Shawnell Johnson

Shawnell Johnson serves as the PAACT Director. As PAACT Director, Shawnell is responsible for building strong backbone functions, including developing the PAACT board, strengthening partnerships with implementation partners, community stakeholders and public officials, raising private and public funds to help implement the recommendations, and identifying best practices for implementation. As a former early childhood educator with extensive experience in public policy, Shawnell started her career teaching as a Pre-Kindergarten teacher at a child care program in Atlanta and became the center’s Curriculum Director, where she provided instructional support to teachers and helped the center achieve national accreditation. After gaining direct knowledge and experience in the child care field, she moved into state government. She has spent over a decade at the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) as the Director of Program Administration of the Child Care and Parent Services (CAPS) program, where she lead the operation of a comprehensive system of child care financial assistance and services for families who experience low incomes. She has experience with delivering training and providing technical assistance to child care providers and families. She has served on numerous committees and worked collaboratively with other state agencies, professional associations, and stakeholders to support quality improvement efforts for child care providers to become Quality Rated and improve access for families. Supporting families and child care providers has been an integral part of her career. Shawnell has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Administration from Fisk University and a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Mercer University. She is a member of the Junior League of Atlanta, where she is on the Community Council as a Committee Chair, partnering with a local community organization serving children and families who are experiencing homelessness. Shawnell enjoys volunteering and spending time with her family. Shawnell and her husband William have two young children, Savannah, who is nine years old, and Everleigh, who is four years old.