Third DeKalb superintendent finalist forum: Johnetta Miller

The plan for Johnetta Miller was to return to being a caseworker after taking a hiatus to stay at home with her three children until they were all of school age.

But in that time she volunteered at their school, then started subbing, and a new passion was born, she said.

Her kids are grown now, as has Miller’s path as an educator. Miller was the third of four finalists for DeKalb District 428 superintendent to hold a community forum on Thursday.

Lorenzo Russell interviewed Monday with Marcey Sorenson interviewing Wednesday. The final candidate, Minerva Garcia-Sanchez, interviews Friday.

“I left [the Department of Children and Family Services] as a senior caseworker, and my goal when my youngest went to school full time was going to go back to school and get my MSW, my masters of social work,” Miller said. “But instead, after being in the buildings and working with staff and with the students, I knew that was my passion and realized my previous professional experience was just preparation for me to be successful in education.”

Miller said she thinks her path from involved parent to superintendent of West Harvey-Dixmoor has given her insight and experience within every kind of district stakeholder.

“I am now completing my 15th year of education and I’ve been in every role,” Miller said. “I proudly say that I’ve sat in every role. I’ve been that parent that’s been involved. I’ve been that classroom teacher that has been implementing best practices in my instruction. I’ve been an administrator.”

Miller said she is interested in coming to DeKalb to join a larger district where her skills can be utilized best.

“When I was searching and looking in the background of DeKalb, the very first thing that’s obvious is the diversity plan that has been put in place over the past several years,” Miller said. “Reading through the plan and the goals, knowing it isn’t just a plan that came from administration or the board, but it was inclusive of all stakeholders. I knew what I had done will speak to that.”

Miller said inclusivity is about making sure all parties are a part of the process.

“To make sure people feel inclusive, you have to include them in the process,” Miller said. “We have superintendent coffee talks where the community can engage with us. ... How I would promote diversity is ensuring we have opportunities where the staff and the educators and the stakeholders can come to the table where they feel valued, they feel heard.”

And while she likes the diversity plan, she noticed the district didn’t have a strategic plan. She said creating one would be one of her primary goals.

“I want to be a part of moving the district from, we’re at a good place now, moving us to even greater,” Miller said. “As I say often, my goal is putting us on a map and making us an example of what a high-performing, inclusive district can look like.”

Miller said remote learning in schools has shined a light on inequity surrounding technology in the classroom.

She said her district in southern suburban Chicago is one of the lowest socioeconomic districts in the state, which has created challenges. She said that experience showed her how to make remote-learning technology accessible to all.

“The added piece to that is not only making sure students and parents have the resources and support, but families have resources and support,” Miller said. “Our families are not as exposed to technology as others. We created opportunities where parents could learn as their children were. We had sessions for parents on how to use Zoom, how to access Google Classroom, how to be a support for your child on this platform.”