When Brandon Johnson walked across the Goddard High School graduation stage, alongside the rest of the Class of 2026, he left behind more than 13 years of memories. He left behind a legacy that will greet students, staff, and families at the front doors of seven USD 265 schools for years to come. During his time as a Community Relations Intern for Goddard Public Schools, Johnson spent the better part of the past school year reshaping the visual identity of every elementary and intermediate school in the district. By the end, he had delivered fresh, unified logo designs that honor the unique spirit of each school community, while simultaneously weaving together the fabric of the entire #265Family.
Johnson's internship began with a clear sense of purpose. Tasked with identifying a project that would create a lasting contribution to the district, he quickly zeroed in on an opportunity that combined his creative instincts with a genuine need: the logo redesign initiative. Goddard Public Schools' five elementary schools (serving students in Kindergarten - 4th Grade) and both intermediate schools (serving 5th and 6th Graders) had logos that varied widely in style and design language. Johnson set out to change that, and to help create individual logos that match the culture of each school and instill a consistent feel across the District.
What followed was six months of methodical, relationship-driven design work. Johnson met regularly with the principals of all seven K-6 schools, presenting initial concepts, listening carefully to feedback, and returning to the drawing board when a design didn't yet precisely enough capture a school's identity. Each building brought its own culture, colors, and sense of pride to the table, and Johnson worked to honor that individuality while also building toward a look that fit cohesively. The process was neither quick nor simple, but that, Johnson would come to realize, was exactly the point.
"This past year, I had the opportunity to serve as the Community Relations Intern for Goddard Public Schools, and it has been the most meaningful experience of my school career," Johnson said. "I chose to focus on a logo redesign project intended to modernize and unify the branding of USD 265's elementary and intermediate schools. Over the span of eight months, I met regularly with principals to present concepts, gather feedback, and revise designs to align with each school's individual vision. The collaborative process and the back-and-forth between offices were much more beneficial than designing in isolation; while it presented challenges, the experience was more rewarding because of them."
The announcement to staff and families across each school captured what made Johnson's work so meaningful: this wasn't a design handed down from a paid vendor, or produced without community input. It was student-sourced and shaped by someone who had walked the hallways of Goddard Public Schools, attended its events, built lifelong relationships with educators and staff, and understood its culture from the inside. As the announcement noted, Johnson "approached this work with care and intention, creating a design that reflects each school's unique identity, while fitting within a cohesive look across the #265Family." For each school community, the new logo was described not just as a visual update, but as "a symbol our students, staff, and families can wear with pride."
Beyond the design work itself, the internship reshaped how Johnson saw the institution he grew up in. Gaining behind-the-scenes access to the daily rhythms of school administration, observing the coordination between teachers, support staff, building leaders, and district offices, gave him a new appreciation for the complexity and care that goes into running a public school system. "This internship also gave me a new perspective on public education," Johnson reflected. "Seeing the teamwork that happens behind the scenes every day, between teachers, staff, administrators, and district, was eye-opening. As someone who has attended Goddard Public Schools for nearly my entire life, being able to contribute something that will have a lasting impact, like my logo project and leading the Neighbors United initiative, is incredibly special."
As the new logos begin rolling out across Goddard Public Schools' elementary and intermediate digital platforms (such as websites and social media pages), the goal is to be thoughtful in setting expectations for the transition: making clear that change of this kind happens gradually, and that no immediate overhaul of signage, gear, or school spaces is expected. What matters is what the logos represent: a fresh chapter, thoughtfully begun. For Brandon Johnson, this chapter for the schools is just as impactful as the one he is closing. "I am grateful to everyone who trusted and encouraged me throughout this process," he said. "I look forward to seeing how these logos inspire the next generation of Goddard students and become a chapter of each school's story!"
In a district that prides itself on developing the whole student, Johnson's internship stands as a fitting example of what that development can look like when put into practice: a young person given the trust, tools, and opportunity to contribute something real, lasting, and entirely his own. Please join us in congratulating not only Brandon Johnson for his efforts and contributions, but to each of the USD 265 schools that will be welcoming a new logo. It’s moments like these that define having #265Pride!