Business Owners Credit Excellent Education in Johnson City

Johnson City Schools gave these business owners the knowledge, confidence and support to succeed in East Tennessee.

By Teree Caruthers on March 25, 2024

William Bartley

With low living costs, breathtaking mountain scenery, a wide range of recreational activities and attractions, and abundant career opportunities, Johnson City has earned its reputation as one of the best cities in the U.S. to raise a family. 

Another reason for the city’s accolades: Students here can obtain an excellent education in Johnson City. The local school system, Johnson City Schools, is ranked the fourth-best school district in the state by Niche – that offers an impressive roster of courses and extracurricular options to help each student find their niche and prepare for success. 

Education in Johnson City Opens Doors 

As owner of new Johnson City business Taiwan On Bubble Tea & Sushi Cafe, which opened in October 2023, Preston Fowler understands the meaning of hard work and determination – values he says he learned as a student in Johnson City Schools. 

“The public school system’s strength lies in its flexibility. It allowed me to pursue my interests without constraint. With an abundance of resources and unwavering support from the staff, I felt empowered to reach my goals. If I ever lagged or failed to realize my full potential, the guidance and tailored course recommendations from the staff were invaluable. This environment instilled in me the confidence to surmount obstacles and prioritize my education,” Fowler says. 

Thistle + Lilac Photography

A Johnson City native, Fowler attended Woodland Elementary, Indian Trail Middle, Liberty Bell Middle and Science Hill High School, which is ranked among the top 15 schools in the state by U.S. News & World Report. Of his time in the school system, he says he most appreciated the diverse range of courses offered as well as the opportunity to form friendships with other students from various backgrounds, the highly competitive athletics programs and, most notably, the exceptional teachers who he says prepared him for the real world. 

The experiences that made the most impact, Fowler says, were National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and career and technical education classes, as well as shifts as a student office worker and the ability to be a peer tutor for the special education department. 

“I also must commend the top-tier math, English, history and science departments, which equipped me with the necessary tools for success in any chosen field of study,” Fowler says. “I credit the dual enrollment classes through East Tennessee State and Northeast State for jump-starting my college coursework and credits.” 

Exposure to Diverse Viewpoints 

Bradley Eshbach, owner of The Generalist general store and retail collective in downtown Johnson City and vice president and managing director at Creative Energy advertising agency, moved to the area at age 12. Like Fowler, he attended Indian Trail Middle School and Science Hill High School and East Tennessee State University for college. After graduating from ETSU in 2009, Eschbach moved to Chicago, where he met his wife, Lora. 

“I grew up here, and I loved all kinds of things about it. I didn’t necessarily leave because I just had to get out; I wanted to get some experience in my career. But when COVID hit and my job went remote, that gave us the opportunity to move back to East Tennessee. My wife loved it here, and my family was here, so it made sense,” Eshbach says. “The funny thing is, I came here as a fully remote worker, but I now work for an agency based in Johnson City.” 

Eshbach, too, credits much of his success to the support he received as a student growing up in Johnson City Schools. 

“Full disclosure, I was not the best student,” he says. “But I’ve been wildly successful in comparison to my academic performance. I appreciate that even though I wasn’t the valedictorian with a 4.0 grade point average, I was still very much supported by my teachers and was a valued part of the community.” 

He agrees that Johnson City Schools’ diversity is one of the biggest advantages for students and their families. 

“Johnson City is much more diverse compared to the rest of East Tennessee. It really is the kind of place where you get to meet and interact with all types of people and get to experience the entire community,” Eshbach says. “It also gave me a tremendous amount of confidence.

“In Chicago, I was often in rooms with people who had very prestigious university names next to their degrees or went to fancy schools in fancy suburbs, but I went to Science Hill High School, and I’m spinning circles around them. Not only do I have a seat at the table, but I think I have a more well-informed and a more diverse viewpoint of the world.”