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Derrick Johnson opens seventh DJ's Discovery Den, inspiring Palm Elementary students

by: RT Young3 hours ago
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On Thursday morning, the halls of Palm Elementary School in Southeast Austin were filled with excitement as students and teachers gathered for a special guest. Longhorn legend and former Kansas City Chiefs star Derrick Johnson was there to unveil the seventh DJ Discovery Den. A made-over library made possible through his Defend the Dream Foundation.

The library received a complete facelift and most importantly, more than 1,000 new books for the Palm Pandas. This marks another milestone in Johnson’s mission to improve literacy and create opportunity for children across Central Texas. Since relaunching Defend the Dream in Austin in 2021, Johnson has transformed libraries at schools including Pickle, Barbara Jordan, Oak Springs, Langford, and Zavala elementaries. Palm Elementary now joins that growing list.

It’s important to note that Palm Elementary is one of 13 schools Austin ISD has proposed for closure as part of its consolidation plan. That fact wasn’t lost on Johnson, his foundation director Ken Taylor, or the faculty and students in attendance. Still, Johnson wanted to show the kids that they are the reason for his mission, despite the challenges the district is facing.

“I know you all are facing some obstacles right now, but you’re still our objective,” Johnson told the crowd of children who earned the right to hear from DJ through excellence in reading. “We are here because we believe in you. You’re special, and you’re worth it.”

Defend the Dream focuses on Title I schools, where many students face barriers to access and achievement. The foundation partners closely with each school’s librarian, empowering them to select books that reflect their students’ interests and backgrounds. Alongside new books, each Discovery Den receives new paint, updated furniture, and a complete redesign that turns the library into a vibrant hub for learning.

The initiative stems from Johnson’s belief that education is the great equalizer, a lesson he learned from his mother, Beverly, a lifelong educator who taught for more than 40 years.

After reading his recently published children’s book to the students, Johnson took questions. Those stemmed from his favorite book, to whether he knows LeBron James and Kevin Durant, to who his favorite current Longhorn is. We also got a deep dive into his games against the Cowboys and against Arch Manning‘s uncle Peyton Manning. He was greeted with applause after telling the group how he used to be a big, strong linebacker, but lost 40 pounds after retiring from the NFL. For it was a day all about support. He also gave the students some advice: make your bed every morning, and in the spirit of the main character from his new children’s book, Super DJ Saves Field Day, he told the crowd to “try your best to be your best.”

Defend the Dream’s core values, Love, Excellence and Purpose continue to guide Johnson, his wife Brittni, and their six children as they serve the Austin community. To learn more or support the foundation’s mission, visit derrickjohnsonfoundation.org. A $25 donation provides a new book for a child—an investment that can change a life for the better. You can also purchase Super DJ Saves Field Day by Derrick and Brittni Johnson at superdjsavesfieldday.com.

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