Teacher Introduction:

Soon after Dr. Joanie Edwards graduated from Memphis Central High School, she began her career as a dance instructor with studios in Memphis and Ripley where she taught the art of tap, ballet, jazz, and acrobatics. She also attended Memphis State University for two years where she majored in secondary education. For the next two years, Dr. Edwards was a flight attendant for American Airlines.

After she and her husband (Yorkville’s volunteer “Coach Edwards”) were married, they moved to Dyer, began their family, and she once again became a dance instructor. During this time Dr. Edwards began getting calls to substitute for various Gibson County schools which furthered her interest in becoming a full time elementary teacher. She returned to college to pursue her education classes and graduated with a Batchelor’s degree from Lambuth, a Masters Degree from Memphis State University, and eventually earned her Doctorate from The University of Memphis. Dr. Edwards was on the staff of Dyersburg State Community College for nine years, and for the past six years has remained on the staff of The University of Memphis.  She has taught for The West Tennessee Business College in Jackson, Haywood County Junior High, Medina Middle, Dyer Junior High, Gibson County High School, and is glad to return to her second year as a Yorkville Warrior.

Dr. Edwards is married to Richard D. Edwards, Sr. They have three children (Ward Edwards, Benjamin Edwards, and Phoebe E. Foster), a son-in-law (Ben Foster), two grandsons (Trey Edwards and Evan Foster) and a granddaughter (Avery Elizabeth Foster).

In addition to teaching and coaching, Dr. Edwards and her husband enjoy going to their cabin at the lake, tending to their farm where they raise cattle, and entertaining their grandchildren.