Driven by her love for reading and education, Anna A. Yoder started her academic career in seventh grade, when her teacher gave her his materials so she could help other students. She loved the work, and decided then that she wanted to pursue it on a more professional level. Her dream was realized in 1966, when she obtained a teaching position with Garrett County Public Schools in Maryland, and she never looked back. In 1970, Ms. Yoder advanced to become the principal of the elementary school in the district, and in 1974, she transferred to East Holmes Local Schools in Ohio as a teacher. There, she was responsible for reading, writing, and math, although her favorite subject was reading. During her time in the public school system, she served as a consultant in bilingual education and as a chairperson for the Education Committee at the German Culture Museum, both also in Ohio. She retired in 1998.
As a testament to her hard work and dedication, Ms. Yoder was granted the Silver Poet Award by the World of Poetry in 1986 and named a Jennings Scholar by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation from 1983 to 1984. She was also proud to earn a Master of Education at Frostburg State College in 1974 and a Bachelor of Science at Eastern Mennonite College in 1966, and to become a certified elementary teacher and recreational leader in the state of Ohio. Her achievements were highlighted in numerous editions of Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Education, Who’s Who in the Midwest, and Who’s Who of American Women.In her down time, Ms. Yoder enjoys studying birds and flowers, doing handcrafts, and crocheting doilies and hot pads. Further, she has remained a sustaining member of The Wilderness Center since 1974 and a supporting member of the German Culture Museum since 1983. Ms. Yoder has also been a lifetime member of the Mennonite Information Center since 1985, and is a longtime member of the Killbuck Valley Museum and the Holmes County Historical Society. Previous memberships include the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, the Ohio Retired Teachers Association, the Holmes County Chapter of AAUW, and the Creative Arts Society.