Joyce Bryson Tharpe

Since graduating from Western I have lived in South Carolina, Chattanooga, Tn., Knoxville, Tn., Albertville, Al., and now Gainesville, Ga. I took off twenty years to raise my two kids. I worked as the Director of my church preschool while raising the kids. I went back to teaching and retired in May 2018 with 26 years.. I taught special education in the co-teaching setting in the English department of East Hall High School. I sponsored Student Council, served on the School Improvement Team, and worked on the Honors program. I have a BS in Family & Consumer Science, Special Education & I am a Reading Specialist. Masters in Special Education & EDS in Curriculum. Attended Western Carolina for my BS then on to University of Tennessee for Special Education , North Georgia College and University for my MA, and Piedmont College for EDS. I am still married to the same sweet man I married back in 1974. We are involved in our church and with our circle of friends & family. I get back to NC fairly regularly to visit family. I love those mountains and the people who live there. I am proud of the way Waynesville has grown and continues to be such a beautiful tourist attraction. We have friends who can't believe I ever left it.

I rIemember being in homeroom with Kevin Blevins. He always wanted to copy my homework! I believe it was usually Spanish. I know it was not a math class!