Risa Machovec is an institution at the International School of Denver. Known and loved by her nickname Ms. Mac, her tenure on ISDenver’s Lowry-based campus spans over two decades. In her 25th year, Ms. Mac’s presence is a fixture on campus as steady and constant as the yellowed bricks adorning the buildings that once housed the airforce base stationed here, the comfort of a nourishing meal in the Dragon’s Den, and the laughter-filled and sun-drenched courtyard at the heart of it all.

As a living and breathing archive of our storied past, Ms. Mac has witnessed firsthand the evolution of the vibrant, international community we know and love today. As a school, we are deeply rooted to a mission that develops academically successful bilingual learners poised to make positive contributions in the complex world around them while simultaneously committed to a growth mindset where inquiry and curiosity and iteration are nurtured. In the spirit of who we already are and where we are going, Ms. Mac, alongside the entire ISDenver community, will welcome our first ninth grade class in the 2025-2026 school year.

The expansion of our Lowry-campus across Unita Way to include the former Bishop Machebeuf Property, will become another bright layer woven in the tapestry of the rich oral history Ms. Mac is fluent in sharing with everyone she meets. If you toured campus on an Admissions tour, you likely first met Ms. Mac inside her open-air art studio in the Mary Louise Evans Building. As the Arts Coordinator and teacher, Ms. Mac loves to understand the artist that lives within each child and the mediums they use to create art. It is sometimes in the course of this first conversation, adjacent the kiln room she is so proud of, that Ms. Mac shares a memory of going to the movies at the Air Force Theater, now home to our Gymnasium, in the 1980’s.

Ms. Mac joined the faculty of Montclair Academy as an Art Teacher in 2000, nine years before the Denver International School and Montclair Academy merged to form Denver Montclair International Community. In 2011, Ms. Mac helped welcome our first Middle Years Programme students. In 2014, the school officially changed its name to the International School of Denver. Over the years, Ms. Mac has taken up residence in seven art rooms across campus and bedecked an Art Cart worthy of gallery space when she taught ECE students. She has witnessed the addition of the Lower Primary Building in 2014, the STEAM lab in the Peacekeeper Building, a Welcome Center in 2016, and the Mary Louise Evans Building in 2021. 

Ms. Mac, along with the Arts Team, Ms. Tracy, Ms. Juliana, Ms. Natalie, and Ms. Johnson has been the driving force behind our annual International Day of Peace every September. Last year, the Arts team presented about our Peace Day tradition and festivities at the Colorado Art Education Association Conference.  Ms. Mac helps other initiatives for the benefit of our entire community like our Artist in Residence program. She and her incredible Arts team work diligently behind the scenes to help create the aesthetic and ambience befitting of our International Day of Peace celebration each September, Pack the Gym Spirit Day, Music performances, and Art and Design shows. She is known for her flair and zany Halloween Costumes, which always delight.

More importantly, Ms. Mac has dedicated a career to helping students believe in themselves. She fundamentally believes we are all artists and is steadfast in working with students to trust themselves enough to create and express their beauty and truth. Her wall of inspiration in her art studio draws awe from all who visit, and all are welcome.

Ms. Mac is loved and respected by students, families, and colleagues alike. Primary Specials Lead and Music teacher, Dr. Juliana Stoughton, shared, “I want to take a moment to express my admiration for Ms. Mac. She embodies a gentle spirit and has a listening ear. Her actions are filled with understanding and patience, complemented by her warm smiles that uplift everyone around her.”

Allison Johnson, our Primary School Art Teacher, shared, “I’m very thankful for her in so many ways.” She reflected, “From the time I was hired and then arrived in Denver, she has been a friend. She helped me feel supported professionally and personally in a new city where I didn't know anyone when I arrived…when I really need a friend or support in any way, she is a person who is there for me.” 

I remember when I first began teaching Art and thought about finding ways to connect the Visual Arts with other subjects. If students were learning about dinosaurs in Grade 1, I showed them ways to paint dinosaurs using shapes. If students were studying ancient civilizations in middle school, I would teach them about Relief Printmaking and connect it to the carvings of ancient Egypt. This way the students would teach me about what they were learning in class while I guided them with ways to express themselves in Art. I have been fortunate to observe many wonderful educators along the way and have learned how to create a learning environment that is best for our students.

It is magical to watch art students take part in the creative process while making connections with the art and the world around them. Giving students choices is so important when they are creating. The Corner of the Room project in Grade 8 allows students to express themselves using clay and a variety of materials. The worlds they create with this project always surprise me! Each room tells a story of what is important to them.

How lucky am I to guide young artists everyday and watch their creative process unfold before my eyes. How lucky am I to be part of this vibrant community that I call my home away from home. Time does fly when you are having fun!

- Risa Machovec, Art Coordinator and MYP Teacher

Share your favorite Ms. Mac story! 

Email marcomm@isdenver.org with your favorite memories of Ms. Mac!