His life’s love and work is evident from the sign on his office door: “men who change diapers change the world.”
Conan McKay is the only male instructor in the child development department at Bakersfield College, and he doesn’t see himself anywhere else. McKay grew up observing his mother and her work as a child development instructor. Although he began working at BC two years ago as an adjunct instructor, this will be his first semester as a full-time instructor.
“I got involved by default,” he said.
He spent one year in Japan, where he taught English to children, ranging from grades pre-school to high school.
“I remember a Christmas Eve dinner I spent with the students where they all spoke English,” he said. “It was wonderful, I loved it.”
McKay’s passion not only focuses on childcare and teaching, he also spends his time as a volunteer for the Kern County Search and Rescue. During one of the searches on the Kern River this summer, McKay slipped on a rock and fractured his ankle. He is still wearing a foot brace.
Teaching is his primary job. Search and rescue is completely voluntary. Although they do not find every lost person, McKay finds both his job and his volunteer work “wonderfully rewarding.”
“You do the best that you can. Inside you say ‘I will do whatever I can to find that person, without putting myself and others in jeopardy,'” McKay said.
On top of his teaching and rescue work, McKay also enjoys surfing, travel and playing with his two children. He said it is a big adjustment to have children of his own.
“I love being a parent,” he said. “Watching my children develop and grow. Watching them make decisions and learn from them.”
McKay loves his job and hopes his presence will encourage more male involvement in early childhood teaching.
“Active fathers are incredibly important. It is part of the relationship we build with our children. We are teaching our children to be male and what it means to be masculine, not just what Hollywood and the mass media says is masculine,” he said.