Encouraged to pursue education by her father, a school teacher, Joy Ann Dyer-Raffler is proud of her contributions to the field. She started as an art educator in the Tucson Unified School District in 1970 and remained with the school until her retirement in 2005. During her time there, she also served as a special education teacher, a special education diagnostician, and an exceptional education teacher. Ms. Dyer-Raffler really loved being able to impact the lives of so many students in her community.
To prepare for her endeavors, Ms. Dyer-Raffler earned a Master of Education in special education and a Master of Education in secondary education from The University of Arizona, Tucson, in 1976 and 1974, respectively. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts from The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1969, became certified in special education, learning disabilities, and art education, and joined prominent organizations like the Arizona Education Association and the National Education Association. In recognition of her efforts, she was honored with inclusion in numerous editions of Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Education, Who’s Who in the West, Who’s Who in the World, and Who’s Who of American Women.
When Ms. Dyer-Raffler has free time, she enjoys painting, skiing, bird-watching, weightlifting, running, and tennis. She played competitive tennis for 10 years, and specialized in singles and mixed doubles.
