Middle School Director Brian Johnson has spent 15 years working with middle school students. He arrived at UPrep in 2020 after working at the Presidio Hill School in San Francisco. At UPrep, he began his career as an English teacher, and he became a Middle School grade level dean one year later. Throughout his career, Brian has served as a learning specialist, a CAIS (California Association of Independent Schools) self-study coordinator, an English department chair, and an English teacher. In his various roles, he has differentiated instruction, helped plan the UPrep Young Men’s Conference, and led the process of transforming a humanities curriculum into a separate English curriculum. Brian received his BA from California State University, Stanislaus, and his Master of Arts from Notre Dame de Namur University.

Why did you become an educator?

Prior to teaching, I worked in college admission for almost three years. There was a lot of desk work, and I realized I need to be able to move. My fiancé at the time (now my wife) decided to be a teacher and that sounded like a good option for me, too. One of the reasons I love working in education is all the positive interactions with students. There is a lot of joy, especially in middle school. My job doesn’t always feel like work; it’s fun! My graduate degree is in English and teaching books is something I’ve really enjoyed, too.

What do you love about the UPrep community?

I found right away I felt very comfortable in our community. Even during a pandemic, it was a very welcoming place. This is the largest school I have ever worked at, but it feels like a small community. People say hello to you in the hallways, ask you how you are, and take time to get to know you. Middle school students, of course, are very curious and they also stop you in the hallways and want to know all about you. It’s a good feeling.

What makes UPrep’s Middle School unique?

First and foremost, we really get to know the students. Our aim is that every kid here feels like they have their people, both adults and peers, that students have a lot of positive interactions with their teachers, and they are getting to know their teachers. There’s a lot of student agency for students bringing themselves to the school in some way. For example, through our student-run clubs, kids can explore their quirks, interests, and passions. They find an adult who will run the club with them and other students who will join their club. There’s a lot of happiness in UPrep’s Middle School.

What do you think students need from their middle-school experience to be well prepared for high school?

Outside of learning content and skills, middle school is a lot about process. Students are solidifying learning how to learn. By the end of 8th grade, they need to take more responsibility for their own learning process. How do you work through a difficult course? How do you keep up with assignments and ask for help and connect with teachers? If your kid can go into a 9th grade class and raise their hand and ask a question and stay after class and ask the teacher a question, they are in a good place. Students also need to develop the ability to try something out and to get comfortable failing, too. We set kids up well for taking advantage of opportunities that are in front of them.

How does UPrep’s Middle School prepare students to lead a life of learning?

UPrep’s Middle School is all about getting students to “try on” and “lean in.” We encourage students to try new sports, start or join new clubs, explore the arts, and generally get out of their comfort zones. Even if it means failing at something. Our students feel safe to explore and express themselves because they know their teachers and advisors will be there to support them. Becoming confident trying on and leaning in is integral to leading a life of learning and our students begin to develop this confidence in their Middle School years. 

How do you lead a life of learning?

I read. Constantly. For years, fiction was my go-to when choosing books. However, in the past two years I’ve chosen nonfiction books that stretch my thinking in a new way. I recently read Where the Water Goes: Life and Death Along the Colorado River by David Owen so that I could better understand the water crisis in the West. I also read Made in the USA: The Rise and Retreat of American Manufacturing by Vaclav Smil to better understand the economic history of the U.S. These books lead me to other books and new knowledge. Professionally, stepping into a senior leadership position will challenge me, require me to learn new things, and definitely move me out of my comfort zone. To me, a life of learning means leaning in to challenges and not letting yourself get too comfortable. 

What do you do to unwind?

I run, I exercise, and I read. The best thing I have read recently are both of Cormac McCarthy’s new books. There’s a great Syrian writer that I recently discovered: Khalid Khalifa. He has a wonderful fiction book called Death Is Hard Work. It follows a group of children trying to bury their father during civil war. I read that twice. It’s only maybe 125 pages and I highly recommend it. His book titles are great. He has one called No Knives in the Kitchens of This City.  

Meet more UPrep leaders and read about how they lead a life of learning.