Donald Johnson has taught five years in Arkansas, three years in Texas, and since 1992 at Webster Groves High School and has been certified to teach both journalism and English in all three states.  He also has certification from the Journalism Education Association.

Johnson has a MAT with honors in Educational Technology from Webster University and a double-majored BA in journalism and English with a minor in education from the University of Arkansas. He also has credits from UMSL and Kent State.

Johnson has also attended Reynolds High School Journalism Institute--ASNE, earned eMINTS certification from UMSL, social justice certification from Webster Groves School District, participated in Professional Development Bookclub, served on the District's Curriculum Advisor Committee, and participated in the Program for Effective Teaching.

Johnson sponsors the high school newspaper and its online publications, and has sponsored fencing club and the literary magazine at WGHS and newspaper and yearbook at Rogers High School in Arkansas.

Johnson is on the Missouri Interscholastic Press Association Board and is also a member of National Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Journalism Education Association, MissouriJEA, JournalismSTL, Quill and Scroll, and National Education Association.  Johnson earned MIPA's Taft Award in 2016.

Johnson also participated in the Missouri Educator Gateway Assessments Item Validation & Standard Setting Conference in 2016 to help establish an assessment for future journalism instructors.