Newest Tri-Cities principal is long-time teacher, has deep ties to community
A longtime Tri-Cities educator is stepping up to lead Hanford High School next school year.
Mike Johnson, currently a principal at Delta High School in Pasco, was announced Friday as the newest principal of the 2,000-student school.
“The opportunity to return and be part of the ongoing legacy of excellence at Hanford High is a tremendous honor,” he said in a statement. “I’m eager to join students, staff and families to further cultivate that legacy and chart the school’s path into the future.”
He replaces Principal Tory Christensen, who is stepping aside after seven years to be a special assignment principal at all secondary schools in Richland School District starting this fall.
“School leaders with Mike’s skillset, vision and dedication are hard to find and we’re excited that he’s returning to Hanford and RSD,” said Tim Praino, the district’s executive director of human resources, in a statement.
Johnson has deep ties to the district and its community, as well as academic leadership experience.
He served as assistant principal at Carmichael Middle School and Chief Joseph Middle School before leading at Delta. Before that, he held several administrative positions at Richland, including dean of students and director of the district’s Middle School Highly Capable Program.
His journey in education started first in 1994 at Mount Vernon High School, in Skagit County, where he taught as a math teacher.
He taught at international schools in Egypt, Korea and Israel before coming to the Tri-Cities in 2003. And he’s spent time leading schools in Venezuela and Russia.
As an administrator in the states, Johnson led school accreditation efforts, conducted professional development for hundreds of educators, and developed and implemented technology initiatives.
“He’s fostered positive school cultures and communities throughout his career in his day-to-day interactions and other unique opportunities, such as organizing a group of 53 students and teachers to put together the Guinness World Record-verified longest paper clip chain in 1996,” read the news release.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s in mathematics instruction from Santa Clara University, and holds teaching certificates from Western Washington University and WSU Tri-Cities.
