Teacher profile: Mr.Yee

Famous for his gruesome frog dissections, there’s a good chance you’ve had Mr. Yee if you’ve ever taken a biology class at ERHS. In room 306 on the third floor, he teaches 9th grade honors biology, 11th/12th grade AP biology, and has taught 7th grade science in the past. He also coaches the tennis team and sponsors the Asian American Heritage Club (AAHC), proving his dedication to the school through intense commitment to these extracurriculars.

Growing up in LA county with 2 younger sisters, he came from a low-income family, and always studied hard in school knowing that education was the key to success. When he discovered the sciences, particularly biology, his mind was blown that there’s a whole field of study revolving around explaining the universe. He chose to study biology in college without a clear plan in mind on what he wanted to do after college.

In order to pay back his student loans, he worked as a vault clerk at Home Depot for almost a year, when he began studying for the MCAT to get into medical school. However, he never got around to taking the exam and was no longer interested in becoming  a doctor. The store manager, who was pursuing a teaching career, noticed he had a college degree and got him to study for the CSET to become a teacher instead. After applying to LAUSD to teach high school biology, he received an offer to teach at Manuel Arts High and switched schools a couple times before landing at ERHS. We’re all grateful for what happened, because without that store manager, he probably wouldn’t have even become a teacher!

Mr. Yee is the ERHS tennis coach, and has played tennis since he was in high school! While taking a break from tennis in college, he got back into it when he played in the faculty vs. student tennis competition in 2022. When he found out that Mr. Jacobson, the former tennis coach, was retiring, the assistant principal asked him to become the new one. While reluctant at first, he gave it a try, and enjoyed it despite the large workload. However, he explains “it doesn’t feel like work because the kids are great.”

Mr. Yee’s favorite corner of biology is zoology, due to his love for animals. He’s owned every pet you could think of, from fish (displayed in his classroom!), to guinea pigs, snakes, dogs, birds, turtles, and even a parrot! Taking care of animals taught him how to be nurturing and deal with his students' stressful situations. He also loves exploring nature through biking and hiking. He’s gone to different trails all over the United States and plans to explore out of the country sometime soon. His favorite food is Japanese and Mexican foods - he wants to try buffalo burgers and alligator steak because he loves exploring new cuisines and he doesn’t want to miss out on trying any good eats. According to Mr. Yee, “Your eyes are the window to your appetite,” and since Mexican and Japanese foods are colorful (and healthy!!), he can maximize his eating experience.

Whether it’s using his clever pneumonic devices to help his students remember the DNA base pairs or his immense dedication to the tennis team, Mr. Yee’s shiny desks and well-prepared slideshows are carrying this generation of students through high school biology! So, let’s hope I can pass the AP exam…