![This is Paul Pews high school graduation photo. The 2023-2024 school year marked his 34th year of teaching. He began his career in Washington, then came to McCallum where he has taught for the past 17. At heart though, he’s really a musician. One that grew up in many different places, including Chicago and California, who took interest in teaching from a young age. His high school choir experience, along with some international singing in college, persuaded him that teaching was his path. He knew he wanted to be able to help create works of art in the fine arts department as well, so he joined McCallum. He’s worked on many of the musicals over the years, even before Joshua Denning, the former theatre director of the fine arts program arrived. Before him was a different director: Tatum.
“I was the music director for all the musicals,” Pew said. “[Mr. Tatum and I] worked very hard, and I just got to the point where I was satisfied with it.” Although he may not be as prominent of a member in the musical theatre community at McCallum anymore, he still plays piano. “I still do a lot of music down at the Music end of the building,” Pew said. Photo courtesy of Paul Pew.](https://macshieldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Paul-Pew-1974.jpg)
The day he walked into the riser-filled room, he knew this was where he belonged.
Over 1,000 miles away in Austin, Minn., was a musician. He developed his piano skills and singing in junior high. But he didn’t feel the spark until now.
He felt it. Among the choralists, all together. But every person was still unique. His friend, Al, made him see that. Everyone was working together in perfect harmony.
Paul Pew had been moving around for some time. He had discovered snow for the first time in the suburbs of the Windy City when he was 8. But he found his passion in Northern California in his high school choir class.
The song had been outlawed since 1956. No one was allowed to sing it. But they did.
His music teacher took him to go to a University: Chapman. He watched and listened to their choir’s music in awe. From that moment, he decided he would go there. He had to study music there.
“I didn’t apply to any other schools,” he says.
So he did. He studied music and mathematics at the college. He joined the choir. They were invited to go sing at the Bartok School of Music. It was in Hungary, a communist country then. Still, they went.
They found a composition of their national anthem. They walked into the room filled with guards and machine guns. They filled it with the country’s beautiful song. On their second phrase, the audience stood.
“The people were weeping,” he says.
It wasn’t until the next day at the airport that they knew why. The song had been outlawed since 1956. No one was allowed to sing it. But they did. They were not punished.
So, why has he been a math teacher for 17 years at McCallum?
Because: “There was a math position open, and I thought it would be a good fit for me,” he says.
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![DANCING QUEEN ONLY 15: The Mccallum quinceañera took place Saturday May 18 in the cafeteria. Students who danced at the quinceañera practiced for weeks during lunch and after school with the help of Señora A to perfect this special moment. “I signed up for fun and for the dress originally, but I actually made a lot of friends, and it helped me want to come back to practice,” said Elizabeth Peables, a freshman quinceñeara. “It’s been stressful, but it always works. We stayed very late yesterday [the day before the event], but today it feels like everything came together.”
Caption by Nellie Eschberger with reporting by Beatrix Lozach.
LA REINA DE BAILE, SOLAMENTE TIENE 15 AÑOS DE EDAD: La Quinceñera de McCallum fue el 18 de Mayo en la cafetería. Estudiantes que bailaron en la quinceañera practicaron por semanas durante el almuerzo y después de la escuela con la ayuda de la Sra. A para perfeccionar este momento especial.
“Originalmente me inscribí para divertirme, y por el vestido, pero actualmente hice muchos amigos y me ayudó a querer regresar a la práctica.” Dijo la estudiante de primer año Elizabeth Peables. “Ha sido muy estresante, pero siempre funciona.” “Nos quedamos muy tarde ayer el día antes del evento pero hoy se siente que todo está cayendo en forma.”
Leyenda por Nellie Eschberger con reportaje de Beatrix Lozach. Traducción por Maverick Palacios.](https://macshieldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/53732328578_3ee2526f55_o_53769409497_o-1200x675.jpg)
