Ashley Johnson, Speaker

Ashley Johnson won the 2024 Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) National Literacy Award and advocates for adult education. She founded and directs The Pivot Path™, a nonprofit in Montgomery, Alabama, where she leads programs that combine GED preparation, workforce training, career counseling, and support services. Her work helps adults move from earning their GED to finding better job opportunities.

Ashley’s dedication to adult education comes from her own life. She left high school in 11th grade and earned her GED in 2006, which allowed her to join the U.S. Army and continue her education. Her experience as an adult learner shapes her work and gives her a real, strong voice in promoting adult education as a key part of economic growth. She knows the challenges adult learners face and believes in the power of strong support systems.Ashley is working toward an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at Liberty University, where her research looks at how adult education affects economic mobility in communities. She also has an MBA from Columbia Southern University. As a certified John Maxwell Speaker, Trainer, and Coach, she helps adult learners build confidence and reach their goals.

Ashley’s leadership goes beyond The Pivot Path™. She graduated from the Alabama Leadership Initiative and Leadership Montgomery Torchbearers, showing her commitment to building strong relationships and working with others. As a board member at the Samaritan House Counseling Center, she supports her community’s education and culture. Since joining COABE in January 2024, Ashley has become a leading voice for adult education in Alabama, working to ensure adult learners are heard in policy discussions and that programs receive lasting funding.

Ashley is a proud mother of two, Maddie and Maddox, and stays involved in her Montgomery community by volunteering.