Phelipé Johnson is the new principal of Opportunity Academy (OA), replacing Geoffrey Schmidt who left Holyoke to become principal of Louis E. Dieruff High School in the Allentown School District in Pennsylvania, his home state.
“I was particularly drawn to Holyoke Opportunity Academy's commitment to providing an exceptional learning experience while prioritizing the individual needs of every learner,” Mr. Johnson said about his desire to join the OA team. The school offers a set of alternative high school pathways that allow students to continue or restart on a pathway to a diploma if they are not succeeding in a more traditional high school setting.
“I believe my track record in instructional leadership, collaborative team development, and commitment to fostering an inclusive school culture will align seamlessly with the values upheld by Opportunity Academy,” he said.
Mr. Johnson began his new role on February 5. He has been an educator at Libertas Academy Charter School in Springfield since February 2020, most recently serving as the dean of humanities for the school’s Upper Academy for students in grades 9-11. He previously taught 7th and 8th grade English language arts at the school, and also served as a grade-level chair and Diversity Equity and Inclusion Fellow. Prior to working for Libertas, Mr. Johnson taught 2nd and 3rd grade at Springfield Preparatory Charter School.
He has been a fellow for Springpoint Transformative Leaders of Massachusetts since 2022 and a board member of Teaching Learning Alliance, Inc. in Woburn since 2021. He was also an InSPIRED Senior Fellow for three years, a WGBH Educator Ambassador, a team leader for Just the Beginning Summer Legal Institute, and a judicial clerk for the Western Division Housing Court.
Mr. Johnson holds a Juris Doctor (or advanced legal degree) from Western New England University School of Law in Springfield and an undergraduate degree from Kenyon College in Ohio.