University of North Texas 
Jerraco Johnson
Faculty, Kinesiology Health Promotion and Recreation
Dr. Jerraco Leontae Johnson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology,
Health Promotion, and Recreation. An overarching theme of his research is health disparities
among young, underserved children. Johnson's primary research aims are to develop
and improve childhood health behaviors (i.e., fundamental motor skill competence,
physical activity promotion) in young children from under-represented backgrounds.
These children are highly at-risk for poor health trajectories (e.g., obesity, cardiovascular
disease) and motor developmental delays. He specializes in implementing mastery motivational
climate movement and health interventions in Preschool and Head Start settings, primarily
for low-income children of color. A major emphasis of his research is on addressing
and combating ethnic/racial, gender, and socioeconomic related disparities for this
population. Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) is an integral component
of his research.During his graduate studies he was the recipient of several awards
from the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity
(NASPSPA) including the Graduate Student Dissertation Research Grant, Outstanding
Student Paper Award, and Graduate Student Award for International Conference Travel.
Health Disparities, Mastery Motivational Climate Interventions, Obesity, Motor Competence, Physical Activity, Early Childhood
- Brian, A., Miedema, S.T., Johnson, J. L., Chica, I. (2021, in press). A Comparison of the Fundamental Motor Skills of Preschool-aged Children with and without Visual Impairments. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly.
- Hastie, P.A., Stringfellow, A., Johnson, J. L., Dixon, C.E., Hollett, N., &Ward, K. (2020, in press). Examining the Concept of Engagement in Physical Education. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy.
- Johnson, J. L., Hastie, P. A., Rudisill, M. E., &Wadsworth, D. D. (2020). Differences in Preschool Boys and Girls Overhand Throwing Practice Behaviors During a Mastery Motivational Climate. Journal of Motor Learning and Development, 8, (3), 580-588. https://doi.org/10.1123/jmld.2020-0001
- Wadsworth, D.D., Johnson, J. L., Carroll, A.V., Pangelinan, M. P., Rudisill, M. E., &Sassi, J. (2020). Intervention Strategies to Elicit MVPA in Preschoolers during Outdoor Play. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, (2), 650. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020650
- Hastie, P., Rudisill, M. E., Boyd, K. B., &Johnson, J. L. (2019). Examining the Pathways to Motor Skill Competence in a Mastery Motivational Climate: An appreciative inquiry. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 90, (3) 259-269. doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2019.1593921
- Johnson, J. L., Rudisill, M. E., Hastie, P., Wadsworth, D. D., Strunk, K., Venezia, A., Sassi, J, Morris, M., &Merritt, M. A. (2019). Changes in Fundamental Motor Skills Following a Nine Month Mastery Motivational Climate Intervention. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 90, (4) 517-526. doi: 10.1080/02701367.2019.1628909
- Johnson, J. L., Hastie, P. A., Rudisill, M. E., &Sassi, J. M. (2019). The influence of guided practice on overhand throwing competence in preschool children in a mastery motivational climate. Journal of Motor Learning and Development, 7, (1), 64-83. doi.org/10.1123/jmld.2018-0005
- Buchanan, A. B., Miedema, B., Rudisill, M. E., Johnson, J. L., Bridges, C., Irwin, J. M., Pangelinan, M. (2019). “The stomp and catch was too easy!” Children’s and teachers’ perceptions of inclusive high and low autonomy motor skills instruction. The Physical Educator, 76(3), 676-700. doi: 10.18666/TPE-2019-V76-I3-8817
- Johnson, J. L., Miedema, B., Converse, B., Irwin, D., Bridges, C., Irwin, J. M., Buchanan, A. B., Rudisill, M.E., &Pangelinan, M. (2018). Influence of high and low autonomy-supportive climates on physical activity in children with and without developmental disability. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 30, 427-437. doi.org/10.1007/s10882-018-9594-0
- Rudisill, M. E., &Johnson, J. L. (2018). Mastery Motivational Climates in Early Childhood Physical Education: What have we learned over the past twenty years? Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, 89, (6), 26-32. doi.org/10.1080/07303084.2018.1476940
- Hastie, P., Johnson, J. L., Rudisill, M. E. (2018). An analysis of the attraction and holding power of skill stations used in a mastery motivational climate for preschool children. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 23(1),37-53. doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2017.1341476
