Dr. Rachel Johnson earned her PhD in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She has extensive critical qualitative research and evaluation training and is skilled in project and data management.

Dr. Johnson’s research specifically examines the experiences of Black families in K-12 education, focusing on the systemic barriers they face, their acts of resistance, and their creation of affirming learning spaces- check out her dissertation Black homeschoolers. She is committed to centering Black families in her work and fighting against antiblackness. You can read more about her work experiences here.

As a mother, she is passionate about reimagining out-of-school educational spaces for young people. She is dedicated to supporting young people and their families in education. She co-created Freedom Kilombo, a Black-centered homeschooling collective in Wisconsin and has spent seven years homeschooling in the U.S. and abroad. She also enjoys creating art, baking, and running.