Meet our ESP of the Year

Mrs. Johnson Picard Johnson

Delran School District’s Educational Service Professional of the Year for 2015

Mrs. Johnson has been a practicing occupational therapist since 1985.  Her experience includes school-based care public and private, adult rehabilitation, brain injury rehabilitation and in-home and nursing home care.  Mrs. Johnson has developed skills in sensory processing, handwriting, and visual perceptual, visual motor and fine motor functioning, wheelchair positioning, adaptive seating, adaptive feeding, and self-care training. 

Mrs. Johnson received her advanced Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Thomas Jefferson University in 1992.  She is co-author of a treatment workbook, The Community Living Skills Manual. This workbook looks at life skills such as banking, library skills, consumer buying, grocery shopping, and transportation.  Mrs. Johnson  received her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy in 1985 from Kean University, (previously known as Kean College).  

Mrs. Johnson began working part-time in the Delran Public Schools in January of 1998 as a contracted therapist with Burlington County Special Services School District.  She was hired full-time as a Delran employee in September 2003.  Mrs. Johnson currently works with students in all four Delran schools.  While many may find it a challenge, she believes it is a great advantage to work with students from building to building.  She takes pride and shares with others the gains that her students achieve over the years.  The occupational therapy caseload can be quite diverse.  The teachers, parents, case managers, administrators and therapists work closely together to promote success for the student in their occupation as “student”.  The role of the occupational therapist is to support the student and the teacher to promote the students skills in the school setting.  Mrs. Johnson believes her role as our occupational therapist as an exciting, challenging and rewarding occupation.

Parents, peers and administration alike have recognized her important and unique contributions to student development and success both academically and functionally. When nominated for this recognition, she was cited for her flexibility and tieless advocacy for the students she services as well as her ability to recognize and encourage staff member’s attempts to service students with OT needs. It was said that …”Mrs. Johnson serves as an invaluable resource to help students with OT needs successfully transition between schools. Her demeanor is always professional and caring.” She is an extremely dedicated individual and we are very fortunate to have her serving our students.

Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.