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ETA News Release: [03/24/2006]
Contact Name: David
James
Phone Number: 202-693-4676
Release Number: 06-0544-NAT
Esther Johnson Named Job Corps National Director
First African-American Woman to Head
Program
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced
the appointment of Esther R. Johnson as the new national director of the Office
of Job Corps, within the U.S. Department of Labor. Ms. Johnson, a seasoned
government executive with considerable career public service experience in
education and employment policy, is the first African-American woman to head
the Job Corps in the program's 41-year history.
"Esther Johnson is a proven leader who has a passion for expanding
economic opportunities for young people through education and training," said
Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "Her excellent credentials as an educator,
workforce professional and government executive will give Job Corps the strong,
results-oriented leadership it needs to keep helping young people succeed."
"The Job Corps has a proud history, and I am excited about the
opportunity to build on this legacy by pursuing educational and high skills
training strategies for our youth that will keep them in step with the needs of
the 21st Century workforce," said Esther Johnson.
Johnson is a life-long public servant with extensive experience at both
federal and state levels. Prior to her appointment as national director of the
Office of Job Corps, Johnson served as administrator for the Office of
Performance and Technology in the Employment and Training Administration (ETA)
at the Department of Labor (DOL). Within ETA, Johnson has risen rapidly though
several leadership assignments with increasing responsibility, serving as
comptroller, associate administrator for the Office of Policy and Research,
division chief in the Office of Workforce Security and special assistant to the
director of Unemployment Insurance. Prior to her service at DOL, Johnson worked
with the Arlington County Public Schools in Arlington, Virginia. She holds a
Doctorate in Educational Administration from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University and both Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees in
education from Virginia Commonwealth University.
In her new leadership role with the Office of Job Corps, Johnson will
administer the program and its 122 Job Corps centers across the country. The
Job Corps serves over 65,000 disadvantaged youth, ages 16-24, each year. The
largely residential program offers opportunities to secure academic and
vocational credentials and assists students in securing placements in
education, employment or military service upon graduation.
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