Mukilteo math teacher nears stardom as country musician
MUKILTEO, Wash. -- What do Nashville and math have in common? We're finding the answer in a Mukilteo teacher who's goin' country.
Chance McKinney doesn't just teach math at Kamiak High School, he is a contestant in Country Music Television's show "Music City Madness"
For the last decade, McKinney has written and performed. Last summer, a friend suggested he enter his song "Be Real" in a contest. Last week, Chance found out he made the final four. Tuesday, kids in his class waited with bated breath at a computer screen to find out if he advances to the final two.
And after long weeks of enlisting friends and family to get out the vote -- it pays off. Chance is indeed going to the dance.
First, there's relief, then the shock of reality that Chance McKinney is that much closer to becoming a star.
"I didn't think I'd be a part of the 64, let alone make it this far," McKinney said. "The song has taken off, the kids have taken off. The family support; the state support. I mean, I've got people voting from 23 different states now."
So, who knew their math teacher had this hidden talent?!?
"(I) used to think of Mr. McKinney as this football, macho -- he's this math teacher, and all of a sudden, he's this kick-butt country music performer," said Kamiak student Rachel Kaye. "It's like, that's really awesome!"
"I heard about it last year," added student Matthew Johnson, "and I thought it was really cool to have someone as a high school teacher sort of have this other life that you wouldn't expect. I'm sort of a musician, so it's something I admire."
The numbers are adding up for this math-teaching, country signing Chance McKinney, who is focused on two things: Getting you to vote for him, and keeping in mind no matter where this ride takes him, he'll "Be Real."
You can vote for chance at cmt.com
Chance McKinney doesn't just teach math at Kamiak High School, he is a contestant in Country Music Television's show "Music City Madness"
For the last decade, McKinney has written and performed. Last summer, a friend suggested he enter his song "Be Real" in a contest. Last week, Chance found out he made the final four. Tuesday, kids in his class waited with bated breath at a computer screen to find out if he advances to the final two.
And after long weeks of enlisting friends and family to get out the vote -- it pays off. Chance is indeed going to the dance.
First, there's relief, then the shock of reality that Chance McKinney is that much closer to becoming a star.
"I didn't think I'd be a part of the 64, let alone make it this far," McKinney said. "The song has taken off, the kids have taken off. The family support; the state support. I mean, I've got people voting from 23 different states now."
So, who knew their math teacher had this hidden talent?!?
"(I) used to think of Mr. McKinney as this football, macho -- he's this math teacher, and all of a sudden, he's this kick-butt country music performer," said Kamiak student Rachel Kaye. "It's like, that's really awesome!"
"I heard about it last year," added student Matthew Johnson, "and I thought it was really cool to have someone as a high school teacher sort of have this other life that you wouldn't expect. I'm sort of a musician, so it's something I admire."
The numbers are adding up for this math-teaching, country signing Chance McKinney, who is focused on two things: Getting you to vote for him, and keeping in mind no matter where this ride takes him, he'll "Be Real."
You can vote for chance at cmt.com