Benny Johnson rebelled against his family pushing him toward a career in education and became a law enforcement officer instead. Little did he know that his law enforcement career would lead him right to a classroom.
Benny teaches criminal justice pathway classes at Carroll County High School as well as a couple of criminal justice classes at Jefferson Community and Technical College as an adjunct professor.
JCTC created a new honor of Outstanding Adjunct Award and Benny was the recipient for his division. Benny does not know who nominated him, but said he was surprised and honored to be recognized.
Described as a seasoned professional with years of experience in law enforcement, Benny incorporates practical examples into his teaching, making the material more engaging for his students. He is known for going above and beyond to help his students grasp complex concepts, earning him widespread praise.
Benny came to CCHS as a school resource officer, but only held that position for one year before the criminal justice pathway was created and he became a full-time teacher. He noted that developing relationships with the students, both as an SRO and a teacher, are key to success in a school environment.
“I can explain to them there’s so much more to criminal justice than being a police officer,” said Benny, who has worked as a police officer and police chief during his tenure in law enforcement. “I’m grateful these kids have the opportunity to choose. They give me the resources to expose them to all different careers under the criminal justice umbrella.”
At CCHS he teaches law enforcement, introduction to criminal justice, criminal investigations, health and wellness, corrections and homeland security/terrorism. At JCTC he teaches criminal law and criminal procedures.