Sharise M. Johnson
Sharise M. Johnson is a communications strategist, entrepreneur, and advocate with nearly 20 years of experience helping organizations tell their stories, navigate complex communications challenges, and build meaningful connections with the communities they serve. Her career spans K–12 education, nonprofit, corporate, and national education organizations, with expertise in strategic communications, public relations, executive positioning, crisis communications, media relations, and family and community engagement.
Sharise is the Founder and CEO of SMJ Communications, a strategic communications firm that partners with education and mission-driven organizations across the country to bring greater clarity, strategy, and impact to their communications. Through SMJ, Sharise advises organizational and executive leaders on everything from proactive communications and thought leadership to reputation management, crisis response, and major organizational initiatives.
Prior to founding SMJ Communications, Sharise served as Senior Director of Communications for a Texas school district, where she led the district’s internal and external communications strategy and stewarded its brand locally and nationally. She previously served as Managing Director of National Communications for Teach For America and Communications Manager for Atlanta Public Schools, and managed corporate communications strategy and major campaigns and announcements at AT&T. Sharise began her career in broadcast journalism and earned her degree in Broadcast Journalism and Spanish from Hampton University.
Sharise is also the creator of Mommy Magic, a growing platform and community helping moms create magical childhoods without exhausting themselves in the process. Through practical resources, storytelling, media appearances, and brand partnerships, she shares tools and ideas designed to bring more joy to children and more ease to the moms raising them.
Deeply committed to maternal and family advocacy, Sharise also serves as Executive Director of The Elaine Symone Foundation, a nonprofit providing advocacy, support, resources, and care to NICU families of color.
Originally from Atlanta, Sharise now resides in Fort Mill, South Carolina, with her husband and their three daughters, Faith, Grace, and Joy. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and enjoys traveling, community service, and creating memorable experiences with her family.
