Longtime Enfield Board Of Education Member Joyce Hall Dies At 86

ENFIELD, CT — Joyce Hall, who served on the Enfield Board of Education for 14 years and then was re-elected to the board in 2019 after a hiatus, died Friday at her home. She was 86.

Hall, a former middle and high school teacher, was initially elected to the school board in 1999 and served seven terms, opting not to run for re-election in 2013. After six years away, she chose to run in 2019 and was elected to her eighth term.

She had been endorsed by the Democratic party to run for another 2-year term this fall.

In her candidate profile she submitted to Patch two years ago, Hall wrote, "Education is important to me and has been since I first helped my classmates with reading in second grade. Whatever I may have been involved with in my life - a job, a class, an officer in an organization, as a parent, a scout leader - willingness to consider new ideas has been at the forefront."

She was on the board's curriculum committee, was involved with Key Initiatives to Early Education (KITE), and for many years was the board representative to the Capitol Region Education Council.

"I have so many thoughts and memories of Joyce," school board member Tina LeBlanc said. "First and foremost, I was honored to have been able to serve two terms with her, one being the most recent. My first term on the board, as a new nervous board member, I learned from Joyce quickly that I could unapologetically voice my opinion when I felt strongly about a board decision. This past term on the board had been challenging to say the least, with the pandemic, board division and being thrown into a world of technology some of us were not used to. Joyce did not shy away from any of these challenges. She met them head on with knowledge, compassion and sternness. One of my favorite memories of Joyce is when we were going to wear pajamas to a board meeting to support PJ Day for kids with cancer. She had indicated she would show up in her nightgown, and indeed she did! All she had to hear was that something was for the kids, and she wouldn’t give it a second thought. I believe this was the night she told us her favor color was plaid. Joyce was a wealth of knowledge on so many caveats of public education at both the town, state and federal level. She was a fierce advocate of public schools, students and teachers, and especially early childhood education. When you think of Joyce Hall, you smile. You think about those conversations where she taught you something new or even in jest scolded you for not knowing or incorrectly stating something. Our board was better with her on it. There is a piece of the puzzle missing but not forgotten. Rest easy my sweet Joyce. You will be guiding us from above."

Board member Scott Ryder said via email, "There are few, if any, who could match Joyce’s passion for education. And even less who could match her wits! If you didn’t know her personally, Joyce was … hilarious. I believe her passion for education stems from her love of reading. She donated school supplies annually, as a caring and compassionate Enfield resident - not because she was a Board of Education member - and books. She donated (so many!!!) books directly to our schools - and through her beloved project, the First Readers Association of Enfield. Joyce Hall was a unique and loving person. I will miss her, as a mentor and as a friend. She always encouraged me to be my best."

"I was heartbroken to hear of Joyce’s passing," Superintendent of Schools Chris Drezek said. "She was an educator at her core, both during her time in the classroom and her many years as a board member. She was a fierce advocate for public education and no matter the circumstance, she never forgot what she was working for - kids. We lost a true friend to the Enfield public schools and on a personal note, I’m going to miss her dearly. People who tune into board meetings every two weeks got a glimpse of who she was, but Joyce was the same person behind closed doors. You always knew where you stood with Joyce, and I always appreciated that, because she was not afraid to remind all of us that we are here for kids. She was a great board member but more importantly, she was an amazing person."

Former Board of Education chairman Greg Stokes said, "I had the privilege to serve with Joyce on the board for a number of years. Although we were in different political parties, we never let that distract us from working together on behalf of the students, teachers and community as a whole. Joyce was well-versed in the needs for public education and always there when I needed advice and input on issues of the day. I used to know when she was going to disagree with me because she would call me "Mr. Stokes" instead of Greg. Kind of like a mom to her kids. She will be missed, and her service to our community will be remembered as "service above self."

Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed.

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