News Detail
Focus on Faculty: Douglas Yoder
“Lock me in a classroom with a load of kids, and I’m happy,” Doug Yoder replies when asked what keeps his energy at the remarkable level he maintains while teaching chemistry, biology and physics at Kiski, running competitions nationwide, and inventing new courses for the boys at Kiski. In 1980 Yoder decided to end his public school teaching career and looked forward to other exciting career options already in the works. However, a trip to the Kiski campus to visit a friend resulted in a mutual interest between Kiski and himself that turned a trial run of 3 years into 31 years of teaching and coaching for Kiski.
How did Kiski lure Doug Yoder back in to a lifelong teaching career? He explains Kiski’s commitment to innovation and excellence in teaching permits him to use his creativity and ambition to energize his classes—and the boys—with newly designed courses and exploring new ways of teaching not possible in a public school setting. Yoder’s desire to prepare the boys extremely well for the next stage of their experience results in his notoriously rigorous coursework. That rigor must be accompanied by getting to know the boys on a personal basis, he believes.
Regarding his own work, Yoder says, “I don’t ever want to be accused of not doing the job right. Hard work-education-and fun are not contradictory words, despite what some students might think. I have the most fun when I’m working hard. I want the boys to have that experience.”
Doug Yoder has spent 45 years as a competitive athlete and has been coaching Cross Country and Track for 36 years. His devotion to competitive running and his daily regimen of 12 or more miles bring him a great deal of due respect from students on campus. One of his more memorable competitions involved running 1 mile at a time, averaging 5 minutes a mile in a 24 hour relay between 8 guys who ran –yes, 270 miles!
This Spring Doug Yoder offers Exercise Science Physiology, a course he designed to educate the boys about how the body works on a mechanical and cellular level. The course equips the boys with knowledge they will take through the rest of their lives that informs and, in many cases, counters notions of fitness nutrition promoted by the media. Kiski boys now return home for the weekend and share with Moms and Dads hard and fast knowledge of what to eat and drink, and why, in order to maintain optimal athletic conditioning and well being. Known as an “enrichment” course, the boys comments include, “We love it, but it’s hard as an elective!” This suits Doug Yoder just fine.
Between teaching and coaching at Kiski, a non-stop schedule of running competitions, and a host of hobbies such as building timber frame houses, bicycling, and other outdoor activities, Yoder still says, “It’s the kids who keep me young. Lock me in a classroom with a load of kids, and I’m happy.”
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How did Kiski lure Doug Yoder back in to a lifelong teaching career? He explains Kiski’s commitment to innovation and excellence in teaching permits him to use his creativity and ambition to energize his classes—and the boys—with newly designed courses and exploring new ways of teaching not possible in a public school setting. Yoder’s desire to prepare the boys extremely well for the next stage of their experience results in his notoriously rigorous coursework. That rigor must be accompanied by getting to know the boys on a personal basis, he believes.
Regarding his own work, Yoder says, “I don’t ever want to be accused of not doing the job right. Hard work-education-and fun are not contradictory words, despite what some students might think. I have the most fun when I’m working hard. I want the boys to have that experience.”
Doug Yoder has spent 45 years as a competitive athlete and has been coaching Cross Country and Track for 36 years. His devotion to competitive running and his daily regimen of 12 or more miles bring him a great deal of due respect from students on campus. One of his more memorable competitions involved running 1 mile at a time, averaging 5 minutes a mile in a 24 hour relay between 8 guys who ran –yes, 270 miles!
This Spring Doug Yoder offers Exercise Science Physiology, a course he designed to educate the boys about how the body works on a mechanical and cellular level. The course equips the boys with knowledge they will take through the rest of their lives that informs and, in many cases, counters notions of fitness nutrition promoted by the media. Kiski boys now return home for the weekend and share with Moms and Dads hard and fast knowledge of what to eat and drink, and why, in order to maintain optimal athletic conditioning and well being. Known as an “enrichment” course, the boys comments include, “We love it, but it’s hard as an elective!” This suits Doug Yoder just fine.
Between teaching and coaching at Kiski, a non-stop schedule of running competitions, and a host of hobbies such as building timber frame houses, bicycling, and other outdoor activities, Yoder still says, “It’s the kids who keep me young. Lock me in a classroom with a load of kids, and I’m happy.”
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1888 Brett Lane, Saltsburg, PA 15681
