Woodhouse served as a first grade teacher for 17 years, and as an elementary school principal at J.M. Ullom Elementary School. Her experience in the classroom and as principal gave Joyce a deep understanding of the needs of students, teachers and parents. In her role as an education lobbyist in the Nevada Senate, she brought the needs of Nevada’s schools before the politicians who had the resources to fulfill those needs.

During this year’s special session, Woodhouse helped broker the compromise that kept as much money as possible in our schools, as well as increased standards and accountability for education spending. Joyce knows that if our kids don’t get a good education, our state will never get back on the right track, and she has the experience and courage to fix the problems that face our schools.

Woodhouse also served as the Director of the School-Community Partnership Program for the Clark County School District in Las Vegas from 1985 to 2006, when she was elected to the Nevada State Senate. In her role as the liaison between the school district and the business community, Joyce brought together resources, secured financial commitments and facilitated cooperative activities to enhance the education of students. As a result of Joyce’s guidance and dedication, the Partnership Program has grown to over 600 programs for students, such as after school tutoring and college preparation. She built these programs for K-12.

Joyce is active in the community, and has served as both Chair and member of the Board of Trustees of the Public Employment Retirement System of Nevada. She serves as Secretary-Treasurer of the Board of the Silver State Schools Credit Union. Her numerous other activities and interests included working with the United Way, Nevada Council on Economic Education, Clark County READS, and as a Little League coach, among others. She presently serves as Treasurer and Board Member for Kids Voting Greater Las Vegas and as Co-Chair of the Southern Nevada Science Education Consortium. She has been honored as ‘Distinguished Woman of the Year’ by the Soroptimists of Nevada, Leadership in Public Education from Phi Delta Kappa, and as an “Unsung Hero” from the Nevada Public Education Foundation.