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Boston Public Schools Superintendent Carol Johnson, who once led the Minneapolis and St. Louis Park school districts, returns to the Twin Cities on Thursday as keynote speaker for a $100-per-plate luncheon in downtown Minneapolis.

Johnson will speak on the topic, "High Quality Public Schools For All: The Civil Rights Issue of Our Time," during AchieveMPLS' annual Education Partners Luncheon at The Depot, 225 S. 3rd Av., at 11:30 a.m. AchieveMPLS is an educational foundation that supports the work of the Minneapolis Public Schools.

Carol Johnson served as superintendent in St. Louis Park from 1995 to 1997 before taking the Minneapolis job. She left the Twin Cities for the Memphis City Schools in 2003.

Current Minneapolis schools Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson (no relation) joined her staff in Memphis a year later before returning to Minneapolis and climbing the ranks to the top job here. Carol Johnson -- also a former teacher, principal and associate superintendent in Minneapolis -- had high praise for her mentee when we spoke this summer.

"[Bernadeia] had to make some tough decisions, but she's courageously done so," Carol Johnson said.