Gainesville street to be renamed for local educators

The new street sign is displayed at the January 4 Gainesville City Commission meeting

Press release from the City of Gainesville

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gainesville city leaders invite all neighbors to the upcoming street-naming ceremony in honor of local educators, Dr. Simon and Verna Johnson.

When: 11 a.m.-noon on Monday, March 4

Where: Caring and Sharing Learning School, 1951 SE 4th Street

The City of Gainesville will unveil the street sign that renames a portion of SE 4th Street between Williston Road and SE 21st Avenue as “Dr. Simon and Verna Johnson Street.” 

The late Dr. Simon O. Johnson, Sr. served as an educator for more than 60 years, becoming the first Black tenured professor at the University of Florida. Verna Johnson started her educational career in the late 60s and went on to serve as assistant director of the Alachua County Head Start Program and as a mentor to numerous educators. Together, the couple founded the Caring and Sharing Learning School in 1998. The charter school, in Southeast Gainesville, has earned several national honors as an effective model for the nation.

The event is free and open to the public.

  • My wife and I both knew Si. He was a great guy. I think the last time I saw him was years ago at Ironwood.

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