Krista Lewis-Johnson
Instructional Design at New Leaders, Executive Director
Krista Lewis-Johnson, Ph.D, is the Executive Director of Instructional Design at New Leaders, a reputable
and national nonprofit organization that specializes in school leadership development. As a former
middle school English Language Arts teacher (CMS), Academic Coach and Facilitator (CMS and Gaston
County), Central Office Curriculum and Instruction Specialist (CMS), and Program Director (New
Leaders), Krista leverages her experiences and skillset to manage a team of curriculum writers who
develop programs and content for teacher leaders, building administrators, and principal supervisors
while also supporting program directors in the delivery of high quality school leadership programming.
Krista finds great joy in this work as she is an advocate for equity and access for all children. She
strongly believes that to do the “work” of school and do it well, the efficacy of both teachers and leaders
must be built in high quality instruction and in transforming schools and systems so that conditions are
right for students to truly receive what is necessary for high levels of success academically, socially, and
emotionally, because ALL kids can learn.
Krista earned her undergraduate degree from Hampton University and a Master’s degree from
Winthrop University, both in English. She also holds a terminal degree from Indiana University of
Pennsylvania, with a focus on urban adolescent literacy.
Krista and her husband Dion live in Charlotte with their two children, Ayva (5), who will be starting
Kindergarten this fall at Charlotte Lab, and Dominic (3).
and national nonprofit organization that specializes in school leadership development. As a former
middle school English Language Arts teacher (CMS), Academic Coach and Facilitator (CMS and Gaston
County), Central Office Curriculum and Instruction Specialist (CMS), and Program Director (New
Leaders), Krista leverages her experiences and skillset to manage a team of curriculum writers who
develop programs and content for teacher leaders, building administrators, and principal supervisors
while also supporting program directors in the delivery of high quality school leadership programming.
Krista finds great joy in this work as she is an advocate for equity and access for all children. She
strongly believes that to do the “work” of school and do it well, the efficacy of both teachers and leaders
must be built in high quality instruction and in transforming schools and systems so that conditions are
right for students to truly receive what is necessary for high levels of success academically, socially, and
emotionally, because ALL kids can learn.
Krista earned her undergraduate degree from Hampton University and a Master’s degree from
Winthrop University, both in English. She also holds a terminal degree from Indiana University of
Pennsylvania, with a focus on urban adolescent literacy.
Krista and her husband Dion live in Charlotte with their two children, Ayva (5), who will be starting
Kindergarten this fall at Charlotte Lab, and Dominic (3).