Joy Kelly

Joy Kelly is the co-author of Handle with Care: Managing Difficult Situations in Schools with Dignity and Respect. Joy has more than twenty-five years of educational experience in public and parochial schools as a teacher, coach, mentor, associate principal, and principal. In 2015, Joy was named the Iowa Associate Principal of the Year. She also provides coaching and training for new administrators in Iowa. Joy serves as a leadership coach for administrators across the country on behalf of J Casas & Associates. Joy earned a Bachelor’s degree in History from The University of Iowa, a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from The University of Northern Iowa, and is a licensed PK-12 superintendent; she also has an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree from The University of Iowa. 

Joy has presented on topics related to school culture at state and national conferences, including NASSP and ASCD. Joy believes the culture within a school is dependent on strong connections among all members of the community, rooted in kindness, respect, and dignity. Joy maintains that the culture of an organization is directly related to its performance and that the responsibility for cultivating meaningful relationships throughout the school rests with all members of the community.