ABOUT JOY

As a lifelong teacher and mentor, Joy has worked with students from pre-K through the university level and retired after teaching for more than 28 years.

Passionate about helping students become proficient readers and writers and helping them succeed in every aspect of their lives, she carries her experience, expertise and firsthand knowledge of the challenges of students and their families into the State Legislature. She constantly references that awareness as she reviews and discusses educational initiatives, policies and legislation with colleagues and constituents. As a long time middle school educator, she advocates more hands on, experiential learning opportunities in order to engage young adolescents with their learning.

Her personal experience remotely teaching during the COVID-19 crisis and working with constituents regarding remote and hybrid working has heightened her commitment to expanding broadband and technology access and affordability to each and every New Mexican.

She is also a strong proponent of public safety. “There is no magic bullet to solving crime in our communities—we must roll up our sleeves and work in a bipartisan fashion with law enforcement, the courts, behavioral health experts and all levels of government to address public safety and criminal justice issues,” she states.

Developing economic development opportunities and infrastructure on the West Side of Albuquerque, workforce training and apprenticeship expansion, and healthcare continue to be priorities as well.

Joy serves on the House Education Committee (where she is vice chair) and House Appropriations and Finance Committee as well as the House Rules Committee (vice chair) and House Printing and Supplies (chair).

Joy is the granddaughter of homesteaders from Union County in northeastern New Mexico and is passionate about protecting the unique cultures and traditions of our state.

Joy has been married to Dale Garratt, a writer and educator, for 42 years, and they have one adult married son who works in the trucking industry.

WORK

  • Freelance Editor after recently retiring from APS

  • Taught ESL, Language Arts and/or U.S. History at Wilson Middle School, Harrison Middle School and Jimmy Carter

  • Middle School (she loves middle schoolers)!

  • Served as fifth grade teacher and later as instructional coach at Painted Sky Elementary School

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

  • Ventana Ranch Neighborhood Association

  • AFT NM Retirees Association

  • Presentations and discussion on NM State Government at area schools

  • New Mexico Ethics Watch, Panelist

  • National Council of State Legislators Early Learning and Higher Education Fellowships

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES

Standing Committees:

  • Chair, House Printing & Supplies

  • Vice Chair, House Education

  • Vice Chair, House Rules & Order of Business

  • Member, House Appropriations and Finance Commit

Interim Committees (May through January):

  • Vice Chair, NM Finance Authority Oversight Committee

  • Voting Member, Transportation Infrastructure Revenue Subcommittee

  • Voting Member, Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee

  • Voting Member, Legislative Education Study Committee

  • Standing Advisory Member, Legislative Finance Committee

  • Advisory Member, Economic and Rural Development & Policy Committee

EDUCATION

  • B.S. Liberal Studies, Concentrations in history and communications, Excelsior University, Albany, NY

  • Post-BA Teacher Licensure Program, UNM

  • M.A., Educational Leadership, TESOL concentration, UNM

OUR COMPANION!

Mira, our blue heeler.