School renamed for the late Rev. Tom Edward Johnson Jr.

REV. THOMAS EDWARD JOHNSON JR. & Longtime educator dedicated life to service, youth, uplifting others & The Mon Valley Boys Academy has been renamed the Tom Johnson Boys Academy of the Mon Valley, the New Pittsburgh Courier has learned exclusively. The renaming pays homage to the legacy of Rev. Thomas Edward Johnson Jr., an educator, leader and spiritual guide whose impact on underserved youth and communities resonates deeply, the school said in a news release, dated Nov. 22. Born on May 4, 1955, in Wilkinsburg, Rev. Johnson dedicated his life to the transformative power of education and service. A 1973 graduate of Shady Side Academy, and later Wooster College and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Rev. Johnson’s accomplishments include earning an honorary Ph.D. from Bethany College. His life’s work embodied the principles of integrity, perseverance, and a steadfast commitment to uplifting others, the news release said. As co-founder of The Neighborhood Academy in 2001, along with Josephine Brodhead Moore, and later the Mon Valley Boys Academy in 2022, Rev. Johnson championed holistic education, nurturing not only academic excellence but also the moral and spiritual growth of his students. His deep belief in breaking the cycle of poverty through education has inspired countless...