Jill Johnson's main focus at the School of Education is on literacy and strategies for teaching reading comprehension and writing. She leads the School's Master of Education in Literacy program. She is also heavily involved in the community as a board member for Kingdom Cares, Educational Cabinet member for United Way, and member of the West Des Moines Teaching and Learning Advisory Committee. She is also a past board member for the I Have a Dream Foundation and former member of the Des Moines Public Schools Library Support Group.