Stepheny Johnson

Transitional Kindergarten Teacher | Coyote Valley Elementary School | Middletown Unified School District

Stepheny Johnson has taught for 4 years at Middletown Unified.

Johnson discovered her passion for teaching early, inspired by her time volunteering in preschool and the guidance of educators who made learning joyful and meaningful.

After 20 years in the family business, she returned to the classroom, quickly falling in love with teaching and pursuing her multiple subject credential with unwavering commitment.

In her TK classroom, she fosters social-emotional growth through predictable routines, role-playing, and tools like emotion cards to help students communicate and self-regulate.

Johnson differentiates instruction to meet students where they are, creating lessons that include flexible seating, songs, manipulatives, and projects tied to individual interests.

Her inclusive, welcoming classroom helps students feel safe, valued, and eager to learn, with daily routines and diverse literature that affirm every child’s identity.

Johnson's joyful energy and dynamic approach make her classroom a place where students are excited to explore, sing, move, and grow together.

She adapts to each child's unique learning style with patience and care, helping even her most challenged students build confidence and emotional strength.

A leader in early education, she guides TK students through foundational academic and phonics skills using UFLI methods, kinesthetic learning, and personalized assessments.

Her work is rooted in empathy, and she is known for connecting deeply with students of all abilities, including those with exceptional needs.

Honored as the 2025 Middletown USD Teacher of the Year, Stepheny Johnson is celebrated for shaping young lives with love, skill, and purpose.

Return to the Teacher of the Year page.