Dr. Yocum has approximately 10 years’ experience educating students Pre-K-adult. Upon completion of his B.A. in psychology from the University of Kentucky (1994), Dr. Yocum was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force where he served as a Personnel Officer, Squadron Section Commander and Training Instructor at Eglin Air Force Base, FL. After leaving the Air Force and working as a substitute teacher for 2 years, Dr. Yocum heard God’s call to teach and matriculated at the University of West Florida in pursuit of a M.Ed., Elementary Education, Curriculum and Instruction (2006) and Florida teaching credentials. While pursuing his M.Ed., Dr. Yocum worked as a Plan-of-Care Tutor and Title I Reading Classroom Assistant, teaching reading skills in small-group and one-on-one instruction. From 2005-2009 Dr. Yocum worked in the classroom as a Kindergarten Summer School Teacher, 5th grade Remedial Resources Teacher, 3rd grade Teacher and 3rd Grade Level Chair, Summer Pre-K Lead Teacher and Literacy Committee Chair. During this time, Dr. Yocum also earned an Ed.S. (Educational Leadership) from the University of West Florida (2008). From 2009-2011, Dr. Yocum completed his Ed.D. (Curriculum and Instruction, Diversity Studies) from the University of West Florida (2010) and served as a Teacher on Special Assignment for the University of West Florida. In this capacity, Dr. Yocum worked with 2nd career graduate level students who were returning to school to earn teaching certifications, as well as with masters, specialist, and doctoral students. Dr. Yocum has experience teaching a variety of educational foundations, research methodology, and educational diversity courses. Dr. Yocum’s hobbies include reading, drawing, painting, gardening, and cooking.