For the past 28 years, Kierstan McCaw has been a familiar presence in Southridge classrooms and hallways, inspiring students not only to learn chemistry, but to think critically, stay curious, and embrace the occasional small explosion along the way. As both a teacher and Vice Principal, Student Learning, she has helped shape the academic experience of countless students while fostering a culture of inquiry, growth, and meaningful relationships.

Looking back on her career, she has witnessed many changes in education and in the students who fill Southridge classrooms each day.

"Students today face different challenges than they did when I first started teaching," she reflects. "Many experience higher levels of anxiety, and social media has added pressures that previous generations did not have to navigate."

Yet despite these changes, much has remained the same. "Over all the years, students are thoughtful, caring and genuinely engaged in the world around them. Some things, however, haven't changed at all. Teenagers still make me laugh, they still surprise me, and they are still a tremendous amount of fun to teach."

Southridge has also been deeply intertwined with her own family's story. Both of her children, Tim and Rachel, attended the school, and her husband works here as well.

"Southridge has been a very long and significant chapter in my life, filled with both highlights and challenges," she says. "It has taught me many lessons, some joyful, some difficult, that have shaped who I am today. Looking back, I am grateful for those experiences because they helped me become the person I am now, and I like who I am today. For that, I will always be thankful to Southridge."

Over the years, some of her most memorable learning experiences took place far beyond the walls of the classroom.

One adventure that still stands out was a science trip to the Amazon, where students conducted field research on local flora and fauna while experiencing one of the most biodiverse places on Earth.

"One very hot night, we headed out onto the Amazon River around midnight to search for caimans," she recalls. "As we travelled through the darkness, the river seemed to come alive with hundreds of glowing eyes reflecting back at us from the water."

Students safely captured and studied several caimans as part of their research, collecting ecological data before releasing them back into the wild. "It was equal parts adventure, science, and discovery; the kind of learning experience that stays with you forever."

Another unforgettable experience came during a Battlefield Tour through Europe alongside colleagues and students. "I was deeply moved by the Canadian cemeteries and will admit that I shed a few tears along the way," she says. "Especially when I stopped to read the messages mothers had chosen to inscribe on their sons' tombstones."

Finding her great-grandfather's name on the Thiepval Memorial made the experience especially personal. "Visiting the D-Day beaches, walking through Vimy Ridge, and standing in places that had shaped history gave me a much deeper appreciation for the sacrifices made by previous generations."

Throughout her career, Ms. McCaw's approach to teaching evolved significantly. Early on, much of her focus was preparing students for government exams and ensuring content coverage. Over time, however, Southridge's embrace of inquiry-based learning and the Harkness philosophy transformed how she viewed her role in the classroom. The shift toward standards-based assessment further reinforced that philosophy.

“Looking back, I think I became less focused on simply teaching chemistry content and more focused on using chemistry to help students learn how to think, question, analyze, and solve problems.” That has been one of the most rewarding shifts in her career. "I learned that some of the most powerful learning happens when students wrestle with ideas, collaborate with one another, and discover things for themselves."

Of course, some traditions never changed. "Whether it was my first year or my last, there was always room for lighting something on fire or creating a small BOOM!"

Most importantly, she believes strong relationships are at the heart of great teaching. "At the end of each lesson, stand at the door, thank each student for coming to class, and acknowledge the risks they took that day. Students learn best when they feel seen, valued, and safe enough to take intellectual risks."

Throughout her time at Southridge, Ms. McCaw has contributed to the school as a teacher, advisor, and leader, bringing curiosity, humour and care to her work with students and colleagues. The impact of her career can be seen in the many students she has taught and the relationships she has built over the years.

Thank you, Ms McCaw, for the leadership, wisdom, humour, and care you have brought to Southridge over the past 25 years.