Fall — 2004

Amy Yeager

SMC Student 1995-2001,
Elementary School Teacher

“My first class was with Walt Sakai, who’s an absolutely fabulous teacher. He was remarkably supportive and fascinating. An endless source of information, really, who never turned me away.”

Her last name, when spelled in the original German, means ‘hunter.’ And it’s a very apt name indeed for how Amy Yeager approached her professional life. “I graduated as a Business major from the University of Puget Sound in 1991 and went into all the facets of business imaginable,” she says in her ‘all ahead full’ style. “I was in finances, hotel management, worked in retail for Starbucks, and ran a therapy office for a talk radio psychiatrist. I was doing really well and making good money. But I just wasn ’t happy.”

After some soul searching, Amy thought she had worked it all out. “I came to SMC thinking that I’d work toward a doctorate at USC in Oceanography and Marine Biology,” says the young woman who’s done a lot of volunteer work at the Long Beach Aquarium. “But then I realized that if I ever wanted to travel and raise a family, academia was too restrictive. Then suddenly it struck me: What I loved about being at the Aquarium was all the little kids who are just so receptive. I mean, they’re sponges!” she says with a laugh. “And they’re the ones who are going to fix this world if we’re gonna do it at all!”

Amy now teaches a hands-on science lab at Juan Cabrillo Elementary in Malibu. “Microscopes, lenses, tools of the trade, and driving the key concepts home. They all want to be doctors now!” says Amy. “I’m so happy there, and I think it was SMC that gave me the opportunity to change my life. No other college is as accommodating for a transition person like myself. I mean, Ruth Logan (in biology) recommended me for this job. She’s getting people into USC, and I just wanted to reach kids. And when I did get the job, she said to me, “Amy. Now you’re my peer.” And that felt good.”

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