She just loves watching children learn.

And she’s been doing it for 41 years.

But now she’s retiring.

Her name is Bernquetta Johnson, a fifth-grade teacher and assistant principal at U. S. Jones Elementary School, and come this June, she will finally be calling it quits.

Johnson, a native of Demopolis, attended Alabama A and M University in Huntsville before finally becoming a teacher in Demopolis.

What brought her to the teaching profession ?

Despite the joys of teaching over the past few years, Johnson said that one thing that has changed lately is the lack of discipline from students and less parental involvement within the school system.

Johnson said children seem to get into other things nowadays.

Then, said Johnson, there’s the paperwork.

Johnson was raised by parents, Joseph Johnson, a railroad worker, and Hardenia Johnson, a restaurant manager in Demopolis.

She remembers a time when the schools were not quite the way the way they were now.

Johnson, who never married, said that she still had family &045; at least in a different way.

Editor’s Note: Every Wednesday, The Demopolis Times will feature a teacher in our area in a weekly feature called "Teacher Talk." If you know of a teacher who deserves to be spotlighted, contact Saj Abraham at

289-4017.