At the risk of sounding like an old-timer, kids in school have it good. Long gone are the days when education was all books and no real-world experience. Technology is no longer considered a distraction, but an asset and a teaching aid. Teachers have also transformed from monolithic creatures of our deepest darkest nightmares, whose main function is to make students’ lives miserable. Now, students have teachers who not only cultivate a positive atmosphere in class, but also nurture an egalitarian camaraderie with their charges. It is the golden age of education where the ‘cool’ teacher is no longer an anomaly, but the standard.
Teacher, part-owner of Imagination Station Kindergarten, and frontman for the popular Beijing band, Stevie Mac & the Mac Daddies, Steven McKinney certainly fits the bill. With fun as part of his teaching philosophy, McKinney has made it his mission to push the educational envelope in Beijing. “My primary philosophy is to make teaching fun and to always be creative,” says McKinney. “With fun, creative ideas in the classroom everyone wins, both teacher and student alike. I believe that this type of teaching environment will truly help a student realize their potential.”
McKinney’s foray into education was far from an accident, tracing his passion for the classroom back to his high school days when he served as a child mentor and camp counselor, through to college which further cemented his resolve to plunge headlong into education. However, this journey was far from smooth, as McKinney confesses.
“I failed. Miserably, I might add. In the States, I was unfulfilled in my work and personal life. I made some bad choices and lost everything that was important to me. But in that failure, I gained clarity in crisis, which gave me the courage to come to Beijing to start anew.”
This is a testament to Beijing’s ability to attract fresh young minds while acting as the perfect crucible for reinvention and innovation.
Fun is not only an aim for McKinney, but is incorporated as part and parcel of his teaching routine. “My class sings for about 20 minutes every morning which we all love, and we always listen to music during worksheet periods,” explains McKinney.
This love of music extends beyond the classroom, with the weekends dedicated to his passion for music as the frontman for his band. The vintage pop-rock outfit has become a common fixture in Beijing expat circles, even going so far as to perform for beloved Chinese NBA legend, Yao Ming.
According to McKinney, “It’s a blessing to live each day with such fulfillment. Coming to Beijing was a huge leap. Being successful here took a lot of hard work and sacrifice, but was certainly worth it.”
Just like many expats in Beijing, McKinney confesses to an ongoing romance with the city. “I love China and I love living in Beijing especially. I’m an expat who considers Beijing to be home. The city has afforded me many great opportunities for which I am very grateful.”
It is this sort of attitude and a dedication to innovation that’s propelled McKinney and his partners to success in the running of their preschool, Imagination Station, which now has two locations in Haidian District.
For McKinney, between teaching and sharing his passion for music, leaving his adopted home of Beijing is far from likely.
“I learned a valuable lesson about never giving up on your dreams. I can’t pinpoint one moment that made me want to pack up and fly home for good. I have my bad days, sure, but all in all, I love Beijing. I don’t see a scenario where I would voluntarily leave, at least not right now.”
This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 March – April issue
Photos: Steve McKinney
