Published: July 05, 2008 09:50 pm            

AT RANDOM: New Waverly woman has faith in education

For most working professionals, there is a very clear life pattern. Education comes first, then an entry level position, then a climb up the company ladder until retirement.

Joyce Goffney’s journey took a slightly different turn.

For the past 17 years, Goffney has served on the school board of New Waverly ISD, and in May, she graduated from Sam Houston State University with a degree in academic studies.

All of this came after raising four children and one grandchild, being a single mother and working at Willis ISD for 25 years.

Goffney’s journey began in Limestone County, Texas, with a family that encouraged a strong education.

“I come from a large family. I’m the second of 10 children, and my parents were very encouraging about getting my education,” Goffney said. “I took great pride in going to school.”

After high school, Goffney married a military man, moved to New Waverly and started a family.

After years as a housewife, a divorce brought about a need for work, which led Goffney to Willis ISD.

“I chose to work at a school because my kids were still in school at the time,” Goffney said. “I wanted to have the same hours as they had, so it seemed like a good fit.”

Goffney took a position as a teacher’s aid, working in various departments and classrooms, primarily with special needs children. Though she didn’t choose the job for the experience, Goffney quickly felt at home in the classroom.

“I had lots of friends that were teachers already,” Goffney said. “I’ve always been big on education. One of my dreams as a child was to become a teacher.”

Goffney’s work with special needs children in her early years at Willis ISD opened her eyes to the full spectrum of the teaching experience.

“It’s a challenge, but it’s rewarding,” Goffney said. “When you work with those kids, at the end of the year you can see the progress, and it’s a great reward to see how far you’ve taken them.”

Goffney also spent time at Willis as a library aid, providing books to students, an experience she found especially rewarding.

“So many kids need reading,” she said. “I discovered that while I was working with special needs students. Most of those kids had reading disabilities. I realized that by helping them with reading in any way I could that I would make a difference.”

Throughout her tenure at Willis, Goffney never gave up her dream to become a teacher. She began taking college classes a little at a time, paying for as many hours as she could on a single parent’s salary.

“I just decided I should go to college,” Goffney said. “It took me years because I was working at the same time, and my income was very small. But my co-workers encouraged me, and I just wanted to take that extra step on my way to being a teacher.”

It wasn’t until after Goffney retired from education that she finally received her degree. Though she considered it just another step in her life, her classmates found it to be much more.

“Students were coming up to me at graduation and saying ‘You sure have been an inspiration,’” Goffney said. “They would ask if they could share my story with other people. That felt really good.”

Her years on the New Waverly ISD School Board grew out of an interest in the school district her children attended. Goffney found herself bringing her teaching experiences to an administrative job.

“I’ve really enjoyed working on the building projects,” Goffney said. “Expanding our school district so that we can better serve our students is very important to me.”

Goffney’s home is filled with dozens of pictures of children and grandchildren. It is obvious that her family is the most important thing in her life.

But for Goffney, the people she serves with in the education community are her family, too.

“It makes me feel good that we have teachers that are so involved,” Goffney said. “People commit themselves to this district, and we’re very close. We lost a school board member in a car accident in April. It was a really sad time, but we just band together.”

Goffney, now in her sixth term at New Waverly ISD, is looking forward to working for the future of her students for at least another three years.

“Federal funding isn’t what it should be,” Goffney said. “Especially with fuel prices what they are, we have to make sure education remains a top priority.”

From birth, Goffney was always encouraged to get her education. Though it took most of her life, she never gave up on completing her learning experience, and she encourages all parents and children to follow her example.

“Make education a goal in your life,” Goffney said. “Even if it’s hard, go for it. If you have faith and the willpower and encouragement, you can get an education.”

Though she is happy with retirement, Goffney refuses to rule out the possibility of fulfilling her childhood dream.

“Would I ever go back to be a teacher?” Goffney said. “I’ve thought about it. I love the kids. If I think I can make a difference in their lives, I’d be happy to go back and teach.”

        

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