The Principal of the Matter

by D'Ron Campbell and Joshua Wood and Richard Espinoza

No stranger to the Valley, Jake Johnston has taken a new leadership role at Encampment K-12 School beginning this school year with the retirement of Mike Erickson after 19 years with Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2).

Johnston started his experience in a leadership role at Encampment K-12 as the acting principal for an interim period before Erickson fully retired. Johnston graduated from Saratoga High School in 2008. He also graduated from the University of Wyoming in 2012 and earned his Master's Degree in Educational Leadership at Western Governors University in July 2024.

Johnston began teaching at Encampment in 2012, spending 11 years as a 5th grade teacher and seven years as the varsity basketball head coach. On March 5, Johnston competed against one other person for the position of principal, answering questions in a community forum with parents and faculty.

Ready to see the students return to Encampment, Johnston said, “Being the new principal of Encampment is exciting and humbling. It is exciting because it is a new adventure and experience, and it is humbling because I want to do my best.”

“My goals during my first term as principal are to help support the teachers with tier-1 instruction, lead the students positively, and get our community more involved with the school,” Johnston said. “I plan to work with parents and students to achieve these goals through conversations and listening to what they believe can benefit our school.”

Johnston said he is concentrating on giving different educational options for parents and students to decide what is best for them. He said Encampment has a bright future for its students and new changes in incoming staff.

“We are trying to offer some different higher-level and more concurrent enrollment classes,” Johnston said. “Encampment is a great school filled with amazing staff and students and has unbelievable parent support. I am excited about the opportunity to lead the school.”

Kegan Willford, social studies teacher and head football coach, said Johnston is the right person to be principal and takes pride in being a member of the Encampment family.

“Jake has been around the Platte Valley for a long time and he brings great energy and a positive attitude to our school,” Willford said. “He gets a lot of respect from students, staff, and the community. We are excited to have him as our new principal.”

Willford said one of Johnston's outstanding qualities is his ability to reach out to students, parents and the community.

“Jake establishes excellent relationships,” Willford said. “He is always out in the hallway shaking everyone's hand and always offers kind words with a smile and encouragement.”

Tyrel Brown, an Encampment senior, said he was happy to have Johnston as the school's new principal.

“Mr. Johnston is doing an awesome job so far,” Brown said. “The first thing that comes to mind about Mr. Johnston is that he is involved with students' lives, keeps the school flowing and makes education better for all of us.”

He said Johnston cares a lot about the students and creates a positive atmosphere each time they walk down the hallway.

“He does a great job helping less fortunate students,” Brown said. “He makes sure everyone gets a fair shot at education and treats everyone equally.”

Kannon Gilbert, an Encampment sophomore, said Johnston sets the right example as the leader at Encampment K-12 and makes everyone look forward to coming to school.

“Mr. Johnston is doing a great job as principal and is a great role model to all the students,” Gilbert said. “He has taught us boys to become young great men. Mr. Johnston comes into our classrooms, encourages the kids and helps build our culture to what we want it to be. He leaves nobody out, and no one is less than anyone else. We are all in it together to make Encampment a better place.”

Gilbert said Johnston makes Encampment an excellent learning environment and makes education fun for everyone.

“The students are excited to have Mr. Johnston as our new principal,” Gilbert said. “He is already making changes and he always gets the kids pumped.”