Joyce A. Henderson is a 1964 graduate of Dunjee High School. She received her B.S. Degree from Langston University, M.Ed. Degree from the University of Central Oklahoma, and Secondary School Administration Certification from the University of Oklahoma.
In 1963, while in high school, and a member of the NAACP Youth Council, Joyce Henderson went to Washington, D.C., with Clara Luper and others to hear Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., deliver his “I Have A Dream” speech as part of the Civil Rights March.
On January 20, 2009 and January 19, 2013, she traveled to Washington, DC to see the Inaugurations of our President Barack Obama which were priceless experiences! Her experiences as a sit-in participant prepared her for life.
Of her thirty-seven years in education, Mrs. Henderson spent twenty years of those years as principal at five different area high schools in the Oklahoma City Public Schools (Emerson High School, original Classen High School, Northeast High School, Star Spencer High School, and returned to open one of the district’s first magnet schools, Classen School of Advanced Studies).
The Classen School of Advanced Studies is now listed as one of the nation’s top schools. Her last 10 years in the school district, she served on the Superintendent’s Cabinet as the Executive Director of School and Community Services.
She was honored for her outstanding education career by being named to the 2012 Wall of Fame by The Foundation of Oklahoma City Public Schools.
She has served on several community boards and received numerous awards and honors, including the National Award from John F. Kennedy for the Performing Arts Administrator Award. Minister of Music Emeritus after 30 years as pianist of St. John CME Church, currently the pianist for the church’s Missionary Choir.
Marcus Garvey Charter School named their tutorial program in her honor. She was appointed by Gov. Brad Henry to serve on the Health Disparities Task Force and she has been appointed to other positions by former Governors. She has served on many Boards which included Youth Services of Oklahoma County, Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation, Oklahoma City Leadership Alumni Association, and with Oklahoma African American Education Hall of Fame; International Connection Committee of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc.
She is a member of the NAACP, life member of the following… Langston University Alumni Association, University of Central Oklahoma Alumni Association, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
She came out of retirement to help and assist Douglass High School while they were going thru a transition from October 2012 to January 2013. She went back into retirement after she left the school in good hands.
Joyce is the oldest child of Eddie Lee & Fannie Johnson of Spencer, OK. She was reared in Spencer with her 3 sisters, Etta, Barbara and LaVerne. She and her husband of 48 years, Wm. Gerald Henderson, are the proud parents of two college graduate sons: Kevin and Kelly, a daughter-in-law – Tasha, and 5 grandchildren – Corie, Taletha, Maddisen, Kalehia, and Peerliss.