For nearly three decades, Joyce Lynch has greeted each morning before the sun rises, stepping into her role as a special needs school bus driver for the Palm Beach County School District. Her job is more than a paycheck—it’s a calling. Every day, she ensures that some of the district’s most vulnerable students arrive safely at school, cared for and ready to learn. Her passengers aren’t just students; they are her kids, and she is one of the first smiling faces they see before their school day begins.

At 63, Joyce had planned to continue her work until she turned 70, dedicating her remaining years to the students and coworkers she loves. But last November, everything changed. A devastating diagnosis turned her world upside down. Suddenly, the woman who had spent her life ensuring others were safe found herself in the fight of her life.

Through faith, family, and the unwavering support of her work family, Joyce has been able to receive the treatment she desperately needs. Because of her years of service and slightly higher wages, she can afford the copays and deductibles necessary for her care. It is a privilege she does not take for granted. But as grateful as she is, she can’t ignore the reality that so many of her coworkers—attendants, food service workers, and custodians—are not as fortunate.

She has seen firsthand how her colleagues, the ones who keep schools running smoothly, are struggling. Many of them cannot afford to see a doctor even though they have health insurance because the copays and deductibles are too high. Some put off necessary medical visits, risking their health and well-being. Others face impossible choices: paying bills or seeking medical care. Joyce knows this is not just unfair—it’s dangerous.

“We are all part of the puzzle,” she says. “We all matter. We all deserve to be healthy so we can care for the children who rely on us.”

Every morning, while most of the world is still asleep, these workers wake up at 4 a.m., leaving their own families behind so that thousands of students can get to school safely, have a hot meal, and learn in a clean environment. Joyce has seen their dedication. She knows their struggles. And she refuses to stay silent.

“Our school police, teachers, and administrators make a substantial amount more than our lowest-paid employees. But our schools cannot function without us,” she says. “If we don’t drive the buses, clean the buildings, or serve the food, schools don’t open.”

Joyce firmly believes that all workers—teachers, school police, and non-instructional staff—deserve fair wages and benefits. She fully supports better pay for teachers and school police officers, recognizing their critical roles in educating and protecting students. But she also knows that non-instructional workers, the backbone of the school district, deserve that same dignity and respect.

“No one who works full-time in our schools should have to struggle just to survive,” she says. “We all deserve to live with dignity and respect.”

Joyce is speaking up—not just for herself, but for all her coworkers who deserve what she has: affordable healthcare and fair wages that reflect their dedication. No one who works tirelessly to serve children should have to choose between their health and their paycheck.

Her fight is about more than survival. It’s about fairness, dignity, and justice for every worker who keeps Palm Beach County’s schools running.

Because they all matter. And it’s time they are treated that way.