About Us

B.A. Vocational Home Economics; Northwest Missouri State University

M.A. Educational Leadership; Northwest Missouri State University

Specialist; Educational Leadership; Northwest Missouri State University

Ed.D. Educational Leadership; University of Missouri, Columbia

Dr. Joyce Piveral has served as Dean of the College of Education and Human Services and also Director of Teacher Education, at Northwest Missouri State University  from 2010 - 2017. Prior to that she served as a Professor and Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Assistant Director of Teacher Education. Her teaching assignment was in the University of Missouri-Columbia and Northwest Cooperative Doctorate Program. Early in her career, Dr. Joyce, a native Missourian, served as a teacher and administrator for over ten years for the Fillmore C-1 School District and then became an administrator at Central High School for the St. Joseph (Missouri) School District for twenty years. She has authored multiple articles in a variety of professional journals addressing teacher preparation and education policy. She has presented at regional, state, national and international conferences. In retirement, Joyce continues to act as educational consultant to various institutions. 

Dr. Joyce lives with her husband, Don, a retired educator, in a unique home built completely by Don, himself, on a beautiful farm in rural Pickering, Missouri. They greatly enjoy their family of two children and two grandchildren.

B.A. Education/Speech/English; University of Kansas

M.A. Guidance/Counseling/; Northwest Missouri State University

Nancy Piercy, a retired, experienced teacher, taught high school language arts and speech. She is a licensed professional counselor and for many years has run a private practice. She specializes in therapy for children, adolescents and families. Many former students have chosen her for their counselor because of their past association. Sue and Nancy spent their last four years of public school teaching in Starting Block, a pilot program, funded by a Missouri DESE grant. This was a program for at-risk freshmen and sophomores that enabled them to catch up on their credits so they could graduate with their class. Sue and Nancy were awarded Innovators of the Year Award for Central High in St. Joseph, MO for their work in that arena.

Nancy lives in St. Joseph, MO with her husband, Dan. She especially enjoys spending time with family, her two sons, three grandchildren and her brothers.

B.A. Biological Sciences; University of California, Berkeley

M.A. Human Physiology; University of Missouri at Columbia

Teaching Certificate & Education Hours; Northwest Missouri State University

Sue Nothstine is an experienced science teacher, having won state and national awards for her work. She loves teaching! During her career she enjoyed teaching all levels of science, from 7th grade through college, and since retiring from public schools, she has taught part-time in both a prison and a seminary. Sue continues satisfying her teaching urge by designing and presenting workshops for Teacher's Tackle Box. She greatly admires homeschool teachers and recently has been busy researching and working with Nancy to author the latest Tackle Box book, Homeschool Tackle Box. 

Sue lives on a small acreage in Barnard, Missouri. Since retirement, she has been actively involved with community service. She and  husband Don,  also a former educator, are very family oriented, having raised three children and being blessed with eight wonderful grandchildren and one beautiful great granddaughter!