Joyce Tuten
Your Voice for Fernandina
Joyce Tuten is a retired high school science teacher, mother of two and married 31 years to her husband James, a retired U.S. Army Colonel. With every move, Joyce jumped into the community - Big Sisters, PTO Boards, Athletic Boards, soccer coach, Army Family Readiness Group Leader, and city Sustainability Committee member at their last duty station in Maryland.
Joyce has a B.S. from William and Mary and a M.S. in Nutritional Biochemistry from Rutgers University. She has the analytical skills to examine complex information and problem solve. She is a certified NOAA Climate Steward educator and an advocate for protecting the very things that make Fernandina a prized tourist destination. She knows that preserving our natural beauty will protect our economy.
Family
Joyce's parents were very active in their church. Her mother was a high school math teacher. Her father was a small business owner and a volunteer firefighter. They instilled in their six kids - service to community.
James's ancestors homesteaded in North Florida in the 1800s. His father served 30 years in the U.S. Army and always brought the family to Amelia Island. After moving his whole life, James and Joyce feel lucky to call Fernandina their forever home.
Joyce worked in the Accounting Office at the AAFES Headquarters in Germany and won the Special Recognition Award for development of a database that streamlined the bookkeeping. She found her calling in education - teaching Chemistry, Biology, AP Environmental Science and German - all while shepherding their children around the world.
Politics was not in the plan!
But after years of attending City Commission meetings and advocating for our island's natural beauty, Joyce is frustrated at the direction our City is going. She campaigned for communities her entire life and now she wants to give Fernandina citizens their voice back.
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~ Trust and Transparency ~
~ Quality of Life for residents ~
~ Protection for the character of our neighborhoods ~
~ Safety - not a bioethanol plant ~
More about Joyce
Joyce played Division 1 soccer at William & Mary and coached all ages - High School varsity, competitive club and the local youth level. During James’s one-year tour in Iraq, Joyce volunteered as the unit Family Readiness Group Leader and was awarded the U.S. Army Heart of Victory award for service during the deployment. At their last duty station, Joyce was awarded the county Sustainability Award for service to the community.
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After moving to Fernandina, Joyce dove into the community, volunteering at the State Parks with dawn turtle nest patrol, shorebird nest stewarding and horseshoe crabs tagging. She’s an Invader Raider, removing invasive plants throughout our City. She helped launch the annual Nature of the Greenway outdoor education field trip for Emma Love Elementary 5th graders. She serves on the Board of Florida Envirothon as the Current Events Chair, with the mission to help high school students develop an understanding of natural resources and achieve a balance between a high quality of life and a healthy environment. Joyce was a founding Board Member of Conserve Nassau with the mission to protect the treasured features of our island home.
