Jerry Johnson is the Phoebe Moore Dail Distinguished Professor in Rural Education at East Carolina University. The 2017 recipient of the Brzezinski Memorial Rural Education Research Award from the National Rural Education Association, Johnson's research has been funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Institute for Education Sciences and Office of English Language Acquisition, state departments of education, private foundations, educational service agencies, and local school districts. His work on educational policy has been the basis for testifying before state legislatures, presenting congressional research briefings, and contributing to the development of state and federal legislation and regulations regarding the funding and operation of public schools and the preparation of teachers and leaders.