Professor Johnson Honored as Emerging Scholar

Wintre Foxworth Johnson, assistant professor at the University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development, was honored with an Emerging Scholar Award by the American Educational Research Association (AERA). 

Johnson received the award from the Critical Perspectives in Early Childhood Education (CPECE) Special Interest Group (SIG), one of several at AERA that connect researchers based on shared areas of interest or fields of study. 

A faculty affiliate with Youth-Nex and Center for Race and Public Education in the South, Johnson’s scholarship sits at the intersection of early childhood literacy, racial awareness, and sociopolitical development research. 

“I’m interested in how children—especially young Black children—see themselves and make meaning about their social location,” Johnson said. “In my research, I’m focused on children’s perspectives and how researchers can meaningfully be in conversation with children and understand their views of the world.”

Johnson was honored with the award at the AERA national conference this spring in Philadelphia. 

“It means a lot to me to be recognized for my work in early childhood education research,” Johnson said. “It affirms to me that the work I do matters and is important to my colleagues in the field. This award is also a reminder that there are likeminded scholars addressing these issues alongside me.”

Johnson, who is a former prek and kindergarten teacher, is currently conducting her research with a local Freedom School, alongside School of Education and Human Development colleague Naila A. Smith. She hopes their project will yield insights into the value of Freedom Schools and how the participating children understand ways to make change in their community.