Meet Alicia Johnson: Baldwin High’s 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year

When you think of Algebra I, most people imagine squiggly letters, the dreaded “x,” and maybe a few panicked memories of pop quizzes. But for Baldwin High’s Alicia Johnson, math isn’t scary, it’s an adventure.

“It’s the beginning of the abstract,” she says. “That’s why I want to be here. Algebra I is ninth grade. It’s their first real math class, and it sets the foundation for everything else. That’s where I need to make the most impact.”

Finding Her Calling

Johnson didn’t always know she’d become a teacher. She started in early childhood education, quickly realized little kids weren’t her calling, and pivoted to special education before finding her true love: teaching math.

Her own story fuels her drive. “I’m the only one out of five siblings who graduated high school. Education was my way to make a better life for myself,” she explains. “So now, teaching is my way of paying it back to my community.”

Where Alicia Johnson's Heart Is

Teachers often get the itch to “see if the grass is greener” in other districts, but Johnson is convinced she’s already standing on the best lawn in Georgia.

“I’ve had lots of job offers. But Baldwin is my home. Baldwin is where my heart is. I think my grass is pretty green here.”

Her students agree. Many still run into her years later at Kroger or the mall, eager to share life updates. “It’s always fun to reconnect with kids I remember when they were shorter than me,” she laughs. “Now they’re grown, with kids of their own.”

Making Math Real (and Sometimes a Crime Scene)

For Johnson, math is a “universal language”, but also one that needs the right hook. She’s always on the lookout for the real world integration of the abstract, whether it be crime scenes or checkout lines.

“When we do quadratics, I set up the whole classroom like a crime scene. Students have to solve riddles and apply concepts to figure out whodunit. Seeing them engaged and excited about it—that’s the best thing for me.”

A Surprising Honor

Interestingly, Johnson says the year she won Teacher of the Year was actually one of her hardest. “It was probably one of the most difficult years I’ve had,” she said. “I didn’t even have a planning period. I felt like I was drowning. To be recognized for that year... it shocked me. But it reminded me that sometimes your hardest work pays off in ways you don’t expect.”

The Heart of a Teacher

Even when she’s not in the classroom, Johnson is still thinking about teaching. She runs summer camps, mentors kids, and stays plugged into her students’ lives.

As she puts it: “Education is my hobby. I’m constantly trying to find ways to make connections or help kids in some way.”

Alicia Johnson may be a math teacher, but she knows the real formula for success: hard work + heart + a little creativity = a lifelong impact.