2008 Woodie Awards
Get a clue: A look at the career paths of Kirkwood staff
Ms. Walton
Amy Flahive
Issue date: 4/26/07 Section: Feature
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After deciding that teaching wasn't for her in 1955, Joan Walton has ended up back in the educational setting at Kirkwood Community College and she couldn't be happier.
Walton grew up in the town of Martelle and attended Martelle High School. After graduating in 1951, Joan went to Iowa State Teacher's College (which is now the University of Northern Iowa) for two years to earn her degree in Elementary Education. She taught fourth grade at Springville and kindergarten at Palo but after only a couple of years decided that teaching was not for her. Her next step would be one that would leave her satisfied.
For the next 20 years she worked as the city clerk for the towns of Martelle, Anamosa and worked part time in Ely. She said she enjoyed being the city clerk because it gave her a sense of accomplishment and she enjoyed the feeling of helping out and making a difference in those towns. While working part time in Ely, she also worked part time in the Heritage Agency at Kirkwood in 1985. Since Kirkwood had many employee benefits Walton started working fulltime for the college in 1987.
In 1989 Walton was hit with devastating news. While she was in the middle of a divorce, she learned that she had breast cancer. Relying on her strong faith and friends, Walton said she fought the cancer head on and conquered it. She said she is proud to say that she has remained cancer free ever since.
Walton first worked at the Heritage Agency then transferred to the agricultural department to work in the office until she retired in 1996.
Only six months after her retirement, a friend of Walton's called her and asked if she would be the church secretary. Walton accepted and worked there for the next five years. Then a secretarial position became available at the Cedar Hills Community Church, which is the church Walton attends regularly, so she became the secretary there for the next three years while also subbing in the office for various departments at Kirkwood.
Walton grew up in the town of Martelle and attended Martelle High School. After graduating in 1951, Joan went to Iowa State Teacher's College (which is now the University of Northern Iowa) for two years to earn her degree in Elementary Education. She taught fourth grade at Springville and kindergarten at Palo but after only a couple of years decided that teaching was not for her. Her next step would be one that would leave her satisfied.
For the next 20 years she worked as the city clerk for the towns of Martelle, Anamosa and worked part time in Ely. She said she enjoyed being the city clerk because it gave her a sense of accomplishment and she enjoyed the feeling of helping out and making a difference in those towns. While working part time in Ely, she also worked part time in the Heritage Agency at Kirkwood in 1985. Since Kirkwood had many employee benefits Walton started working fulltime for the college in 1987.
In 1989 Walton was hit with devastating news. While she was in the middle of a divorce, she learned that she had breast cancer. Relying on her strong faith and friends, Walton said she fought the cancer head on and conquered it. She said she is proud to say that she has remained cancer free ever since.
Walton first worked at the Heritage Agency then transferred to the agricultural department to work in the office until she retired in 1996.
Only six months after her retirement, a friend of Walton's called her and asked if she would be the church secretary. Walton accepted and worked there for the next five years. Then a secretarial position became available at the Cedar Hills Community Church, which is the church Walton attends regularly, so she became the secretary there for the next three years while also subbing in the office for various departments at Kirkwood.
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