Joy Howard
B. F. Grady
Elementary School,
Duplin County,
North Carolina

After working as an accountant in the private sector for 17 years, Joy Howard felt she wanted to make a difference in the lives of children, so she went back to school to get dual certification in business and marketing education.

For the past five years she has taught computer technology and business education classes at B.F. Grady Elementary School in Albertson, North Carolina.

Teaching students from second grade through eighth grade, in a K-8 school, gives Howard the opportunity to watch her students develop computer skills over several years. This helps her build a positive relationship with her students and allows Howard to identify their strengths and weaknesses.

Students in Howard's classes learn computer skills in keyboarding, word processing, desktop publishing, spreadsheets, databases, multimedia and telecommunication. Activities students enjoy range from competing against themselves with timed writings, creating flyers and business cards in desktop publishing, to creating and presenting multimedia presentations about themselves.

"Today everyone needs basic computer skills because computers have become an integral part of our lives," says Howard. "Career and Technical Education teaches students skills they can use throughout life to become successful citizens, workers and leaders. If I can help equip my students with these basic computer skills, I know they will be successful. If they are successful, then I have done my job, and that gives me a great deal of satisfaction," says Howard.

Many of Howard's students do not have access to computers at home, so she often stays late after school to help students catch up on computer assignments or to remediate them for their computer skills test. Her dedication has paid off. Last year 92 percent of her Grade 8 students passed the state computer skills test. "My students worked very hard. I was really proud of them," says Howard.

"When I was taking classes to get my teaching certification, an instructor told me that 'You may be the best part of a child's day', so I try to remember that each day. I really love teaching. I am so glad I switched careers and I do believe I am making a difference in my students' lives."

Bridges Transitions congratulates Joy Howard for making a difference in the lives of her students and colleagues.

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