Danbury Community Star: Christine Murphy and Megan Hughes, Teachers

In this new series, Patch features outstanding members of the community that go above and beyond to give them the recognition they deserve.

Today we feature two local teachers who have made a difference, sent in by Amanda Keokot.

Who is your favorite teacher?

Christine Murphy and Megan Hughes.

Where does she teach?

Mrs. Murphy was my Algebra 1 teacher, my Freshman year and Ms. Hughes was my Biology teacher the same year.

Why is she your favorite?

I don’t have just one favorite teacher, but two. Their names are Christine Murphy and Megan Hughes, both teachers from Danbury High School on Team 2. Mrs. Murphy was my Algebra 1 teacher, my Freshman year and Ms. Hughes was my Biology teacher the same year. They’re both excellent teachers, but they’re a lot more than teachers to me, they’re like friends and even can be considered family.

Mrs. Murphy has one of the biggest hearts out there. She’s caring and always pushing me to do my best. Whenever I’m talking about school, it’s mainly her who I talk to. In a few years I’ll be heading off to college and this worried me because I’d be the first in my family to graduate in America, so I don’t know how to prepare myself and apply for scholarships and schools, but Mrs. Murphy told me that when the time comes she’ll help me out herself. She could have told me, “Don’t worry about it, you’ll find a way,” but she didn’t. Same as with tests and quizzes, I always doubt myself, but she’ll always reassure me that I’ll do fine. It’s nice for someone to have hope and faith in you rather than being told “Well, You should have studied harder.” She’s like a mom and it’s nice to have one in and out of school.

Ms. Hughes also has one of the biggest hearts out there, but also the biggest sense of humor. Anything she says or does will put a smile on your face or have you on the floor laughing! Ms. Hughes has the greatest advice and my person to go to, to blow off some steam. I tell Ms. Hughes everything because she’s one of the only people who understands, but in less serious matters, which is often, it’s jokes between us. I joke around and ask her if I could attend her wedding in the future and talk about it with her or we’d laugh about the latest trends on vine. Sometimes she can be corny, but because it’s her, she gets a pass. I also talk to her about academics.

Both Mrs. Murphy and Ms. Hughes both know what I want to do in my future and Ms. Hughes has given me advice on how to get to it. Ms. Hughes is like an older sister, but not the one where you fight about who’s shirt is whose.
These aren’t your ordinary teachers, they’re so much more to me and other students of Danbury High School. I have a special bond with them, that’s hard to have with other students at school. I always get the feeling that in most of my friendships, that we’ll eventually drift apart, but with these teachers, I don’t. I have no worries that they’ll be a change in our bonds because they’re special ones. They help me get by and have surely made a difference in my life.

Would you like to see your favorite teacher, volunteer fire fighter or outstanding member of the community featured as a Community Star? Email wendy.mitchell@patch.com.