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Jade Johnson loves children, so much so she not only teaches them as a long-term substitute and paraprofessional at Southern Elementary School, but she also helps bring them into the world!  When Johnson isn’t in the classroom at Southern, she works as a certified doula who provides guidance and support to pregnant women before and during labor. “As a doula, I assist families from the pregnancy test to breastfeeding during the postpartum period and beyond. I provide mental, physical, emotional, and educational support along the journey to ensure optimal outcomes for mothers and babies during the most vulnerable moments in life,” Johnson says. Most recently Johnson was a doula for fellow Southern paraprofessional Gregory Fuller and his wife Shirlene. The couple had hoped to birth the babies at home until they learned twins were on the way. Still, Johnson assisted them throughout the pregnacy and was at the hospital joining dad as a bedside coach when Safir and Saffiyah delivered naturally and without medication. “Jade was there every step of the way, advocating to ensure our babies were brought into this world how WE wanted them to be. We have nothing but love for her!” the Fullers said. Johnson also served as a doula for Southern teacher Julianne Jackson and husband Fran.

Johnson, who attended Colonial schools as an elementary and middle school student enjoys working in the district where she flourished as a child. She says she sees a connection between choosing to be a paraprofessional instead of a teacher, just like she chooses to be a doula instead of a midwife saying, “I love the thought of being a midwife, however I am able to reach, teach and connect with those who need it most in my role as a doula, the same way I’m able to reach, teach and connect with my students who need it the most as a para.”