Oct 12, 2018 3 min read

When McKay Vargo dances, the smile doesn’t leave her face.

“She dances like nobody’s watching. That’s how she lives her life,” said McKay’s mom, Debbie. “She’s teaching me to live like that.”

McGuffey High School’s homecoming dance last weekend provided the perfect venue for McKay to boogie. In her royal blue dress and glittery high-heeled shoes, McKay danced the night away with her date, Marshall Mounts, a senior who is on the football team.

“All night, she marched him around, and he went wherever she wanted,” said McGuffey life skills teacher Jamie Daley.

McKay, a freshman who has Down syndrome and apraxia, which causes limited speech ability, was asked to the dance by Marshall, who is also a McFriend, a regular education student who mentors students in special education.

Daley said the program has been in existence for about five years. There are about 20 to 25 McFriends who directly mentor special education students, and more who help with special events.

Daley said Marshall’s asking McKay to the dance is an example of McGuffey’s culture.

“Marshall is wonderful, but there are plenty of students who participate in the program,” she said. “It’s a testament to McGuffey’s community, how everybody is somebody. We’re a community and we take care of each other.”

Marshall asked McKay to the dance by creating a sign with an M&M and the words “McKay and Marshall. Will you go to homecoming with me?” He presented it during class.

“She was so nervous, she had her head down and wouldn’t look at him at first. When she realized what was going on, she gave him a big hug and said yes, and that they were going to dance to Luke Bryan,” said Daley.

Debbie said her daughter had a blast.

“He could have probably gone with any girl at McGuffey,” said Debbie. “He was very good to her. He picked her up and they went to a friend’s house for pictures. … It was a big thing for him to ask her.”

Debbie and Joseph Vargo, McKay’s father, said they had some concern about how their daughter would be treated by her peers when she started as a student at Joe Walker Elementary. But their fears quickly subsided.

“She’s had wonderful aides,” Debbie said. “In McGuffey, there isn’t a lot of bullying. Most of the kids aren’t like that. She’s happy and where she wants to be.”

Daley said the McFriends program has helped to create a culture of acceptance and foster lasting friendships.

“Marshall is an amazing kid,” she said. “He’s a true testament to the community here, and a mascot for what I want the community to be like – giving everybody the opportunity to be a part of the group and have friends.”