Dr. Damian Johnston

Dr. Damian B. Johnston (preferred pronouns:  she/her)  was appointed as the district Assistant Superintendent in December 2020.  She brings unique experiences to her role having worked across a variety of settings and programs for over 25 years. Dr. Johnston is dedicated to serving the needs of all students and to creating a community of growth and caring rooted in equitable practices.

In 2015, Dr. Johnston joined the School District of Springfield Township team as the Director of Special Education & Student Services.  In that role, she was responsible for supervision staff and  has overseen the growth in student access to inclusive classrooms across the K-12 curriculum, as well as the development of a robust social-emotional learning curriculum. She coordinated delivery of special education and gifted services for students attending our schools, as well as for students placed in specialized programs outside the district. In addition to the extensive supervision of special education services, she has also overseen the Office of Student Services, which meets other specialized needs of students, including  those who are at Carson Valley, residential or part-time treatment facilities, or who are homeless or home schooled. She has actively worked to support family partnerships and engagement, having developed the popular Coffee and Conversation series and other workshops for parents. 

Throughout her years of experience, she has provided infant/toddler early intervention services, worked as an elementary teacher, an instructional coach, and a Supervisor, Principal and Director of Early Childhood programs while working at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Germantown, PA.  In 2010, she began working with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU) where she served as a special education supervisor for both preschool early intervention and school age programs; later serving as an Assistant Director in the Office of Student Services providing oversight in early childhood, preschool early intervention and school age programs. She provided collaborative support and consultation to the Head Start Administrators, specifically educational coaching and consultation for the instructional framework.

Dr. Johnston earned a Doctoral degree from Arcadia University in 2005, a Master's degree in Educational Leadership in 1999 and a Bachelor's degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in teaching students with hearing loss in 1992. In addition, she serves as an adjunct faculty member at Arcadia University, teaching undergraduate and graduate students since 2005. In addition to her She has also earned her Superintendent Letter of Eligibility, Dr. Johnston has PDE Certificates as an Elementary Principal, Special Education Supervisor and Teacher of the Hearing Impaired.