Dr. Kristle Hodges Johnson is the Executive Director of University High School, a laboratory school on the campus of University of Memphis, which launched in the fall of 2022. She has over 10 years of experience in education, beginning in the classroom as a high school English teacher in her TFA placement school, serving as a department chair and literacy coach, and transitioning into a principal role at Freedom Preparatory Academy High School. Under her leadership, the school was named a Tennessee Reward School and recognized as one of the “Best High Schools” in Tennessee by U.S. News & World Report for two consecutive years and graduated the first 3 classes of students, with 100% acceptance rates into 4 year universities. Most recently, Dr. Hodges Johnson managed Freedom Prep’s Network Academic Team and middle and high school leaders before joining the University Schools Leadership Team. She completed her BA in English from St. Mary’s College, her MEd from Christian Brothers University and her EdD from Vanderbilt University.