Argie Johnson

Argie K. Johnson (born January 28, 1939) is an American educator and biochemist who served as superintendent of Chicago Public Schools and deputy chancellor of New York Public Schools. Johnson is recognized as the fourth African American-and the second African American woman—to lead the Chicago Public Schools, following Ruth B. Love, who was the first African American woman to hold the position.

Early life and education Johnson hails from Kannapolis, North Carolina. She worked her way through college. She rose to serve as the deputy chancellor of the New York Public Schools system, making her the second-in command of the largest school district in the United States. Upon entering the job, she faced controversy as deputy chancellor when she was quickly tasked by chancellor Joseph A. Fernandez with "toning down" the "Children of the Rainbow" curriculum, which sought to teach children to be accepting towards homosexuality and other "alternative lifestyles". The "Children of the Rainbow" curriculum had become nationally controversial. Her tenure formally began on August 9, 1993. In 1995, after the district was reformed with mayoral control of schools, she was ousted. She had originally been hired by the Chicago Board of Education, in part, due to her enthusiasm for the "decentralization" scheme of Chicago schools which this reorganization undid.