Johnson steps down from Albany County School Board

The board must now fill the vacancy just months after filling its last. Johnson, a lifelong Laramie resident, is leaving the state. He said Albany County ‘will always remain my home at heart.’

Jamin Johnson has stepped down from his position on the Albany County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees, leaving the board to fill its second vacancy in three months.

Johnson himself had been selected to fill out an unexpired term in 2019 and kept the seat by winning election in 2020. During his time on the board, he was respected by other trustees, even those with whom he disagreed. Johnson frequently voted against the district’s mask mandate – easily the most heated and frequently discussed topic of the last several months.

“It has been an honor to serve on the school board with you,” Board Chair Janice Marshall writes in a district news release. “You have brought valuable perspective as a parent and lifelong Laramie resident. The many professional roles you have worked in have provided important background and understanding for school board work. Your professional demeanor has been remarkable. Although you brought informed opinions, you were always willing to listen to facts, data, and differing opinions to make the best decisions for our district. I admire your exceptional ability to peacefully agree to disagree.”

According to the same release, Johnson is stepping down to pursue other opportunities outside of Laramie.

“Laramie and Albany County have been my home the entirety of my life and will always remain my home at heart,” Johnson writes. “Over the past three years, I have had the honor of serving the people of Albany County as a voice for the children, staff, and teachers. I can say that this service has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”

Johnson’s resignation will kick off a replacement process through which the remaining board members will appoint a successor. That successor will serve for less than a year before they must win an election to keep the seat.

Seven of the nine trustees will have to run and win in 2022 to keep their seats. The only two trustees with terms extending beyond 2022 are Emily Siegel Stanton and Kim Sorenson, who were both elected to the board for four-year terms in 2020.

The school board is accepting applications for the open position until Friday at 5 p.m. The board will likely meet next Monday to narrow the pool of candidates — as they did two months ago when the last vacancy inspired 16 applications — and meet again Wednesday to interview the finalists.

The board is bound by state law to select a replacement within 30 days of Johnson’s resignation.