By April Clark Honaker
Dylan Allen is beginning his first year teaching biology and environmental science at Cedar Creek School in Ruston, where he will also serve as the new discus, shot put and javelin coach.
The Missouri transplant is in the classroom again after a hiatus of about 10 years. But Allen said he never really stopped teaching. As a personal trainer and triathlon coach, he continued to teach on the one-on-one level with his clients in the interim. As a trainer and coach, Allen makes sure his clients understand his choices, which often means some education on anatomy and physiology.
“It’s been a pretty smooth transition getting back in the classroom,” he said. “Not much has changed. In the grand scheme of things, kids are kids. They have the same worries and same developmental things.”
Aside from a few technology issues, Allen said he is adapting well to the new setting.
In teaching biology, he is essentially teaching the same material he’s taught many times throughout his graduate studies. Allen’s own interest in biology was sparked in high school by his biology teacher Coach Reed, who also was the head cross country and track coach.
“I really enjoy it,” he said. “It’s complicated like a puzzle, and it’s something I’m good at.”
Allen earned his bachelor’s degree in biology education from Missouri State University while coaching track and cross country at his high school alma mater. Upon completing his undergraduate studies, Allen went on to earn a master’s in biology and nearly a Ph.D. before deciding the terminal degree was not for him.
While completing his graduate studies, Allen taught introductory biology courses for majors and non-majors, so he said he is very comfortable with this content. But the environmental science class is newer to him, and the students are mostly seniors.
“We’re intentionally trying to build the class to be a little more career oriented,” he said.
Recently Allen included a video call with an environmental engineer he knows in Georgia whose work consists primarily of doing environmental assessments for developers. The goal was to make the students aware of their options in this field.
“You don’t have to be a professor or be doing research to work in environmental science,” he said.
Coaching discus, shot put and javelin will also be new to Allen. Although Allen is a certified, level one, USA track and field coach and has been a personal trainer for years, he has never coached these specific sports.
“That will be different,” he said, “but I’m looking forward to stretching my legs in that direction.”
