why joy?

JoAn Olsen married D. Keith Young on March 7, 1956. With that union JoAn's initials became J.O.Y. Keith often said that his greatest joy was his wife. That joyful reunion brought 10 kids into the world.

​Keith was an educator: sometimes a teacher, sometimes an administrator, always a student trying to figure out ways to provide for his family and help those around him do better and be better. JoAn was a stay at home mom and was kept very busy with caring for the always busy and growing family. Keith and JoAn worked together to make their home a place filled with love, fun times and lots of music. ​Because Keith had a bit of gypsy in him, the family traveled often and lived in a variety of places: Utah, Tonga in the South Pacific, Idaho, Oregon. Life was always an adventure.

One of the favorite sayings was "Don't let schooling get in the way of your education." The Young family grew up knowing that there was a lot to see, do and learn in this amazing world and we would learn more about life by being engaged in living it than only sitting in the classroom hearing about it.

JOY Academy is named in honor of the parents who made learning and life a JOY filled journey.