Laura Ruth Johnson

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Laura Ruth Johnson
Associate Professor, Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment,
Northern Illinois University

Laura Ruth Johnson is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Technology, Research, and Assessment in the College of Education at Northern Illinois University. She teaches courses in qualitative research methods, including ethnographic research, interview methods, and community-based and participatory action research. Her research focuses on civic engagement and community involvement among Latinx and African American youth, with a particular emphasis on young mothers. She collaborates with staff and students at an alternative high school in Chicago’s Humboldt Park community to strengthen services and develop initiatives centered on youth activism and intergenerational mentorship for young parents. Her teaching and research also explore community-university partnerships and the engagement of graduate students in community-based research projects. Johnson earned her MA in education through the Advanced Reading and Language Leadership Program and her PhD in language and literacy, society, and culture from the University of California, Berkeley.

updated 2025

Contributing topics
Access, quality & alignment in early childhood education
Education finance
Educator workforce & effectiveness
Publications by Laura Ruth Johnson
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Advancing the Early Childhood Workforce
Implementation of Training and Retention Initiatives in the Bay Area
The early care and education (ECE) profession faces staffing problems due to understaffed centers, high turnover rates, and an educationally bifurcated workforce. To mitigate this issue, programs like the California Childcare Retention Incentive (…
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A Case Study of San Francisco County CARES
Year 2 Qualitative Implementation Study (QIS)
This paper assesses the perspectives and experiences of stakeholders on San Francisco County’s CARES program, a childcare retention–incentive program. Year 2 saw over a threefold increase in the number of stipends awarded, but recipients felt the…
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A Case Study of Alameda County Child Development Corps
Year 2 Qualitative Implementation Study (QIS)
This paper discusses the second year of Alameda County’s Child Development Corps program as a childcare retention-incentive program. The program's goals were to encourage staff training, professional development, and establish a strong network of…
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Inventory of Early Childhood Education Training in California
This report discusses an initiative by the California Children and Families Commission to expand the availability and quality of early care and education programs. The project includes recruiting and training early care providers, improving…