Jerry L. Johns has been recognized as a distinguished teacher, writer, outstanding teacher educator, and popular professional development speaker for schools, school districts, and conferences. He completed his B.A. at Oakland University with special honors and his M.A. and Ph.D. at Michigan State University. Dr. Johns had a long, distinguished career at Northern Illinois University and maintains a close connection with the Literacy Clinic. He was also a Visiting Professor at Western Washington University and the University of Victoria in British Columbia.

Dr. Johns has been elected to leadership positions at the local, state, national, and international levels. He has been president of the International Literacy Association, the Illinois Reading Council (IRC), the Northern Illinois Reading Council, and the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers (ALER). He also served on the Board of Directors for each of these professional organizations. In addition, Dr. Johns has served on numerous committees of the International Literacy Association and other professional organizations. His more than 700 presentations and professional development sessions involved travel throughout a majority of the states and 13 countries.

Dr. Johns has authored or coauthored nearly 300 articles, monographs, and research studies as well as numerous professional books published by Kendall Hunt.

Dr. Johns currently serves on the editorial advisory boards for Reading Psychology and the Illinois Reading Council Journal. He is also the Senior Reading Consultant for three levels of Vocabulary Workshop published by William H. Sadlier.

Dr. Johns has been the recipient of numerous awards for his contributions to various professional and civic organizations. The Illinois Reading Council honored him with induction into the Reading Hall of Fame. Other recognitions include the Alpha Delta Literacy Award for Scholarship, Leadership, and Service to Adult Learners and the A.B. Herr Award for outstanding contributions to the field of reading. He also received the Outstanding Teacher Educator in Reading Award presented by the International Literacy Association, the Champion for Children Award presented by the HOSTS Corporation, and the Laureate Award from the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers for life-long contributions to the field of reading. In 2011, Altrusa International of DeKalb/Sycamore presented him with a literacy award for his many contributions to reading.  Most recently, he was elected to the Reading Hall of Fame and formally inducted at the 2015 conference of the International Literacy Association.  At the same conference, he was selected to receive the William S. Gray Citation of Merit for his outstanding contributions to reading.