Dr. Joan Yvonne Pedro, presently Dean of the College of Education at the University of Houston, Clear Lake, Texas. Moved from the University of Hartford, Connecticut as Associate Dean of Nursing and Health Studies, received her Ph.D. from Virginia Polytechnic and State University in Curriculum and Instruction and her Masters from the University of Miami in Special Education and Psychology. A very impressive listing, but who is Dr. Joan, or Joanie as she is called by her close friends. A woman who did make history in her own way. Born from humble beginnings, lost her mother at age 10, she was not expected to do as well as she has, but this is testimony to her focus, discipline and pursuit of educational excellence. With three other siblings, her educational goals became paramount, she attended St. Joseph Convent, San Fernando. Her first venture into the education field was at the School for the Hearing Impaired. Dr. Joan went on to Malabar Government School where she met lifelong friends. She moved back into Special Education and worked at the School for the Mentally Handicapped now called Wharton Patrick Special School. It was here that Joan, made the decision to leave the family behind and travel to the University of Miami on a scholarship from the Organization of American States (OAS) to complete a Masters, in Special Education. She had four children and in a new marriage. This challenge was great, and her sister, friends and husband supported the household during the next year. The University of Manitoba in Canada had entered the education arena in Trinidad and with the Special Education faculty introduced the concepts of teaching students with a variety of special education needs as distinct but inclusive within a classroom. With her experience, Dr. Joan set herself as a leader, and supported this approach. With her contacts in Trinidad, it garnered support and a team of teachers across Trinidad and Tobago were invited to work and teach in Manitoba for the summer.

After many years of pioneering Special Education in Trinidad and Tobago. Dr. Joan was granted a fellowship to pursue her PhD at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Her children were grown and she was again facing a challenge to leave them to clinch her PhD. Yes, this was going to be big, could she do it? Again family, husband and friends came to her support, and the 3 years went with its problems and triumphs. Her son, Roger was doing well as a Royal Bank, employee, her daughter Lisa at the Telephone Company, her daughter Melanie continued her musical career and became well known on the Trinidad music scene and last daughter, Lauren went on to finish high school. In all of this, Dr. Joan had an active social life, she was into music, theatre, art and mas. Many shows, parades and cultural events we both attended and even for 2 years sold chicken wings along the Carnival parade route in St. James. Who was Dr. Joan, a real trooper, taking the good with the not-so-good, being a stickler for excellence in all she attempted and never losing faith in the people she loved and those who love her. She is compassionate and generous to so many individuals. A mother, teacher, educational leader, sister, grandmother and friend. She is one woman I have walked through over 30 years of friendship, we both moved from Trinidad and are now living far but not too far from each other. Dr. Joan has continued to lead, motivate and foster excellence among her faculty, students, administrators, family and friends and her footprints have forged a path for others to follow.