculum and instruction, coordinating the hiring and training of teaching personnel, and administering special education programs for students with learning disabilities. Sensitive to trends in education, Johnson began introducing computer-driven technology in the classroom more than a decade ago. Innovations include videoconferencing capabilities to enhance the speech therapy for special needs students, as well as simultaneous learning opportunities and new approaches to English language development. Johnson is a member of the California Reading Association, the California Mathematics Council, and the Association of California Administrators, among others.

“Teaching is more than a career,” she says. “Not long ago, I ran into the parents of one of my former students. He’s now 35 and doing well. His mother said, of the one time he was in my classroom, ‘He had such a great year.’ And that, to me, said it all.”

Johnson has received numerous honors for her roles in educational and community life, including Sunset Lane School’s Outstanding Volunteer Service Award from 2002 to 2004 and a Girl Scout Council of Orange County’s Leader Honor Award. She has maintained strong connections with Cal Poly Pomona as a course instructor and Professor for a Day. Johnson has agreed to serve on the Cal Poly Pomona Educational Leadership Advisory Council.