Full Sail's tenth annual Hall of Fame week brought together students, faculty, alumni, and guests to celebrate throughout campus. At a panel featuring the impact educators have had on three Hall of Famers, Full Sail was proud to announce Christopher Johnston as the 2018 Extraordinary Educator award recipient. He was joined in celebration by fellow Extraordinary Educators Edson Beckett (2016) and Lindsey Spalding (2017).

Mr. Johnston is an instructor of Music and Computer Technology at the Fairfax Academy for Communications and the Arts in Fairfax, Virginia. In addition to his work at the Academy, he is also on the faculty of Northern Virginia Community College as Music Director for the NVCC-Annandale Symphony Orchestra.

"I can think of no greater privilege than the joy of participating in the artistic development of the young men and women whom I've had the honor to teach over the years," he said.

Christopher designed Virginia's first music technology curriculum and for the past twenty years has been a pioneer in developing music technology programs nationwide. He's received national recognition for his work in music education, including the 2005 Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction Award, the 2006 Wolf Trap Foundation Scholarship Award, and the LFI 2008 Virginia Leadership in Education Award. Christopher is also a three-time Grammy "Music Educator of the Year" nominee.

More importantly, he's always been a support system and advocate for all of his students. "It never gets old. It's always a thrilling adventure. And when the privilege includes so many of them reaching out in gratitude to share stories of their personal and professional successes in the music industry - can it possibly get any better than that?"

A handful of his former academy students, who now attend Full Sail University, gathered alongside his wife and son to present him with the Extraordinary Educator award. Mr. Johnston has truly been an inspiring, supportive educator throughout his career, and Full Sail is proud to acknowledge his achievements.