Teaching Journey

Following nearly 15 years of dedication, passion, and meaningful connections at Arvada West High School, English teacher and Link Crew Sponsor McCain is moving on, not so much out of desire, but necessity. Her leave marks an end of an era that has deeply impacted students, teachers, and the A-West community.

McCain’s time at A-West began in 2010 with student teaching, followed by a long-term substitute position. That soon turned into a full-time role, and as McCain prepares for her departure, the role comes with a bittersweet ending. “Not every school has the culture where everyone seems to care about each other, and building relationships is the highest priority” McCain shares. 

She adds, “Academics are always a priority and we all know that, but I think us seeing everyone as humans first is paramount in our building, and I really love that because that’s really important to me and my work.” 

Her 15 years of teaching includes experience in every level of English Language Arts, but her heart has always been with seniors classes. “There’s something really special about teaching seniors,” she shares. 

She elaborates that she“ just love[s] that age group of getting kids prepared and thinking about the next couple years of their lives.” 

She further explains, “Just seeing those kids who work really hard and end up graduating, and they’re so proud of it. Those are some of my favorite moments.”

McCain also enjoys being outside the classroom by supporting school plays, dances, and even participating in fundraisers. “I was taped to a pole at one point,” she laughs. 

She often reflects on the impact of her students and the culture they helped build. “Every year has something special to it, but it usually has to do with things outside the classroom. Again, the culture that A-West has, which is really special.”

Link Crew Journey

One of McCain’s lasting values and accomplishments is her work with Link Crew, a mentoring program that supports freshmen in their transition to high school. Since taking over in 2013, she has shaped it into one of the most active and influential programs at A-West. 

“I didn’t really realize what I was getting into until I did the training,” she says. “The values that the Boomerang Project, which is what organizes Link Crew, has around belonging and culture… is kind of my core of who I want to be as a teacher.” 

Link Crew allows McCain to do all the things she wants to do in her own classroom, with the added bonus that she reaches more than just her Sophomore and Senior classes. Specifically, she supports not only freshmen, but upperclassmen as well. “I really do believe in its (Link Crews’) mission, [our own building], better cultures, and belongings for students.” 

She elaborates,  “It’s one of those things that, as we always say, that if you haven’t drank the Kool-Aid, you don’t know.”

It is no surprise that many of McCain’s most memorable moments heavily feature Link Crew, as she explains, “I remember starting Link Crew and doing my first couple of assemblies and taking that huge risk… seeing the power that Link Crew has, has been a really, really big highlight of my career here.”

Her passion hasn’t gone unnoticed. Fellow Link Crew Sponsor Mr. Studenny explains, “McCain was doing Link Crew before I got here. I think we’re one of the biggest, if not the biggest, activity and club in the school, and it wouldn’t be that way without her.”

Studenny further praises her contributions: “Link Crew is not what it is without her. She put so much of herself into Link Crew… I’m really going to miss her, as a person, but also as a partner in Link Crew.”

 Studenny also says, “She works so hard with it and is so organized, behind the scenes in particular. She has been hugely influential, link crew is not what it is without her.”

 Link Crew commissioner Dillon Cheer also adds, “Her creation allows a smoother transition to high school for incoming freshmen.”

A Special Memory

While McCain is known professionally for her excellence in teaching and leadership, she also made lasting personal bonds with her coworkers. Karen Kramer, a colleague of McCain who also teaches English recalls a particularly special memory: “In the summer of ’22, there’s Swetlic, McCain, Norwood, me, and another teacher who’s no longer here. We went to Scotland for almost two weeks. That was a great trip with her, and she and I roomed. We were roommates several times, so you get to see your colleague outside school in a much more personal way… being on a trip with her was probably the highlight of my relationship with her. She was the selfie taker. She was the selfie queen.”

These moments of friendship and fun made McCain’s presence even more powerful, not just in her classroom or in Link Crew, but in the way she connected deeply with the people around her.

A Difficult Decision

While McCain’s departure is filled with emotions, in the end the reason behind it comes down to one thing: family. With two young children at home and a long commute to A-West from outside Arvada every day, the decision became unavoidable.

“I really don’t want to leave,” she says. “But being able to spend more time at home is a really big deal to me.”

She admits the choice wasn’t easy or new as she has decided that she is going to Columbine high school “I always kind of looked to see if there were gonna be jobs down south, but I was always a little bit relieved when there weren’t because I wasn’t going to have to make that decision.”

 This time, the decision came for her. “It was really, really heartbreaking. It’s a bittersweet moment. I’m happy to go down there and spend more time with my family, but I’m really sad to be leaving and moving on from this place that I spent so much of my time and my memories here.”

McCain also acknowledges how her family life has changed her perspective as a teacher: “I think its made me a little bit more thoughtful on what I expect out of students at home. I want my students to value their time at home too.”

 She adds, “When you’re witnessing somebody else’s life, which is part of my decision, why I am leaving.” 

The long commute to A-West only adds to the urgency of her decision. “We know how Colorado winters are, and the snow and just the treachery that can be driving on the highways, and for 15 years, I’ve been making this drive, and this will be an hour to 90 minutes of my life that I get back” she shares.

Farewells

As McCain closes this chapter, she leaves behind more than lesson plans and classroom memories. She leaves a legacy of compassion, culture, and student empowerment.

“I think high schoolers get a really bad rep[uatation] in the world,” she says. “But I think they’re thoughtful and interesting. I’m impacted to see the best in the world because they are so excited to get out there and change it.”

As for the messages for McCain, they include a bunch of support and bittersweetness. Kramer says, “I would just say continue to be her, be you. Continue her great spirit and kindness, and her love of teaching.” 

She adds, “I understand her need to leave to be down south with her family. She’ll be great. She’ll be great at Columbine.” 

Studenny includes, “I really cherish all the time that we go to spend together working through Link Crew and with all our amazing leaders… I completely understand that she needs to leave for her family, but I’m going to truly miss her.”

And a lasting message that McCain gives to herself when she started here is to enjoy every minute. “’Cause you never know when it’s gonna end.”

Although McCain’s absence will be greatly felt, when all is said and done her influence will live on in the hearts she touched, the programs she supported, and the students she inspired.