Joel was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, “in the sticks.” The eldest of four daughters, her parents raised her to take risks. “They never said “Don’t’ do that, it’s too dangerous.” The girls climbed trees, swung on grape vines, and stepped over snakes on the trails on their 30-acre property.
Joel’s mom taught her to “leave it better than you found it,” and that’s been Joel’s mantra her whole life. Her mother thought travel was an important part of one’s education so by the time Joel graduation from high school, she had visited most of the United States. Her family preferred camping over hotels and they always left the campsite better than they found it.
Joel’s mother passed her love of nature on to her, and Joel pursued a degree in biology when she was married to her first husband. After her first marriage ended, she met her second husband, George, when they both shared a cab to a conference in Colorado. They would meet again at a biology teachers’ conference where they spent time getting to know each other. George was living in Tallahassee with his two children, Hannah and Doug, from a previous marriage.
Joel got her doctorate in science education at FSU then took a job teaching at the newly opened SAIL High School. But instead of teaching, soon found herself serving as SAIL’s first principal. When the superintendent threatened to close SAIL, Joel led the charge to keep the school open and earned the nickname “The Quiet Bulldozer.”
Joel preferred teaching, leading workshops, and encouraging teachers rather than being a principal. In 1991, she accepted a position as Science Coordinator for Leon County Schools. But when Sabal Palm found itself without a principal, Joel was assigned to take the helm because “she had experience taking schools with low grades and helping them raise their standards.” In other words, she left it better than she found it!
After retirement, Joel hasn’t slowed down. She and George now had more time to focus on photography, capturing images of their travels. At age 60, she and George had a photo exhibit at City Hall called Faces Around the World, which included close-ups of animals and people. She has exhibited her beautiful photos in the Tallahassee Photofest for many years. Her favorite subjects to photograph are children and animals.
Joel has always been physically fit. As a senior, she is a regular participant in the Life Exercise classes at the Senior Center. She regularly plays pickleball and racquetball.
Joel has spent the last three years helping to organize the Superintendent’s Committee on Sustainability to reduce waste and costs at Leon County Schools. She’s been actively involved in Zonta International, a global organization that supports women, for nearly 23 years! She’s led the project helping homeless women at the HOPE Center and has volunteered at PACE where she taught the girls how to take creative photos.
Joel says she’s most proud of helping others. Recently, she helped two friends who’ve had serious health issues. She also helps people in her neighborhood. Things that would normally terrify most people such as skydiving, parasailing off a cliff, or walking near Komodo dragons, she finds exhilarating!
Her life has been enriched by sharing thrilling experiences with her husband. They both enjoy family, nature, photography, and traveling to exotic places and by opening their home to friends, teachers, and international students.
