Hello Blue Jays! 

Can you believe we are embarking on Year 3 at Atfalati Ridge Elementary School? Time flies when you’re a Blue Jay! 

Last year, with our focus on providing quality core instruction based on Common Core State Standards and teaching and supporting social emotional learning throughout our school day, our Math scores went up 13%. We are excited to build upon that growth and expand our strategies and focus on other areas such as Reading and Science. Using the new Strategic Plan of the Hillsboro School District, we have updated our mission statement and our School Improvement Plan to focus on our areas of growth to ensure our students are ready for the next step in their education. Our target areas this year are math, reading, and language, specifically focusing on our 6th graders as we prepare them for middle school, and our emerging multilingual students.

We will be moving further ahead in our efforts to create the most welcoming and safe learning environment for our students. We will do so with a lens of acceptance and equity for all students and community members, especially those from marginalized groups.This includes providing student representation in our schools, fostering student voice and agency, and teaching and modeling a culture of valuing and celebrating our differences. Social Emotional Learning will be at the foundation of our work. I am confident that, together, we will continue to create the very best school for our students.

For those of you new to Atfalati Ridge, a little bit about myself: I am a proud product of the Hillsboro School District (HSD), attending Eastwood Elementary, Poynter Middle School, and Glencoe High School. I have served 19 years in multiple roles throughout HSD beginning in 2003. I have two beautiful children who are students of HSD, a junior and a freshman, both attending Liberty High School. My spouse is also a product of HSD, and has also served HSD since 2004. I feel great pride in knowing that I have experience as a student, a teacher, a parent, a leader, and a community member of HSD. To say that my family and I are proud to be HSD is an understatement. This well-rounded experience has provided me with a global view of our district and has allowed me to adopt multiple perspectives and viewpoints.

I can confidently say that my values as a person and as an educator are aligned with those of HSD. I am a strong proponent for the inclusion of all students regardless of age, gender, race, or ability. I am committed to creating systems that allow for multiple voices to be heard and to providing the very best experience for our children. And I strive to create an environment that promotes academic achievement for all. 

In addition to being a strong advocate for our children, I believe wholeheartedly in building strong relationships as a foundation to deliver and access education. Each interaction with each student is an opportunity to teach, support, and build rapport. As educators, we have the honor of teaching and connecting with students each day. This is a responsibility that I do not take lightly. I actively work each day to ensure that students have an experience that they can reflect back on and say that they felt heard and supported, and that they learned something that is useful to them.

I am delighted to continue our journey as a school community and know that this year will be another great one.  Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions, concerns, or just to chat. My contact information is listed below.

In partnership,
Dani Johnson

It's a GREAT day to be a Blue Jay! 

johnsond@hsd.k12.or.us
503-844-1240
Twitter: @atfalatiridge
Instagram: @atfalati_ridge

School Mission Statement: At Atfalati Ridge Elementary School we believe every student deserves to learn and grow in an inclusive environment. We are focused on core instruction, social emotional learning, and language proficiency, to ensure our students are known, valued, and empowered.