Beloved Ysleta High school teacher loses battle to cancer

It was back in 2008 when ABC-7 caught up with Paul Cain to talk about him being honored with the Texas Teacher of the Year Award.

“You started somewhere where a teacher gave you a push to get you started, and I think that is what we do and why it is so important,” Cain said.

Cain got his start in the army after graduating from high school. He says the army recognized his potential and put him in the classroom as a math instructor.

He spent his 42 year teaching career as a math and physics instructor at Ysleta High School, but spent his free time running city-wide High-Q tournaments and guided his students through academic decathlons and UIL academic competitions.

Mark Niethamer knew Cain for over 20 years as a High-Q coach and he described him as a very passionate person.

“Not only was he passionate about being a teacher, he was also passionate about making sure his teams succeeded,” Niethamer said.

Back in April, the Ysleta high school High-Q team defeated Coronado high school to become the grand champion of the KCOS High-Q tournament.

Many of Cain’s former High-Q students remembered him on social media as a mentor. Others saying that he was a big influence in their lives.

Cain said that he would retire when teaching wasn’t fun anymore. That moment never came and he remained teaching until June.

Mr. Cain would have celebrated his 74th birthday next week. The school is working to put together an event in his memory.