Meet Mr. Johnson, a fantastic theology teacher who joined us this year. He brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to the classroom and everything he does here at Sallies. Whether he’s leading the Rosary club on Fridays or assisting Mr. Adams with freshman formation programs, Mr. Johnson brings enthusiasm to all that he does.
Mr. Johnson is a theology teacher, but his work doesn’t stop there. He leads the Rosary club alongside Mrs. Correale; the club allows students to dive deeper into their faith through prayer. And just before the break, the Rosary Club celebrated their annual Posada with Hermanos Unidos. Mr. Johnson also works diligently to improve the freshman formation program, he and Mr. Adam’s both working to guide freshmen in their understanding of Sallie’s culture, but also their personal and spiritual development.
Before coming to Sallies, Mr. Johnson has had an extensive career with many exciting roles. Most recently, for the last four years, he taught theology and history at DeSales University; before that for two years, he was the Director of Evangelization Formation for the Diocese of Allentown, he was also in charge of young adult ministry and campus ministry at Kutztown University and Lafayette College. He also worked extensively with the diocese in various capacities.
Mr. Johnson graduated from La Salle College High School and went to DeSales University. He earned his undergraduate degree from DeSales University and later returned for his teaching role. From there, he went on to earn his Master’s in Theological Studies from Saint Louis University (where he studied with Mr. Lee) and is currently pursuing a PhD in Historical Theology at Marquette University.
Mr. Johnson is a man of many interests! When he’s not teaching, he loves to travel; he’s been to 16 countries and has a special connection to Rome, having studied abroad there during his undergraduate years. He recalls the experience was “the best three months of my life”. “I studied abroad
for undergrad. There were 15 students and a professor from De Sales went with you. We were attached to an Italian language school and we took classes there. But we didn’t live on campus.
We lived in individual apartments. And you really got to just live in the city. And I did that for a whole semester.” He has since traveled back to Rome several times and visited other parts of Europe as well.
He’s also a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles, plays golf, and enjoys creative writing in his spare time. Throughout high school, Mr. Johnson played the trumpet, but jokes that he’s retired from the instrument now, as he has nowhere to perform.
Mr. Johnson’s reading preferences span several genres, from childhood favorites to classical literature. He recalls that Watership Down by Richard Adams, about a group of rabbits escaping danger, was his favorite book growing up. He also enjoys epic fantasy works like Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter series. In the realm of classical literature, he finds inspiration in The Aeneid by Virgil, a book he first read in high school that remains one of his all-time favorites.
When asked why he loves working at Sallies, Mr. Johnson shared that it’s the school’s sense of community and its faith-driven atmosphere that resonates most with him. Having attended an all-boys school himself, he understands the unique experience Sallies offers. “It’s been great to be here, love my department and the people that are the theology teachers here, um are really great people, and it’s system of really fun experience.” he says, adding that he enjoys working with a dedicated group of colleagues in the theology department and appreciates the rich academic and spiritual environment at Salesianum.
