Joyce Pickering's entire career path has been devoted to helping learning-different students. Her professional career began in the 1960s as a speech pathologist. Highlights have since included the following:

• Director, Perceptual Development Center and the EC Program, Natchez, Mississippi. This program received a White House Citation. In Mississippi she also founded the first public school class in the state for deaf and aphasic students.
• Director, Early Childhood Education Program, Natchez, MS. This program was named as one of the top ten by the U.S. Office of Education in 1970.
• Director, Reading Study Foundation, Natchez, MS
• Dean, EC Program and Primary School, Sao Paulo, Brazil Co-founder, Brazilian Dyslexia Foundation
• Director, Curriculum and Instruction, American School, Mexico City
• Director, Affiliated Programs, dePaul School, Louisville, KY
• Since 1990 Joyce has been the Executive Director, CEO and President of the Board of Shelton School in Dallas.  Today the school serves 855 students with diagnosed learning differences and is the largest private school worldwide for LD students. A new emphasis is being placed on research, the results of which will benefit students, families and professionals.
• Clinical Assistant Professor, UT Southwestern Medical Center
• Adjunct Professor, Dallas Baptist University

For eight years she was President of the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC) and is proud of her role in developing the organization's accreditation standards. She served 10 years on the board of the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), first as Vice President of Academic Affairs and later raising capital campaign funds. She is past President of the Alliance for Accreditation and Certification of Structured Language Education, Inc. and remains on their board.  Dr. Pickering is Vice President (Public Relations) for the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA).  She also serves on the advisory board of the Scottish Rite Learning Center, Northern Jurisdiction. She has been appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to the Interim Committee to Study Dyslexia and Related Disorders.  She serves as a 2010 board member for the American Montessori Society.

Her work has been published in many educational journals, and she has been honored by many professional associations. She was recognized by the Pennsylvania Montessori Teachers Association for her work in the field of early childhood education.  In 2009 she was nominated for the 2010 Living Legacy by the American Montessori Society. 

(View published Montessori articles.)

In May 2002 she received an honorary doctorate in humanities from Dallas Baptist University. In May 2003 she was honored by Exceptional Parent with their Distinguished Service Award. In 2006 she was recognized by IDA for her years of contributions. Dr. Pickering is a frequent featured speaker at state, national and international conferences.  Two years ago she addressed the American Montessori Society (AMS) centennial conference in New York City and the International Montessori School of Beijing.

(View conference materials.)

One other accomplishment: Joyce is married to Dr. Robert (Bob) Pickering; they have seven children and 10 grandchildren.