Contributed by Stefan Johnson
Since day one of kindergarten to my senior year of college, education has been a crucial part of my life. For the first five years of my schooling, I was educated at home with my four siblings by my mother, DeLena Johnson. I’ll never forget the large bookshelf in our living room where we were encouraged to read whatever book we grabbed off the shelf, no door of knowledge was ever closed. In sixth grade I began attending Academy Charter School, as my mother had started her run for what would be her first mayorship of Palmer, but she was sure to keep a close eye on my learning. My parents checked my grades frequently and helped me with my difficult homework. All through my experience in public school those books followed, even after we moved twice. They were always nearby, encouraging my siblings and I to learn more after the school bell rang. By the time I had finished high school, I had developed a passion not only for learning, but also for teaching. This lead me to declare a major in secondary education at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
The access to information was important to me, but it was also important to my mother. Her emphasis on hard work and learning was ever present in my life. The open access to learning in my house is a reflection of her character. She is well-informed and a critical thinker, her decisions are sourced in fact and weighed carefully with the benefit and cost in every scenario. As a Representative, my mother measures her decisions carefully and never rushes into a situation uninformed, prepared to make the best choice based on the resources available, she does all this quickly, making the best choices for Alaska.
DeLena brings this perspective to Juneau and works hard for her constituents to ensure their best interest is served. This honest and informed decision making is a principle that is vital to Alaska and the Valley as our uncertain economic future looms. Her passion for knowledge has spurred mine, even though she is no longer involved in my schooling, her impact will always stick with me. Her dedication to informing herself and others, makes her the right choice for the Valley on August 21st.