DSST Spanish teacher and bike shop owner, brock shardin is thriving in colorado
When Brock Schardin first landed in Colorado, he wasn't following a plan. He had spent six years living in Europe—teaching, studying, doing graduate research—and when he was finally ready to come home to the United States, he knew one thing with certainty: a small town in South Dakota wasn't calling him back.
Colorado was.
He had friends in Denver. He loved being outside. He loved cycling. And the city felt like a place where he could build something real—personally and professionally. What he didn't know was that one walk into a school building would anchor the next eight years of his life.
Brock came to DSST: Cedar as a substitute teacher, covering a physics class. When students found out he had lived in Spain, spoke fluent Spanish, and had a background in language instruction, word spread quickly. As luck would have it, there was a Spanish teaching position open. He interviewed. He got the job. Eight years later, he's still there.
"Being in the classroom with students from all kinds of backgrounds, all carrying different stories—it really changes you," Brock says. "It's helped me grow as a human."
He talks about witnessing what young people navigate every day while still trying to make it through high school. About the patience teaching requires. About the quiet joy of showing up, lesson after lesson, trusting that something is landing even when you can't always see it. And about one of the most rewarding parts of the job: seeing former students come back years later—after graduation, after college—and watching where life takes them. That kind of connection, he says, stays with you.
But for Brock, Colorado has always been bigger than the classroom.
When he first moved to Denver, he bought a bike. Then another. Then another. Like a lot of riders, he found himself visiting shops around the city, often hearing the same answer when he brought in older vintage bikes: Sorry—we can't really help with that. Then he found Z Cycle Shop. It felt different. He started helping out—changing flat tires, taking out the trash, working weekends and summers when school was out.
Then, in early 2024, the original owner pulled Brock and one of his now co-owners aside. Both of them were teachers. "You know the shop," the owner told them. "You know the vibe. I think you can take it to the next level." At first, Brock wasn't sure. But eventually, the answer became simple: Let's do it.
Now, as a co-owner, Brock helps lead a thriving Denver bike community while continuing to teach full-time. And somehow, both worlds make each other stronger.
A typical week is packed. School during the day, then leaving campus around four, heading home, changing clothes, and heading to the shop. But the rhythm works because each space fills a different part of who he is. Education asks for patience, flexibility, and trust. The bike shop offers something more immediate.
"When you finish a bike, it's done. It's ready to roll," he says with a laugh.
Outside of both, Colorado keeps showing up. Group rides. Coworkers stopping by the shop. DSST teammates joining morning rides. Unexpected conversations in Spanish with customers after a full day of teaching it. Even German on some mornings. The outdoors here aren't just a weekend hobby—they become part of the everyday rhythm. Part of how you stay connected. Part of how you recharge.
For educators thinking about making the move to Colorado and joining DSST, Brock keeps it simple: "I could not recommend it more."
Over eight years, he's built meaningful relationships across campuses—shared lesson plans, learned from colleagues, found a true community. And outside of school, Colorado has given him room to build a life that feels full. A mountain ride after work. A classroom full of students who challenge and inspire. A city that keeps growing. A team that shows up for one another.
Sometimes the best stories begin exactly like this: one open door, one unexpected opportunity, and a place that feels like home the moment you walk in.