Cheryl Goodgine introduced Joyce Nelson with the following speech:

It is my pleasure to introduce Joyce Nelson this evening. Joyce started her career as an occupational therapist. Before coming to Royal Oak, Joyce taught in the Troy School District. She also worked in a private occupational therapy practice which serviced learning disabled and physically or health impaired students.

In September 1974 Joyce came to Royal Oak Schools, as an OT at Emerson School. She says that she was hired by mistake.... the position being filled was actually for a physical therapist, not an occupational therapist. I’m not sure how many years a new teacher spends worrying about whether the district will suddenly discover that mistake, and tell you that your gig is up, but, Joyce, I did hear that the administration wants to see you tomorrow in the office.

In September 1987 Joyce became the full time Vocational Consultant and Work Study Coordinator for the special education students in our district. She has divided her time between Kimball, Dondero, and the community at large. Although Joyce was not the first Vocational Consultant, she has provided a new direction for the role, and has made it a meaningful connection for the special education students in Royal Oak and the community. She has spent countless hours developing relationships and connections with the local business community. She has organized and initiated job shadowing opportunities, empowerment groups, and post-secondary job training. She has maintained and helped facilitate a work experience program for special education students at Oakland Community College. She has facilitated placement of special education students on job sites for pre-vocational job training, and sought local employment opportunities for at-risk and certified youngsters. So, if you see Joyce at Woody’s during school hours, it’s not what you may think......she is either making arrangements for another student’s job placement or monitoring a student who is currently employed there.

Joyce has been the liaison between the 18-26 year old special education student, and the state agencies that provide services to the adult disabled population in our community, such as the Michigan Department of Career Development Michigan Rehab Services, the Oakland-Macomb Regional Center, and the Center for Independent Living. Throughout her career, Joyce has been instrumental in promoting the independence and employment of the disabled in our community. Joyce has served on numerous committees addressing the needs of the disabled, and implemented the seemingly endless and annual changes in the governmental regulations of the transition process in special education.

Joyce has been an active member of the ROEA during her career. She has served us all during elections, negotiations, and crisis, and is currently representing the EA members working at the board office as an AR. Her service to the ROEA has contributed to our collective strength, our advancements, and our resolve as a collective bargaining unit. We all thank you, Joyce.

Her co-workers and friends all describe Joyce similarly. We all describe her as “consistent, reliable, and thorough... .with a genuine interest in each of the students she works with.” She takes on challenging cases in a professional manner, even when she may not philosophically agree with the approach being used. Her personal feelings never interfere with her job performance.

Joyce likes to collect “stuff” Anyone who knows Joyce chuckles when visualizing her desk or her office. She collects information to give to others, and saves it, in case comes in handy another time. She passes along information from her days as an OT to co­workers and friends to help with minor aches and pains they have.

Each time I see Joyce, she has a new bundle of information for me about the new rules and regulations, or the latest word about changes in the transitioning process, or a community seminar on independent living skills for the disabled. She tells me to “put it in my notebook!” which she started for me to attempt to keep up with her. In fact, she has already signed me up for a seminar on Transition for next fall ..... and I can't wait, because I'll think of Joyce and all that I've learned from her while I'm there.

Joyce's energy is endless, her dedication to special education students is rock-solid, and her manner is inspiring.  We, especially those of us in the special education department, will miss you terribly, Joyce.  Thank you and congratulations!