Nannette Johnston graduated from North Hardin High School. She is a Vine Grove, Kentucky native.

She attended Elizabethtown Community College before transferring to the University of Louisville to earn her undergraduate degree. Mrs. Johnston earned post-graduate degrees from Western Kentucky University.

Her career in education started as a teaching assistant at Parkway Elementary. Upon completion of her degree at U of L, she returned to Parkway Elementary as a Kindergarten teacher in a full inclusion Kindergarten/Special Education program. Mrs. Johnston then assisted in the implementation of the primary program at Vine Grove Elementary while serving as a primary teacher there. She became Director of Early Childhood Programs for Hardin County Schools, managing district preschool, kindergarten and infant toddler programs. While maintaining these duties in 2006, she was appointed Interim Superintendent by the Hardin County Schools Board of Education. In 2007, she earned a permanent appointment as superintendent. 

Mrs. Johnston has earned the following honors: Ashland Oil Teacher Achievement Award, Hardin County Schools Distinguished Alumni honoree, Elizabethtown Community College Distinguished Alumni honoree, Radcliff Chamber of Commerce Education Award, 2010 Kentucky Association of Pupil Transportation Superintendent of the Year and 2010 Kentucky Association of Educational Office Professionals Educational Administrator of the Year. Her role as Chair of the 2007 United Way Campaign led the fundraising effort to raise more than one million dollars.  In addition, she was appointed to the Governor’s Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children Task Force and the Governor’s Transforming Education in Kentucky Task Force. She also represents superintendents on the Prichard Committee’s Strong Start Committee and was selected as a member of the training team for new superintendents in Kentucky. The Secretary of the United States Army tabbed her to serve on the JROTC Federal Subcommittee.