Serena Johnson has been a Community School Coordinator at the Inyo County Office of Education, since October 2023. While new to the education field, she brings extensive experience in early childhood education as the First 5 Director of Inyo County, along with a strong background in public health and community organizing through her roles with the Toiyabe Indian Health Project and Inyo County Public Health. Serena is passionate about the mission of community schools—to connect the education system with community resources, ensuring all children have the support they need to thrive. 

Serena Johnson discusses her work in rural California, specifically in Inyo County.   Inyo County, with its diverse geography and 19,000 residents, faces challenges in community school outreach. Johnson's initiatives include a consortium approach with five school districts and creative solutions like a 60% response rate for a parent survey using a Scholastic Book Fair incentive. She also emphasizes the importance of consistent communication through a monthly newsletter, translated into Spanish. A successful partnership with the county library in Independence enhances reading scores and community engagement.