Page 19 - JulyAugust2016 Vol34 No2
P. 19
“Twenty-five years ago you didn’t even see women in public works,” Wesleyan with her current success.
Shawn Lindsey said. “And so having a woman street superintendent “It was one of the best programs ever,”
is something special. We have women in public works now, and had
them for a while now, but as far as I know, there has not been a Johnston said. “Our whole class, we all
female street superintendent.” worked during the day and then got to
go to school at night, and we were all
something women would seek out very “I’ve met quite a few women in the in the same boat, we wanted to finish
often. Public Works field, in the different those degrees and were having a hard
conferences I’ve gone to and I believe time getting a schedule while working
“I started my career about 17 or 18 that the gap is beginning to get more full time. So that allowed us to do that,
years ago, and when you saw women in even and close,” Johnston said. and I’m so grateful to TWC and that
this industry then they might be flaggers, program.”
things like that. You didn’t see a whole And Lindsey gave her a vote of
lot of equipment operators. But now confidence. Johnston’s husband, Brad, is a deputy
you have females that are equipment in the McMinn County Sheriff ’s
operators.” “April is going to do a very good job Department. She recalls a time when
at this,” Lindsey said. “She’s got the both she and her husband worked in
Being used to working those sorts of organizational skills and management Knoxville and looked at moving there,
tasks and working with a lot of men in skills and people skills to do well.” but the appeal of her hometown Athens
the field has Johnston feeling more than was too strong to leave.
up to the tasks her new position entails. Born and raised in Athens, Johnston
graduated from McMinn County High “We couldn’t do it, we couldn’t leave
“I don’t think it’s intimidating, by any School in 1998. While working full-time here,” Johnston said. “I wanted my son
means,” Johnston said. “I’ve always had after high school, she attended Tennessee to grow up here, and then my daughter
jobs where I’ve worked with the guys and Wesleyan, where she participated in a came along and I want her to grow up
enjoy what I do.” degree program for working adults that here and have what I had.”
allowed her to attend night classes on the
And Johnston is also noticing that the way to a bachelor of science degree in Johnston is a mother of a 15-year-old
traditionally lopsided gender ratio in the management in 2006. son and 3-year-old daughter — her No. 1
Public Works field has been evening out job when she’s not in the office.
recently. Johnston credited that program at
“I never have a dull moment,” Johnston
said. “I love it, here and at home.”
Reprinted with Permission by the Daily Post-
Athenian
View online at tnpublicworks.com 19
Shawn Lindsey said. “And so having a woman street superintendent “It was one of the best programs ever,”
is something special. We have women in public works now, and had
them for a while now, but as far as I know, there has not been a Johnston said. “Our whole class, we all
female street superintendent.” worked during the day and then got to
go to school at night, and we were all
something women would seek out very “I’ve met quite a few women in the in the same boat, we wanted to finish
often. Public Works field, in the different those degrees and were having a hard
conferences I’ve gone to and I believe time getting a schedule while working
“I started my career about 17 or 18 that the gap is beginning to get more full time. So that allowed us to do that,
years ago, and when you saw women in even and close,” Johnston said. and I’m so grateful to TWC and that
this industry then they might be flaggers, program.”
things like that. You didn’t see a whole And Lindsey gave her a vote of
lot of equipment operators. But now confidence. Johnston’s husband, Brad, is a deputy
you have females that are equipment in the McMinn County Sheriff ’s
operators.” “April is going to do a very good job Department. She recalls a time when
at this,” Lindsey said. “She’s got the both she and her husband worked in
Being used to working those sorts of organizational skills and management Knoxville and looked at moving there,
tasks and working with a lot of men in skills and people skills to do well.” but the appeal of her hometown Athens
the field has Johnston feeling more than was too strong to leave.
up to the tasks her new position entails. Born and raised in Athens, Johnston
graduated from McMinn County High “We couldn’t do it, we couldn’t leave
“I don’t think it’s intimidating, by any School in 1998. While working full-time here,” Johnston said. “I wanted my son
means,” Johnston said. “I’ve always had after high school, she attended Tennessee to grow up here, and then my daughter
jobs where I’ve worked with the guys and Wesleyan, where she participated in a came along and I want her to grow up
enjoy what I do.” degree program for working adults that here and have what I had.”
allowed her to attend night classes on the
And Johnston is also noticing that the way to a bachelor of science degree in Johnston is a mother of a 15-year-old
traditionally lopsided gender ratio in the management in 2006. son and 3-year-old daughter — her No. 1
Public Works field has been evening out job when she’s not in the office.
recently. Johnston credited that program at
“I never have a dull moment,” Johnston
said. “I love it, here and at home.”
Reprinted with Permission by the Daily Post-
Athenian
View online at tnpublicworks.com 19
