Karyna Johnson is a 2025–2026 Teach Plus Arkansas Policy Fellow and K-5 music specialist at Western Hills Elementary in Little Rock, Arkansas. Previously, she worked at Otter Creek Elementary School for eight years, where she was parent engagement coordinator, Positive Behavior Intervention and Support Lead, and founder of the school’s ukulele club. Karyna was the Arkansas Fine Arts Teacher of the Year (2025), the Little Rock School District Elementary Teacher of the Year (2024), and the Otter Creek Elementary Teacher of the Year (2023-2024). Prior to moving back to Arkansas, she was a music teacher and a lead in Denver. Karyna is the president of the Central Arkansas Orff-Schulwerk Association Chapter 112. She earned her BA in music education and MM in music education, both from the University of Central Arkansas. She is certified to teach English to Students of Other Languages, physical education, and is a licensed personal trainer.
