After retiring from athletics in 2000, Johnston became a middle school language arts teacher in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

After attending Marshfield High School, she graduated from an English program at Portland College in 1988.

[4] Johnston continued to reappear at the Chicago Marathon from 1995 to 2000 and had multiple top 8 finishes, which included second place in 1996.

[5] Outside of Chicago, Johnston competed at the United States Olympic Trials consecutively from 1992 to 2000.

[2] After ending her athletic career in 2000, Johnston began teaching language arts to students at a middle school in Martinsburg, West Virginia.