Hi…I’m Joyce Snyder, the school psychologist here at St. Mary’s. I have been here since Aug. of 1985 when I finished my practicum in school psychology at John Carroll University. As school psychologist, I get to help students in a number of areas. I test kids with learning problems to help identify appropriate programs and ways to help them. I also do short-term counseling in a number of areas including anger management, self-esteem, social skills, etc. I really enjoy working with the students and faculty here at this school and am proud to be a member of the staff.

I am the first child of Maurice and Maxine Bonawitz and have two younger siblings. I started school in Cleveland but moved to Mentor when I was going in 8^th grade. I graduated from Mentor High in 1958 and was fortunate enough to get a scholarship to Fenn College (now Cleveland State). Fenn College was famous for it’s engineering program and the ratio was 8 male to every female student at that time. That was great but I hated the program I was in and dropped out two years later to go to work at Cleveland Trust Bank as a bookkeeper.

I married my dear husband Charles (Carl) in June, 1961. We have two children, Jeffrey and Kimberly. In 1975, we moved to Concord. Shortly after our move, my husband lost his job of 40+ years when the Diamond Shamrock closed. What a shock! I went from being a stay-at-home mom to being a full time student with 2 part-time jobs overnight. At Lakeland College, I developed an interest in psychology and enrolled at CSU. I attained my B.A. from there in 1981 on the same day my son graduated from Riverside High. I went on to get my master’s degree in 1984. I did my internship in Painesville City Schools the year before coming to St. Mary’s as an employee of PSI Assoc. Inc.

On the fun side, I like to read, work puzzles, and play with my dogs. I have raised dogs for over 40 yrs. now, starting with Shetland Sheepdogs and moving to Golden Retrievers

and Yorkshire Terriers after finishing college. Silly as it sounds, I find it very relaxing to play with or groom one of my dogs and can often be found sitting under a tree combing snarls out of one of my mutts after a particularly grueling day. My family thinks I’m nuts.

I could not end this bio without mention the highlights of my life. Happily, Jeff and his wife, Gina, made us grandparents to Macully in 1994 and McKinzie in 1996. Our two grandchildren are truly the "STARS IN OUR CROWNS" and we have enjoyed our roles of grandma and grandpa more than anything that has happened in our lives. Cully and Kinzie are testaments to our love for our family and for GOD who has so richly blessed us.