Julie Joyner
Palm Beach Lakes Community High School
West Palm Beach, FL

"A tenet I hold most dear is the refusal to accept America as a 'melting pot.' We are a country of many cultures and ethnic backgrounds. Our school alone has students who speak in excess of two hundred languages and dialects. I consider my classroom to be a salad bowl with each person contributing a unique and colorful element to the 'salad.' Respect is the dressing that combines the flavors. I know that my decision to exchange my uniform as a nurse for a grade book is the right one."

Mrs. Joyner is a master teacher and registered nurse. As lead teacher, she has composed the curriculum for our program. She presents new material with excitement, capturing students' attention, and her lessons are interactive, engaging, yet challenging. She has effectuated an indisputable change in the lives of our students.

Julie developed, and now supervises, teaches, and evaluates the medical skills and health careers program, which is made up of courses in Medical Skills and Services, Sports Medicine, First Responder, and upper-level Health Sciences. Julie is also responsible for the interactive labs that accompany each of the courses she teaches. In all of her classes, she requires that everyone treat each other with respect and kindness. This professional behavior is needed since her classroom mimics a hospital hierarchy. The physician or administrator (teacher) is in charge. The other healthcare workers (students) are valuable team members. Peer education is a vital component of her educational philosophy. Julie's classroom also serves as a gathering place where students can access computers that have complex scientific measuring capacity for vital signs, brain waves, and heart rhythms. Through this interaction, students learn the integration of anatomy and physiology through mastery of medical technology.

Other Highlights:

• Built and maintains community partnerships, provides assistance and education to other tech-prep programs, serves as the Athletic Department's instructor for CPR and First Aid
• Serves as co-director of the Crisis Intervention Team with the Principal and Assistant Principals
• Winner- National New Teacher of the Year - Math, Science and Technology- Radio Shack and Texas Christian University, 2000
• Local TV Teacher of Excellence Nominee for Palm Beach Lakes High School 1999, 2000, 2001
• Palm Beach Lakes High School - Teacher of the Year, 2001
• WalMart/Sams Club National Award Winner for teaching excellence, 2000
• Dwyer Award Finalist for Vocational and Technology, 2001, 2002
• Experience in writing curriculum, classroom teaching, and overall program administration for nursing assistant program; developed LPN program and home health aide program
• Certified Instructor and volunteer for American Red Cross, in First Aid, Safety and Sports Training, and American Heart Association CPR
• Designated instructor for high school coaching staff; provides classes for community through the night school program
• School Advisory Board of American Lung Association
• RN, Emergency Department Supervisory Nurse and Radiology Training, supervision, administrative and teaching functions. Responsible for independent clinical research project on pediatric sedation and pain control, 1990-97
• Palm Lake Baptist Association, First Baptist Church of Wellington, Domestic Mission Worker