Meet Christina Johnson, a new addition to the math department at Nazareth Academy. Prior to joining the Nazareth team, Johnson taught at Zion Benton High School and her Alma mater: Niles West.

Johnson’s journey to becoming an esteemed math teacher was shaped by her early experiences as a math student. As she reflected on her own high school experience, Johnson said, “I always wanted to be a teacher, but in high school, when math was starting to get difficult, I would help my friends out, and seeing them get that ‘aha’ moment, made me feel so happy.” These defining moments marked the beginning of a lifelong dedication to inspiring her students and fostering those ‘aha” moments. 

After her high school days, Johnson earned her degree from Augustana college and went on to teach professionally, but something is different now, as it feels like she has found a new home at Nazareth. Johnson’s favorite part about teaching is building relationships with students and knowing that she has made an impact in their lives. 

Johnson was a relatively new teacher during the COVID-19 pandemic and she believes she learned some very valuable skills and techniques during those years. “It was hard, but I just kept trying new things with technology, and I made myself available on Zoom, whether it was math related or they just wanted to talk,” said Johnson. Despite the challenges of those years, Johnson went above and beyond her role as a math teacher, becoming a good listener and a source of guidance for her students. 

Growing up, Johnson was very active and participated in many sports. While at Augustana, she even played softball. Johnson’s love for softball continued after college: she has been a softball coach for many years. Johnson said,  “I played college softball, and now I’m just giving back.” Johnson feels like she has been very fortunate to play at the collegiate level and wants to inspire others to want to play in college too.