Newly appointed principal Keith Johnson doesn’t just talk about school spirit; he lives it. He loves working and interacting with the students of NVD and actively tries to better the school and everyone’s spirits every day. Whether he’s greeting the students outside in the morning or attending the school’s athletic events, he has one mission: to make NVD the best it can be.
Johnson has always been a spirited and energetic person. Born and raised in Middletown, New York, he has always been involved in athletics and teamwork. At his high school, he earned the title of Athlete of the Year, excelling for his school’s sports teams in football, basketball, baseball, and skiing. He continued to pursue a career in baseball during college.
After graduating, he continued down an athletic path in his 20s, working for the Boston Red Sox as a sports medicine and strength and conditioning trainer. After that, he got a job offer from Old Tappan High School as a physical education teacher, which he then got hired for on the same day he got interviewed.
“I loved working in the sports industry. It was like every guy’s dream,” he said.
Working for the Red Sox ended up getting too demanding, but he found his calling after starting work in an educational setting. At first, he worked in Clarkstown South High School, then he got a job at Old Tappan High School, where he also coached football and ice hockey. He finally found his forever home at NVD.
“There are amazing things happening here [at NVD],” Johnson said.
He continued his coaching career alongside working in schools, coaching for the NVD girls’ softball team.
“One of the best times of my life was when I was coaching the softball team,” Johnson said. “I would love to still do it if I could. I’d want to be fully committed, though.”
Something that drives him now is creating a community within the walls of NVD and increasing everyone’s school spirit and attitude towards school.
“I want a school where students and faculty like to come in the morning,” Johnson said.
He strives to build a school community that supports each other; he wants students in the athletic department to attend the school plays and concerts, and for the students in the theater and music department to attend athletic events. Just like how he’s all in, he wants everyone else to join him in his attitude towards anything NVD-related.
Principal Johnson will always be a person who wants the best for all of his students and staff, and who will go the extra mile to make sure that everyone is happy and successful.
“I want my students to know I’m all in. My door is always open to everyone,” Johnson said. “Unless it’s closed.”
