updated March 2010

The "More about Mr. Yost" Page

    Teaching: I teach Latin (VI, VII, et VIII), as well as having lunch duty, study hall, traffic duty, and after school study hall.  I also coach MS Soccer.  I used to teach Math 6 and Computer Enrichment as well, but don't have any time now in my schedule with so many periods of Latin.

    Education: I attended Jarrettsville Elementary School in Jarrettsville, Md. I attended Homestead Elementary in Bel Air for sixth grade, and then started seventh grade at Aberdeen Middle School (Cal Ripken was on our high school team). I transferred to Old Mill Middle North in seventh grade. I graduated from Old Mill High School in 1982. I received an AA from A.A.C.C. in 1992. I received my bachelor's degree in history from UMBC in 1997.

My Hobbies include:

    History: I love to read history. I am especially fond of the Roman Empire and Colonial American periods in history. I have had several classes in Maryland history, which I also find very interesting. My European ancestors arrived in Maryland (as well as other colonies) in  the 17^th century which has allowed me to combine my love of history with some family genealogy.  My ancestors came from all over Europe (England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Germany (and by default Italy), France, and Switzerland).  I also have studied some Native American history since I also am part Susquehannock Indian.  They no longer exist as a tribe as they were absorbed by the Iroquois after many wars with them and increasing friction/pressure by European colonists on all sides.  The last members who had returned from the Iroquois to live in the colony of Pennsylvania were killed by English colonists in retaliation for unrelated skirmishes on the western Pennsylvania frontier. 

    Music: I have always been a music fanatic. I had my first record player (a Zenith hi-fi) at age two and a half. Its replacement, a Christmas gift in 1967, is still in my closet. As you can guess by that statement, I am also a vinyl holdout. I own quite a few CD's, but nothing can ever replace my records. I had roughly 7,500 records between my 78's, LP's, and 45's until the great purge of 2002, but I still have roughly 4,000. I even own one Edison cylinder, although I admit I have nothing to play it on. For the past several years, I have been collecting record players in addition to records. The count has decreased from a high of around 450 to around 20. They range from a 1915 Aeolian Vocalion phonograph to a 1993 Sony turntable. My records range from 1898-2010.  My daughter also lets me use the turntable on her 2002 Aiwa system.  You can almost always hear music coming from my classroom.  Some students claim they know how the grading is going by my choice of music...(jazz and BBC2 are always good, but rock/heavy metal...?).

    Philosophy: As a child I tended to have favorite stories and songs that meant a great deal to me.  One day, as an adult, I realized how much these things had to do with my life philosophy.  Had they affected me that much or had I chosen them as favorites because they fit me?  Either way, if you know me and have read or heard the sample books or records I have listed below you will see what I mean: 

        Books/stories: Corduroy, Mike Mulligan's Steam Shovel, and the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25-37).

       Favorite childhood songs: "500 Miles" (by Peter, Paul, and Mary), "The night they drove old Dixie down" (by Joan Baez), "Proud Mary" (by CCR), "Crimson and Clover" (by Tommy James and the Shondells), and "Anna" (by the Beatles) among others.  The first record I bought was "This Magic Moment" by Jay and the Americans in 1969 (which I still have by the way).  My first album was "Introducing the Beatles" on Vee Jay records which was a gift from my aunt.

Other stuff: 

I am 45 years old. I was born on May 17^th 1964.  I have been married since 1989 and have a daughter named Emma and sons named Andrew and George.

I have gone on the "Europe Trip" every year since 1999.  I like to travel with my students as they actually get to see and feel the things we have studied in Latin.  Besides, most anywhere we will go Rome had an influence in one way or another (i.e. "we owned it").  The latest trip (March 2010) was to Spain and Italy.  We had snow in Spain.  It was only a few inches but it was interesting to watch the Spanish deal with their "harsh winter" after our three heavy snowfalls (including the "blizzard").

I was an assistant county coach (AAYSL) for the Millersville Cougars (girls) for five years plus.  My daughter played defense or mid (right D usually).  I also coached (head coach) for the Millersville boy's team one season.  My daughter played for Severn JV.

I was the assistant coach for the Middle School Lacrosse team during our winning 2001-2002 season. I am the assistant Middle School Soccer coach for the "white team" (2003-2004 record 8 and 1, 2004-2005 record 7, 3and 1, head coach for the "Gold Team" during the 2005-2006 school year, and 2006-2007 record 4, 5, and 2) and "maroon team."  You can check out our latest season on the official Severn School Athletic Team pages.

The MS Lax team 2001-2002.  I am on the left, 2nd row in the red t-shirt.	MS "white" soccer huddle during a game (2003).  I am in the green shirt.

I had three cats (Virgil, Kitty, and Leo) and a dog (Boo).  Kitty passed away in the fall of 2009.

I have lived in Maryland all of my life. I was born in scenic Havre de Grace, Harford County, Maryland where the Susquehanna River meets the Chesapeake Bay roughly seven miles from where my ancestor John Durham received land for a homestead after finishing his indentured servitude in 1679.

I teach K-4 Sunday school at St. Paul's in Glen Burnie. I have been doing this since 1994.  I also teach summer Sunday school and vacation bible school.  I also am a communion assistant (usually the chalice).  My grandmothers (who raised me) both taught Sunday school among their various duties at their respective churches (Slate Ridge Presbyterian and Jarrettsville United Methodist).

Some Pictures from my K-4 Sunday School Class 2001-2002
Coloring and working on projects in the classroom.	After story time (the others had already gone to eat their snack).

I work with the winter relief for the homeless at my church.  My church houses the Salvation Army Winter Relief men usually in January but it can be as late as March (2004).  I serve dinner, do my grading, discuss life choices, religion, and do "night duty" (which means staying up all night).  We are hosting the "relief" at St. Paul's this winter (March 15th - 22nd, 2010).

I am a registered voter and I have voted in every election since I was 18.  I served jury duty for the first time during August 2000.  I served on two juries during tenure.  Civic duty is not always convenient, but is necessary to make society work. 

I donate blood to the Red Cross although I do not like needles.  I have been giving blood since I was 17 (May 1981).  A blood donor helped save my life in 1974 after my left arm was wounded in a shotgun accident.  I have passed the 6 gallon mark between Red Cross and hospital donations.  I don't like needles, but I think it is important (especially since someone saved my life and I can save other people in return).  I also happen to be CMV negative which means that I don't have a common virus so they really need my blood for babies and cancer patients.

I like several sports but especially soccer. I ride my bike to school when possible.  I liked to ride horses when I was a child in Harford County, but I have not ridden in years.  My sports activities usually now consist of  helping coach the MS Soccer team, strenuous Harpasta battles with my students, and playing with "little George."

I have survived all four faculty basketball games since I came, but 2000's was one of the best.  I even made a decent shot against Mike Z.  The 2001 game featured my ugly yet effective 3 point half court shot on my way to a total of five points in the game.  Unfortunately, the 8th graders won by two points in overtime ("thanks, Mrs. B.").  The 2002 game saw no points for me personally but good team effort as the faculty defeated the 8th graders.  The 2003 game was again a good team effort as we won by 2 points over the 8th graders.  I think it was due to the lucky socks that Max loaned to me.  The 2004 game featured my one and only basket but it was a "3-pointer" and my less desirable fall after tripping over "Marky's" shoe.  We now have faculty/8th grade volleyball games (since 2005) and basketball games to allow more students (and teachers) to play.  Last year the faculty won both games.

I can usually be seen on "traffic duty" between 3 and 3:30 in the afternoon.  Please remember to wear your seat belt.  If I am not there, I am probably listening to music, hanging out in my room with students, at practice, or at after school study hall.