Ebony Johnson replaced former superintendent Deborah Gist in September.

It was a chaotic start - TPS, the state's largest school district with more than 30,000 students, was under the threat of takeover by the state board of education, as state Superintendent Ryan Walters targeted Gist and TPS with criticism and ultimatums.

Gist eventually stepped down, Johnson was appointed, and tensions cooled slightly.

"I feel like right now, leadership is needed in a way that it's never been needed before, and I'm honored to do that," Johnson told The Frontier.