Denise Johnson, a longtime Lawrence school district employee, has been named interim principal of Prairie Park Elementary School.
Johnson currently serves as director of elementary curriculum for the district.
“We have selected a leader who is well known in the Prairie Park community, an individual who is hardworking, respected and a long-serving member of the Lawrence Public Schools community,” Superintendent Jeanice Swift told school board members during their meeting Tuesday.
This is Johnson’s 20th year in the district, “teaching at Hillcrest Elementary and supporting educators districtwide on the Curriculum and Instruction Team. She helps lead our focus on literacy,” according to a district news release.
Johnson will be working with Darcy Kraus, who retired from Lawrence Public Schools in 2021, “around next steps to ensure trauma-informed leadership,” Swift said.
“We need trauma-informed leadership in every school in the district, and I’m especially proud for this work to go on at Prairie Park,” Swift said.
Swift did not directly mention the recent events that sparked the particular need for a trauma-informed principal at Prairie Park Elementary.
A former speech pathologist for the school, Mark Gridley, has been charged with a child sex crime and kidnapping against a student of the school. Lawrence police said they believe there may have been eight victims, and additional charges could be forthcoming. (Read more about that in the articles linked below.)
Johnson said in the release that “It is with great joy and deep commitment that I step into this role at Prairie Park.”
“When children feel seen, heard, and valued, they thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. It will be an honor to partner with Prairie Park students, staff, and families to foster a school culture rooted in joy, belonging, and high expectations for all,” Johnson said in the release.
Swift said the district will work through “a robust principal search” in the fall.
“We will engage with all members of the Prairie Park staff, parents and community and students, beginning next fall, in order to take the time that’s needed to name an incoming long-term leader for Prairie Park,” Swift said.
The Lawrence school board approved the resignation of former principal Jason Townsend as part of their May 12 meeting agenda. He has accepted a principal position in the Garnett schools, according to the district’s news release.
Board members approved Johnson as interim principal as part of the consent agenda during their meeting Tuesday evening. The position will be effective July 1.
If our local journalism matters to you, please help us keep doing this work.
Don’t miss a beat … Click here to sign up for our email newsletters
Click here to learn more about our newsletters first
Mackenzie Clark (she/her), reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at mclark@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
More coverage:
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
More USD 497 personnel changes:
Latest Lawrence news:
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
