Hello

About Brian McCarthy, Creator of SWAY

Brian McCarthy is a retired educator and the creator of SWAY — a SMART Way to Learn, Earn, and Play. With over 30 years of experience in the Calgary Separate School District, Brian specialized in elementary and junior high education, focusing on social studies and drama. During the final twelve years of his teaching career — spent in grade five — many of the core ideas behind SWAY were developed and refined in real classrooms with real students.

Brian studied education at McGill University and earned a Bachelor of Arts from St. Francis Xavier University. But it was Stanstead College, a small boarding school in Quebec, that truly changed the course of his life — giving him the confidence and structure he needed to overcome early learning challenges. That personal journey shaped his belief that every student can succeed when given the right tools and support.

Driven by his own experiences as both a learner and a teacher, Brian created SWAY to help students discover their strengths, take ownership of their learning, and build meaningful connections in school and at home. Through tools like CAP Notebooks, Pathfinder, and The WAY Game, Brian empowers educators and parents to guide students toward greater engagement, confidence, and personal growth.

Now retired for over a decade, Brian remains deeply passionate about education. He is married with two adult daughters and lives life fully — photographing the outdoors, skiing, biking, creating stained glass, tying flies, and staying active at the gym. His love of teaching didn’t end with retirement — it simply evolved into a mission: to share what works, inspire curiosity, and help others teach and learn in smarter, more joyful ways.