See a full list of the 2025 recipients. Stay tuned throughout the summer for additional profiles.
Title: Chief Financial Officer
School: Marin Academy, San Rafael, CA
Years at School: 31
Superpower: Power Presenter: Michael Joyce’s “strategic advocacy” for fair and competitive faculty and staff compensation has driven greater transparency around pay, annual raises, and related policies. He has led financial planning workshops for employees and, more recently, collaborated with a math teacher to design a presentation for the board of trustees, illustrating the financial realities of living on a teacher’s salary in the Bay Area.
Pragmatic Problem-Solver: For over 30 years, Joyce has acted as “a model of steadiness and attention,” always willing to talk through a problem and navigate complex decisions. “Work in schools can be deeply emotional; decisions made at the leadership level often feels as though they have high stakes. When I am wrestling with how best to move forward, Mike is one of the first people I turn to,” said his nominator, Dean of Faculty Stella Beale.
At the Helm: While Joyce often describes himself as the "drogue” of a ship, he might be better described as the captain at the helm, said Beale. “His measured advice, keen insight and genuine care are attributes that not only help us navigate choppy waters but guide us in the direction of our mission.”
Financial Wizard: Joyce’s “financial wizardry,” as Beale put it, has resulted in consistently clean audits, balanced budgets and an expanded physical footprint of the school’s campus.
Other Duties as Assigned: Joyce regularly volunteers as a lunch monitor and is known to step in as a substitute teacher when needed. During August and September, he can often be found directing traffic to ease congestion in the school’s residential neighborhood. Notably, during the pandemic, he oversaw on-campus COVID-19 testing every Saturday.
