Chief Human Resources Officer

Dr. Shanna Johnston
Chief Human Resource Officer

Phone: (239) 337-8147
2855 Colonial Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33966

Biography:

Dr. Shanna Johnston is a visionary HR executive and a leading scholar in organizational leadership, specializing in the transformative power of servant leadership. With over 30 years of experience in public education, Dr. Johnston bridges the gap between high-level research and ground-level results. She holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Southeastern University, where her work focused on utilizing servant leadership as a strategic defense against the global "Great Resignation."

In her current role, Dr. Johnston manages a comprehensive HR portfolio for a district of over 100,000 students and 13,000 employees. Her leadership is defined by a "people-first" philosophy that has yielded historic results, including:

• Talent Acquisition: Successfully reducing teacher vacancies from 575 to zero within a single six-month cohort.
• Workforce Stability: Achieving and maintaining a 99.5% instructional fill rate district-wide.
• Systemic Success: A career-long track record of improvement, including her previous tenure as Executive Director of School Development, where she helped transition 23 struggling schools to high-performing status.

Dr. Johnston is more than an administrator; she is an advocate for the human element in education. By embedding kindness, respect, and humility into the district’s operational DNA, from collective bargaining to professional standards, she ensures that the School District of Lee County remains a place where educators feel valued, supported, and empowered to stay.

Purpose

Our mission is to shift the paradigm of Human Resources from a transactional department to a relationship-driven engine for organizational health. We believe that when leaders lead with service and humility, our entire community thrives. To achieve this, the School District of Lee County Human Resources division operates through specialized departments, each dedicated to a unique pillar of our workforce’s success. 

• Benefits and Wellness: Dedicated to the holistic health of our team. Our purpose is to provide comprehensive support systems that ensure our employees are cared for physically, mentally, and financially, allowing them to bring their best selves to our students.

• HR Operations: The backbone of our division, focused on core HR functions and retirement systems to ensure a culture of stability, growth, and organizational excellence.

• Talent Management and Acquisition: To strategically identify, recruit, and onboard high-quality educators and staff. This department ensures every classroom and department is led by a qualified professional, moving beyond "filling seats" to fulfilling our mission of student success.

• Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining: To foster a culture of transparency and mutual respect between the district and its labor partners. This team ensures that all negotiations and agreements are rooted in fairness and long-term organizational stability.

• Compensation Analysis: To ensure equitable and competitive pay structures across the district. This department analyzes market data to provide fair treatment for all team members, recognizing their vital role in our systemic health.

• Organizational Development and Retention: To direct talent retention initiatives, retirement systems, and core operations. This department focuses on the "human need" for growth, providing the mentorship and stability required for a lifelong career in education.