About Mrs. Sullivant

Joyce Sullivant is a native of San Diego County. She was born in the Dark Ages (really?) and grew up in the South Bay area. Prior to obtaining a teaching credential, she held a variety of positions, including reconcilement bank clerk, library technician, wardrobe consultant, and columnist for a small local newspaper. She loved the music of her youth, especially the folk music movement, and performed with her sister in a duo in the 60's. While living in Korea for two years, she taught conversational English to professionals, Korean army officers, and university students. Before coming to Marshall Middle School in 2002, Mrs. Sullivant taught at Pacific Beach Middle School for 12 years. Currently she teaches 8th grade American History and Introduction to Theatre Arts.

EDUCATION

Mrs. Sullivant graduated from Sweetwater High School, as did her mother, aunt, sister, and two daughters. Go Red Devils!

She attended San Diego State University during the turbulent 1960's where she earned a B.A. degree with a double major in Social Science and Fine Arts with an emphasis on sociology and music. During this period at S.D.S.U. she formed many lasting relationships with students in the drama department, thus continuing her interest and love of the theater arts.

Sullivant's Master's Degree from the Univ. of Calif. is in Curriculum Design, where her M.A. Thesis on middle school expository composition currently gathers dust on the shelves of the U.C.S.D. Library. Check it out!

Mrs. Sullivant currently holds a multiple subject credential as well as supplemental authorizations in history, English, and music. She received her certification to teach gifted students from U.C.S.D. and also holds certification in S.D.A.I.E. education. She is certified to teach English, history, music, fine arts, and drama through the N.C.L.B. Act.

Teaching

Mrs. Sullivant believes she found her life's purpose when she started teaching in 1990. She has taught 6th grade math, English, and social studies, all-grade chorus, drama, music appreciation, journalism, and 8th grade English and history. She currently teaches 3 periods of 8th grade U.S. History and 2 periods of Introduction to Theatre Arts. Sullivant says that her philosophy of teaching can be found in the words of poet William Butler Yeats who said, "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."

She hopes to light a few metaphorical fires at Marshall and show her students the richness and excitement of studying our nation's history as well as the richness that theatre brings into our lives. "My idea of a teacher," she says, "is not one who knows all the answers, but who asks the intriguing questions."

"Let me light

your fire. . ."