ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Judy Gray Johnson (creator and producer) graduated from South Carolina State with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1964, earned a special education MEd from Virginia State University in 1971, and completed the coursework for a doctorate in educational administration and supervision from Virginia State Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. She is also certified in the Commonwealth of Virginia as an elementary and secondary school principal. She developed the Travelmate Program in Fairfax County specifically to introduce third graders to geography, history, and the community. For three years, she served as president of the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers (the second largest teachers union in the state of Virginia,) representing teachers and aides in the largest school district in the state of Virginia.

Alison Mills Newman (author) is an artist, screenwriter, poet, and author of the acclaimed Francisco, Maggie 3, The Tree Widow Book, and If You See Me Dancing. She is the author of St. Augustine’s Confessions, which was performed at the Perris Community Theatre. She is an award-winning film director of “The Tree Widow” short series, executive producer of the award-winning feature film Virgin Again (directed by Francisco Newman and now available on TUBI). She is a graduate of Saint Stephens University in the field of theology and has served as a chaplain for the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia, for five years.