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Ronn
Johnson, Arts ’88
 Ronn Johnson played a key role in
launching the charter school YMCA Young Leaders Academy in 2002,
where he is executive principal. Ronn’s involvement with
the academy goes back 18 years, with a part-time leadership development
program once housed at Marquette. He was the executive director
of the Youth Leadership Academy/YMCA, a leadership development
program for African American males, which grew from 25 to 260
students during his tenure.
Ronn’s professional and community work reflects his goal
of serving as a catalyst for change and an innovative curriculum
leader. He believes that academic curriculum content is not enough: “Teachers — especially
urban teachers — must learn about the culture of the communities
from which the children are coming.”
He also believes that high standards bring about excellence.
One of the students at Young Leaders Academy, James Pate, was
recently quoted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel with
his interpretation of high standards: “That means you have
responsibility, that you are somebody, that you are a leader."
Ronn has received many honors, including being recognized this
year by the MilwaukeeBusiness Journal as one of its “Forty
under 40,” which honors young individuals who are making
a difference in their professions.
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