Greet Mill Creek is proud to be continuing the Above and Beyond Teaching Award for the fourth year in a row! During the pandemic, countless teachers demonstrated true dedication to their students, going above and beyond the call of duty to provide them with the best education in a confusing and challenging new world. In 2021, the Above and Beyond Award was created to honor these incredible educators.

We have partnered with local business owner Gabe Oh to create this award. Oh believes in investing in education for a bright future for all students and offered a $500 gift. Greet Mill Creek agreed to match Oh’s contribution, and together, we are thrilled to be offering a $1,000 prize to the winning teacher.

We called on the community to come together to nominate teachers who embody the true spirit of teaching: fostering a creative, fun, and safe environment for kids to learn and grow. Several teachers were nominated, and we are honored to have so many wonderful educators in our community.

This year, there was one teacher who truly stood out as going Above and Beyond and was nominated by several parents. Congratulations to Mill Creek Elementary’s Danielle “Dani” Johnson! Mrs. Johnson has been teaching for 17 years – all at Mill Creek Elementary – and currently teaches 4th grade. She and her husband have five children of their own and two grandchildren. When she’s not in the classroom, she enjoys spending time outside playing with her family, hiking, running, reading, and watching the Seattle Sounders.

Mrs. Johnson moved up from teaching 3rd grade to follow her class to the 4th grade. “She is one of the best teachers – and people – I have met in a long time,” shares Alice G., whose son is one of several students who have been in Mrs. Johnson’s class for two years. When he recently fractured his knee, Mrs. Johnson was very accommodating and caring. “She even waits with him in the pickup line to make sure nobody runs into him on his crutches,” says Alice. “She loves her students, and they love her. She makes herself available at any time to help support them and their families.”

“Dani is someone who is passionate about teaching and making a positive difference in the lives of her students,” shares Sarah U., of her daughter’s teacher. “She makes her classroom such a safe and inviting environment and meets students wherever they are on their educational journey, providing them with encouragement to gain confidence in their learning. She is just an absolute rock star!”

“Mrs. Johnson sees my daughter as more than a student with a disability,” shares Kristin B. “My daughter has Dyslexia, and she has made amazing gains under Mrs. Johnson’s strong teaching methods and style. She has made my daughter believe she is not defined by her Dyslexia and, as a result, she has become a confident learner.”

“If you were to walk into her classroom at any time on any given day, you’d almost certainly hear music or Mrs. Johnson singing, and see the kids dancing,” shares another Mill Creek Elementary parent. “She engages students through song and movement constantly, breaking up the day and keeping them engaged.” Mrs. Johnson even helps the students put on a musical to showcase what they’ve learned to their parents.

Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Johnson coaches Girls on the Run, an after-school program for 3rd through 5th graders that blends physical activity with life skill development. She can also be found at Mill Creek Elementary’s Cougar Movers program, a run/walk program that meets before school every Friday. Mrs. Johnson even opens her personal classroom library for students over the summer, allowing them to come in, catch up, and borrow books. “For her to use her very important break time to stay connected to her students says a lot about the kind of educator she is,” says another MCE parent.

“Dani Johnson is an unwavering strength for everyone around her,” says Alice. “She deserves to be recognized for all her awesomeness!” Please join us in congratulating and thanking Mrs. Dani Johnson for truly going Above and Beyond for the students in our community!