Johnson and Johnson. It is just another day in the office as assistant principals Lynette and Ryan Johnson have a discussion. Ironically, both administrators worked at West Fargo High School before claiming Bismarck High School as their home. “We have a fantastic staff and the best student body in the state,” Lynette said.

Each year the Johnson’s constantly have to remind students that they are not in any way related. They are consistently questioned on whether they are siblings, cousins, married, or somehow distant relatives.
“No matter how many times we mention it at the beginning of the year meetings, we always get at least one or two students who will say, ‘Hey, I just talked to your husband,’ and I have to remind them that we are not married.” Lynette Johnson said.
Ryan Johnson is one of the three assistant principals here at BHS. If you have an issue that requires administration, he handles students with last names A-H. Lynette Johnson is also one of Bismarck High Schools assistant principals, and handles last names O-Z.
“We are starting our ninth year of working together as assistant principals,” Lynette said.
Although they may come off as similar, they are different in many ways. Their biggest difference is their height along with how long each of them have worked at BHS and what their original position was.
“I started working here in 2008 as an English teacher,” Lynette said. “In 2014, Mr. Johnson got hired as an assistant principal, and in 2015 I was hired as the other assistant principal.”
They have had many parents not aware of the situation of their “relationship” so oftentimes, they get comments about talking to their significant others, such as the Johnsons’ first year working together in 2015.
“I actually had a parent tell me that she had talked to my husband the day before,” Lynette said. “I told her, ‘Well, unless you wanted to talk about electricity, you probably wouldn’t talk to my husband.”
Although Lynette is not married or related to BHS’s Ryan Johnson, she is married to a Ryan Johnson of her own. Together, Lynette and Ryan have two kids. Payton, their son, and Kinley, their daughter. The assistant principal Ryan Johnson is married and has two sons, Beckham and Beau.
“They [Ryan and Ryan] are similar in that my husband’s name is Ryan Johnson, “ Lynette said. “Biggest difference, again, is height.”
Both Lynette and Ryan Johnson are enjoying their time here being demons despite being constantly confused as spouses.
“Working at BHS has been the best job I have ever had,” Lynette said. “I feel very fortunate that I get to work with Mr. Johnson and the whole admin team.”