Heather Johnson is entering her 20th year in education and currently serves as Chief Innovation Officer for Vista College Preparatory Schools in Phoenix, Arizona, where she leads efforts to leverage data, technology, and innovation to improve outcomes for students and educators. 

Heather earned her bachelor's degree from Ursinus College and her master's degree in educational leadership from Arizona State University. Her commitment to educational opportunity began long before her current leadership role. Driven by a deep belief that all children deserve access to an excellent education, she founded a student-focused nonprofit program in Plainfield, New Jersey, and later joined Teach For America as a corps member in the Mississippi Delta. Those formative experiences cemented her commitment to expanding opportunities for students and communities that have historically been underserved.

Throughout her career, Heather has led transformational work at the classroom, school, and system levels, serving as a teacher, principal, and Director of Schools before stepping into executive leadership. Her experiences span nonprofit, turnaround, and high-performing educational settings across New Jersey, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Arizona. Known for translating ambitious vision into measurable results, Heather has led transformational improvement efforts at the school and system levels, helping educators and leaders build the conditions for sustained student success.

Beyond her professional work, Heather is deeply committed to her family and to raising two children who continually remind her why the future of education matters.