Meet Joanie Colson

Candidate for GUHSD Governing Board

I was the Theatre teacher and director at Horizon High School in Phoenix, AZ from 1990 to 2020. I created a Theatre program with more than 100 students that included main stage plays and musicals and included countless student productions and events. I was the Fine Arts Department Chair for our large, award winning Arts department for 29 years. Part of my responsibilities were master scheduling, teacher evaluation and training, budgeting, scheduling of facilities, liaison to Administration, and curriculum development. I also coached an improv comedy team who were state champions seven out of ten years with the National Comedy Theatre High School League.

In Summer of 2010, I was asked to help create the Theatre Education degree at Grand Canyon University. As the subject matter expert, I worked in developing classes and curriculum. In the Fall of 2010 I began teaching the Theatre Education classes in the College of Arts and Media. Still teaching as an adjunct professor, I am the coach and sponsor of the improv team for GCU, have directed multiple productions and teach classes for the Bachelors of Arts in Theatre as well as Theatre Education.

On a personal note…

I am a native Phoenician and am blessed that my family lives in Phoenix and Tucson.

I live in the same neighborhood where I grew up. My husband and I have been married 36 years.

We have one son, one dog, and four chickens.

I am a proud graduate of Moon Valley High School!

 

 

 

“We are what we repeatedly do, therefore, excellence is not an act, but a habit” - Aristotle

Resume

Education

  • BA in Theatre Performance with a Secondary Education Certificate
    • Grand Canyon College (now University). 1984-1988
  • Masters in Educational Leadership
    • Northern Arizona Universtiy. 1995-1998

Awards and Honors

 

  • Arizona Thespians Theatre Teacher of the Year 2017
  • Arizona Sallie Mae First Year Teacher Award 1991
  • Outstanding Director National Youth Awards 2012, 2017
  • Outstanding Stage Fight Coordinator National Youth Awards 2015
  • Arizoni Awards Nominee for Best Director 2022
  • Faculty Career Advisor of the Year for College of Arts and Media. 2024

Committees Served

 

  • Arizona Credentialing
  •  A+ Schools
  • Substitute Crisis
  • Faculty Advisory
  • Superintendent Advisory
  • Master Scheduling
  • Facilities
  • Student Mediation
  • Club Council
  • Student Government Liaison
  • Maricopa County Republican Committee

 

 

On November 5th, vote for Joanie Colson for GUHSD Governing Board!