"People say I teach music,” says Glen Cain, Rescue resident and teacher at Gold Trail School in Placerville. “I tell them I don’t teach music; I teach young people—with music.” Cain has lived in the Placerville region for most of his life, and even from an early age, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in music education. “You can teach lots of different things with music,” he explains. “Self-worth, teamwork, the value of hard work…all of it.” He has dedicated his life to education as service, both as a music teacher and as a youth pastor at Gold Country Baptist Church; as well, Cain is a former winner of the Music Educator of the Year Award from the Capitol Section of the CMEA (California Music Educators Association), and his youth concert and jazz bands have performed throughout the state.

But Cain remains humble about his accomplishments. For him, the biggest reward is making a difference in a child’s life. “It’s amazing to see students succeed, and know that you had a part in that,” he says. He is especially proud of the fact that all three of his children and wife are involved in music education and youth work. “I live in a little house; I don’t have a lot of money in the bank, yet I think I’m one of the richest people I know.”