Team Spotlight: Program Director Anthony Johnson

Believe it or not, I studied finance in college. I never imagined I would end up working in education. As a student at Queens College majoring in economics, accounting, and corporate finance, I was planning on a career in banking. For a variety of reasons, that path didn’t unfold the way I expected. So when I heard that the COMPASS afterschool program at P.S. 15 was hiring in June 2016, I applied. I’ve been here ever since, and I couldn’t be happier. I have always loved school and being engaged in academics, and this became an opportunity to share that love with the next generation. As my mother says, everything happens for a reason.

After serving as a group leader, activity specialist, and program coordinator, I now serve as the program director of the P.S. 15 COMPASS program. Each day, I work to ensure that our 180 participants, their families, and our staff have what they need to thrive. I partner closely with the principal, administration, and teachers during the school day, as well as with families and the broader community, so that we can support students holistically. We don’t see ourselves as separate from the school—we are intertwined. If something happens during the school day, the principal contacts me; if something develops in afterschool, I reach out to him. The goal is simple: to operate as one unit in service of our students and families. It truly takes a village to raise a child, and I’m proud to be part of that village.

I carry that same commitment to my staff. Many of my team members are young, between the ages of 18 and 24, and I take seriously my responsibility to mentor, coach, and guide them, not just for the role they have today, but also for the careers they are building. Through our partnership with the Department of Education, several staff members have been nominated to step into roles within the school system. Helping to create that pipeline bringing more educators of color into the field is one of my proudest accomplishments.

One of the most rewarding parts of this work is seeing former students graduate from high school, return to visit, and share how their time here shaped them. Watching them recognize their own growth is incredibly meaningful. I feel that same pride when former staff members graduate from college or pursue careers in education and other service-driven fields that began with their experience here.

Recently, a former participant who enrolled in a top-tier college down south reached out to ask if she could work with me over the summer. Having her return in a professional capacity was a full-circle moment. She stepped into the role with confidence because she already understood what this program represents and what it can offer young people. Seeing that transformation firsthand is something I will never take for granted.

As I continue my work with The Child Center to ensure that youth here have a strong foundation on which to build their futures, I’m also looking ahead. My goal is to expand how we support families by offering more education around areas in which they wish to grow, particularly financial literacy. In many ways, this brings me back to where I started. Families want to buy homes, return to school, and build stability. If I can use my background to help them reach those goals, then my journey has come full circle.

That mindset comes from my mother. She’s from “Jamaica, West Indies,” as we say, to distinguish it from the Queens neighborhood of Jamaica, where I grew up. She has always believed in helping others however she can. Whether supporting family back home with supplies and financial assistance or helping friends and neighbors here in New York, she has always seen the bigger picture. Her example shaped how I lead and how I serve. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be who I am today.

To me, Black excellence means continually striving for more not only for ourselves, but also for our families and our communities. It means walking into spaces where we may feel overlooked and still giving our very best. It means understanding that our success reflects the sacrifices of those who came before us and creates possibility for those who come after us.

I believe I’ve found my purpose: helping people recognize their potential and invest in their futures. I may not have ended up in banking, but I’ve found something far more meaningful, and I’m just getting started.