Dr. Yoder Retires after 27 years

Not many school districts can say they have had only two superintendents in a 60 year period but that is exactly the case at Heartland Community Schools.  Dr. Norm Yoder will be retiring this year after coming to Henderson in 1985 where he succeeded  longtime superintendent Allen Friesen.  Yoder attributes such longevity at Heartland to two things–excellent staff and community support.

Yoder grew up in the Iowa City area but started his education career in Alice, Texas where he and his wife Linda had been doing volunteer mission service. They stayed on in Texas when he was hired to teach business education at the high school.  In 1974 he relocated back in Iowa and was hired to teach business education as well as coach soccer, basketball and track at Iowa Mennonite High School.  It was during this time that he was working on his master’s degree and in 1977 he was offered the principal job.

Interestly, Yoder saw the ad for the Henderson superintendent job in the “Mennonite Weekly.”   He had already completed most of the work for his doctorate and finished his dissertation a few years after moving to Henderson. “I was very fortunate to follow in the footsteps of Allen Friesen and he helped me to succeed in taking his place.  I hope to do the same for Heartland’s newly hired superintendent Brad Best,” said Yoder.

A motto that Yoder has come to embrace in his career has been “Change is inevitable, Growth is optional.”  The key says Yoder is how one deals with that inevitable change and there has been much over his 27 year tenure.  Yoder remembers his first board meeting when the board had already approved the purchase of a new typewriter and at his second board meeting he asked them to cancel the typewriter and purchase an  Apple IIe computer instead.  “Today we are discussing the One-to-One Initiative that would put a portable computer into the hands of every student,” said Yoder.

The process of consolidating the Henderson and Bradshaw school districts began in 1996 and was one of the highlights of Yoder’s tenure.  “It was like a shot in the arm for me and sort of like holding down two jobs during the consolidation process,” said Yoder.  He is proud to say that the Henderson/Bradshaw consolidation was viewed as a success by the State of Nebraska and has been financially successful for the district.

“The excellent quality of our education program is another reason for the longevity of our staff here at Heartland,” said Yoder.  He stressed the importance of believing, “there is always room for improvement.”  It has always been a team effort for Yoder and he attributes the success at Heartland to the excellent administrators he has worked with–retired Elementary Principal Ron Pauls and Secondary Principal Blain Friesen and current administrators Tim Carr and Cindy Huebert.

Besides seeing improvements in the quality of education at Heartland, Yoder has been instrumental in making numerous facility upgrades over the years.  “I feel good about the facility improvements we have made and can say that it is in tiptop shape,” said Yoder.  Some of the major improvements that have occurred on his watch include: energy efficient upgrades for windows, doors, and light fixtures, ceiling fans, classroom air conditioner units; two track replacements; new football stadium/press box, concession stand and outdoor restrooms.

Over Yoder’s 27 years he has played an active role in numerous community and church organizations.  He was a member of the START program in the early 90’s that led to the creation of Henderson Heritage & Tourism and the changeover of the Commercial Club into the Henderson Chamber of Commerce.  He also served on the newly formed Henderson Community Foundation board and is back on the board today as the president.

One of Yoder’s significant contributions to the community was a grant Heartland received from the Annenberg Foundation through its involvement in the School-at-the-Center program that helped fund a new Executive Director position for the Henderson Chamber of Commerce.  Yoder spearheaded a group he formed of city officials, board members, teachers, and community members that joined up with the University of Nebraska sponsored School-at-the-Center program.  Its purpose was to help small rural communities and schools find ways to revive and sustain their communities by attracting back their youth.  This is just one great example of how Yoder has continually been able to meld his job as superintendent and community leader.

Yoder’s influence was also felt statewide where he served as the president of the Nebraska Association of School Superintendents in 1996 and in 1997 he headed up the Nebraska Council of School Administrators.  “Serving on these statewide organizations really was a good experience and great collaboration with a broad range of administrators,” said Yoder.

It’s no surprise that Yoder says it’s “people” he will miss the most after he retires.  He and his wife Linda hope to do some traveling around the country visiting friends and family and seeing more of their two married children Derrick and Jennifer and grandchildren who live out of state.  He looks forward to having more time for community volunteering and possibly in the future do a stint of voluntary service with the Mennonite program SOOP (Service Opportunities for Older People).

Dr. Yoder’s leadership, dedication and contributions have helped better not only the school district but the community as well.  A retirement reception honoring Dr. Yoder and other retirees Sherryl Friesen, Sandy Klassen and Suzanne Ratzlaff will be held Sunday, May 20 from 1 – 3 P.M.

Shannon Siebert