Holly McKay shares love of learning with MV students

Popular teacher returns to Ram Nation

Holly+McKay+shares+love+of+learning+with+MV+students

Kaitlyn Blachly and Gabe Luttinen

Mrs. Holly McKay, a returning MV math teacher, conveys an optimistic attitude and confidence heading into the 2021 school year.

Mrs. McKay formerly taught at St. Mary’s Grade School in Mount Vernon, and she is excited to be educating in a larger environment.

Mrs. McKay taught at MV from 2005 to 2015. Her first teaching job was at Centralia High School, where she taught for two years.

“I do enjoy a larger student body – you get to know so many more people,” stated Mrs. McKay.

Although she arrived from a school with a much different student body, Mrs. McKay has adjusted, with few bumps in the road. Her students have recognized this and has formed a positive attitude towards her.

According to Joseph Jones, ‘25, “She always makes time for her students.”  Eli Piper, ‘24, stated, “I wish other teachers made school fun like her.”

Apart from the positive feedback from her students, Mrs. McKay also is getting along well with fellow staff. She is very excited to reunite with old friends and meet new ones.

Mrs. McKay identified her favorite thing at MV as “the people.” She also said, “MVTHS staff is the best – friendly and helpful.”

MV is clearly excited to welcome back such an outgoing teacher, and it should be noted that Mrs. McKay is also a National Board Certified teacher.

“[S]he also makes school more enjoyable, “Piper added. Keeping students engaged helps them to be more attentive and open the classroom.

All of the interviewed students were happy to have her as a math teacher, and there was no negative feedback from any of her students.

Aside from being well liked by most of her students, they all said she was very helpful and goes out of her way to relay the curriculum.

Mrs. McKay teaches multiple classes for freshman and sophomores, and she added that Advanced Algebra 2 was her favorite to teach because of the “…depth of the content.”

This isn’t Mrs. McKay’s first time teaching math. She taught 6th, 7th, and 8th grade math and science at her former school, St. Mary’s in Mount Vernon.

“She takes the content and makes sure everyone understands perfectly,” said Piper.

When her students were asked for advice about her classes, they all said to be attentive.

They also shared that they don´t have a lot of homework, which everyone appreciates.

A similar vibe that all her students had given was that anybody who wants to learn, will learn in her classes.

Jones added, “She is a very caring teacher and she loves her students very much”

When asked if they would

make any changes to class, Piper and Jones strongly disagreed.

One of her previous students at St. Mary’s, Tyler Kemp, ’23, said that Mrs. McKay was his favorite teacher because of the way she takes care of her classes.

Mrs. McKay has made a solid impact on the school and does her part in making the world a better place, one Ram at a time.