The Neurodiversity Connection: An Educator's Guide to Understanding Differing Neurotypes to Support Student Success

As both a teacher and a school administrator, Joy’s journey includes educating students in public school and private school as well as home school. Having taught regular ed, special ed, gifted ed, and English Language Learners, Joy enjoys working with and learning from learners of all ages.

Schools and organizations around the globe in Australia, Czechia, Dominican Republic, Kenya, Mexico, Romania, Thailand, and the United States have been influential in shaping Joy’s understanding of neurodiversity. Serving alongside talented educators in each of these countries, Joy celebrates the creativity, wonder, and innovation that thinking differently brings.

As a coach in the Neurodiversity Centers of Excellence at EY, one of the Big Four professional service firms, Joy was instrumental in promoting neurodiversity education. In 2023 Joy was named one of the Top 50 Global Neurodiversity Evangelists by ND by Design.

An expert at ordering takeout dinners, Joy enjoys time with her family including doggy daughter, Angel. Joy says that doing life with her neurodistinct husband of over 40 years, her autistic son, and her ADHD daughter provides insight and understanding to living with neurological differences that are hidden from view.

Tim knew he was going to be a teacher ever since he had a life-changing teacher in the fifth grade. His first 12 years of teaching were in a small public school outside Tulsa, OK, where he also drove a school bus every morning and afternoon.

The remaining years of his teaching career were spent in Gwinnett County, GA, where he taught fifth grade and middle school math and science. During seven of those years he was also an adjunct professor at Brenau University where he taught undergraduate and graduate courses. In all those years he gained increasing understanding teaching neurodivergent students.

Tim earned National Board Certification in the area of Middle School Science. He has presented at various conferences, including the National Science Teachers Association national convention. He was also voted teacher of the year at three schools where he taught.

Though officially retired after a 43-year career in the classroom, Tim has no plans to spend the rest of his life on the sidelines. His current educational activities include mentoring teachers, presenting science demonstrations and lessons at schools and camps, participating in a number of tutoring programs, and creating teaching resources on TeachersPayTeachers.com.

Tim is living the dream with his wife Sherri in Lawrenceville, GA. They have three adult children.