At Boulder City High School we are known for having multiple alumni in our math department. One of our beloved math teacher’s is Mr. Strachan, he attended our school from 1972-1978, at the time it was a combined middle and high school. After graduation he attended UNLV to pursue his passion for teaching. Out of college he had his first job at SECTA for 1 ½ years teaching Vo-Tech, before teaching at BCHS in 1984.
Mr. Strachan’s dedication to our school has proven in the past 41 years, becoming a role model to numerous students along the way. In multiple ways, he has mirrored the inspiration and guidance he received from his own role model. Mr. Strachan said, “My biggest role models were all of my teachers at BCHS, but the biggest influence was Jim Nelson (the guy the gymnasium is named after). He was the best teacher ever, and he always seemed to be enjoying what he was doing. I got to spend time with him and his wife (also a teacher-Sally Nelson) since high school, and I kept learning from both of them.”
Throughout his time at Boulder City High School he has not only been a passionate teacher but also a dedicated coach. He has taught every math class that has ever been offered at BCHS, with AP Calculus being his favorite. His coaching career included being the Head Baseball Coach for 20 years, Pitching Coach for 4 years, JV Basketball Coach for 7 years, Head Basketball Coach for 6 years, Girls Varsity Basketball Coach for 2 years. In addition he coached all 3 levels of Football and Girls Tennis.
Thinking back on his personal experience as a student at BCHS he said, “I liked the overall school setting. I liked being in class, taking notes, and discussing things with my teachers. I also liked the social side of school–hanging out, playing sports, going to dances, etc.”
As he made the transition from being a student to a teacher at our school, he encountered numerous challenges including working with many of his past teachers. Along the way he gained valuable lessons, like how much work it takes to really be a good teacher.
In the past 41 years, Mr. Strachan has impacted our school dramatically from helping students “light go on” when learning something new to making $100 bets which of course are never paid. Whether he works at BCHS for a few more months or a few more years his legacy will always leave a lasting impression.
