Keynote Speaker

 
 Dr. Patricia “Trish” Rhyne Johnson, a life-long learner and educator, retired in June 2018 after 39 years of service to the students, families and employees of North Carolina Public Schools. Trish has served North Carolina Schools as a Teacher, Speech Pathologist, Assistant Principal, Principal, Program Director and Associate Superintendent.  In 1994 she was appointed principal in Catawba County Schools, the first African American woman to serve as Principal in the district after desegregation.  Her last assignment, prior to retirement in 2018 was Associate Superintendent of the Caldwell County School district.  During her tenure as Associate Superintendent with Caldwell County Schools, her primary responsibilities were supervision and management of the district’s Human Resource Services department, which included the areas of employee recruitment, employment processing from onboarding to retirement, employee due process and discipline, the Beginning Teacher Support Program, Teacher Licensure, employee benefits and resources, paraprofessional, teacher and administrator staff development, student teacher placement, employee recognition programs, substitute teacher recruitment and training, and Principal and Program Director supervision and evaluation.  
 
Recognizing that to whom much is given, much more is required, Dr. Johnson served for many years in her church as Sunday School Superintendent, teacher of the Solid Rock Adult Sunday School class, Safe Sanctuary Trainer and Coordinator and a member of the Women’s Ministry.  An active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated for 48 years, she was initiated in the Delta Chi Chapter at Elizabeth City State University and is a charter member of the Hickory Alumnae Chapter.  On August 1, 2020 she elected as the 18th director of the South Atlantic Region, which includes the of states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and the Island of Bermuda.  She is also a member of the Piedmont Chapter of The Links Incorporated, a Commissioner for the Hickory Public Housing Authority Board of Directors, a member of the Girl Scouts Peaks 2 Piedmont Board of Directors, a member of the steering committee of the Appalachian State University Women In Education Leadership Forum and a member of the Catawba Valley Community College Board of Directors Trustee. 
 
Dr. Johnson received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City North Carolina, a Masters of Arts Degree in Speech Pathology from South Carolina State University, Orangeburg South Carolina, Specialist in Education Degree and the Doctor of Education Degree from Appalachian State University, Boone North Carolina. 
 
Trish is married to Larry Johnson and they reside in the Mountain View community in Hickory. They are the parents of two adult sons and a daughter in-love.