From running marathons to running class, Julie Yeager has done it all.
Ms. Yeager went to college at Stephen F. Austin, where she majored in kinesiology and English, with the goal of becoming a physical therapist. After joining an organization called Young Life, she discovered her passion for coaching and realized that she enjoyed working with high school students. That is then when she changed her major to get her teaching Certification.
“I coached for 13 or 14 years, but whenever I had babies, things started just going really fast,” said Yeager. “So to balance things out a bit, I got out of coaching and I found Jordan, where I was able to get a job teaching English.”
One of Yeager’s hobbies includes long-distance running, and she has even run in the Boston Marathon. The sport has influenced how she both runs class and her own life.
“Life is not a sprint: there are no shortcuts. It’s never really easy, but whatever you’re willing to put into it is what you’re going to get out,” said Yeager. “It’s representative of life in general. There’s going be ups, and downs, you’re gonna have a love/hate relationship with it at times, but it prepares you to not give up, and to stay committed, to see a goal all the way through, and to be excited when you finally reach the goal and to also enjoy the journey.”
Yeager notes that the biggest challenge she’s faced in her teaching career was the pandemic. Not being able to interact with students and the uncomfortable nature of Zoom created a difficult learning environment most will not forget. Yeager reported seeing my foreheads and ceiling fans, and students found the learning difficult.
“I’m glad we’ve moved away from that,” says Yeager. “I like seeing students actually talking and interacting with each other.”
With the 2024-2025 school year moving forward, Ms.Yeager has many students, and has many hopes for her students.
“I hope that no matter who walks into my room, by the end of the year they can say they feel a little more confident within themselves, their voice. I hope my students learn there’s never wasted effort and kindness, and showing empathy to somebody,” said Yeager. “I hope my students learn that they always have a chance and an opportunity to use their voice in a positive way. That’s a total lifelong lesson and something we should all constantly be working on: how can we use our voice and our stories for the good and the betterment of the world around us.”
For Ms. Yeager, being a teacher means being able to provide comfort to students in distress. She prides herself on being able to help students feel like they belong.
“I had a student who I know, struggled with depression, struggled with suicidal thoughts. Just getting to know this person and them writing in class, I was able to kind of talk to them about some of those issues. And I think that particular student felt a little more comfortable after talking and working through some things to get help, and to me knowing that that person is okay and like they’re not maybe struggling quite as much. That’ll stick with me for the rest of my life.” Ms. Yeager’s students appreciate her kindness and efforts to make school more enjoyable.
“So after lunch, we would go and we would all sit down, and we would all kind of be tired, but she would understand that, and she would be like, ‘I know you guys are tired, but let’s try to focus up for a little bit,’” said Dylan Gibbons 26’. “It really helped make the class a better environment, because even though some of us were kind of tired towards the end of the day, she kind of understood that.”
Yeager’s ultimate goal is making sure that students feel comfortable in an academic and learning environment.
“I am not very into school, but Ms.Yeager made me enjoy school and definitely made me enjoy 7th period,” said David Nystrom 26’. “I would come into class tired, but she always brought energy and we had a lot of friends in there so honestly if it wasn’t for Ms.Yeager I would have not made it past 7th period.”
Ms.Yeager, wants her students to enjoy school a bit more, even if it is just for a class period.
“I just hope all of my students, all the kids walking around Jordan High School, know [that] if they’re struggling, if they’re feeling depressed, anxious, if they are feeling like they’re alone and nobody’s there, Jordan High School [has] so many good people who are glad you are here. We are glad you’re walking around the halls of this campus. We’re glad you’re a part of this community in this school. And if there’s anyone out there struggling with those kinds of issues, Never be afraid to reach out, there’s always somebody there, there’s always someone here who wants you around and who’s thankful for your presence,” Yeager said.
