What Test Scores Can't Measure: 'Mr. Hungerford Got Me Through School'

Thank you, Missy, for this amazing article about my father-in-law. Not only was he one of the greatest teachers around, but he was also THE greatest family man you'll ever meet. He loved us all so much & would do anything for us. I know that when someone passes away, you generally hear or read similiar sentiments, but this man was IT - A perfect example for all of us. There has never been a better husband, father, grandfather, teacher, or friend. Of this I am certain.

I love him & miss him so much. I'm looking forward to the day when I will see him again... Dana, rest in peace, my friend.

Thank you Missy from the bottom of my heart. This article was beautiful. It would make Dana so happy to know that he made a difference in his student's lives. He loved people and never judged them because of their financial standing or abilities. When we would go to Walmart together, it was difficult to get our shopping done because he was always so busy waving at former students and stopping for a 'quick' chat. If I heard it once I heard it a thousand times "Hey Mr H!" He would always answer and call them by name. Going to Walmart will never be the same but I know in my heart Dana made this world a better place.
My eternal thanks to all the support and love I am receiving from everyone. May God bless you all.

As the parent of 3 of his students I can tell you that Dana influenced the kids not only with his humor,compassion,understanding and Intelligence, he also made them feel worthy.

An awful lot of male public school teachers have heart attacks or die in their 50's. I wonder if theirs' a connection?

Sorry..."there's"

What a wonderful article. My dad taught math at Mt. Carmel High School for 30 yrs. and died 15 years ago at age 58. I still have people tell me what a difference he made in their lives. My sincere sympathy goes out to the Hungerford family.

I hope Mr. Hungerford realized he was the man we all aspire to be. Hungerford family, you will be in my thoughts.

What a great article, Missy. Kim and Dana were such a neat couple in school. It was really nice to know that they have made a difference in this world. My heart and prayers go out to Kim and her family in this sad time, but I'm sure when she reads your words, she will find some comfort there. ~Niki Morris Webb

It is a great inspiration to other teachers to hear about and see the way this man's students loved him. I wish we all could be as effective. God bless all the students and family during your time of loss

Dear Melinda,

Teachers are the unsung heroes of our time. It is the Eighth Wonder of the World that teachers are not compensated commensurate to the influence they have on the future leaders & CEOs of America. Sir Isaac Newton, Aristotle, Pythagoras, Albert Einstein, Confucius, Ayn Rand, & Galileo were all teachers.

I have personally had many great teachers & have been privileged to see the changes in my son brought about by the kind & caring heart of a brilliant teacher. Thank you for your wonderful tribute to a magnificent teacher that you knew. I hope we see more articles like this on Politics Daily.

I am a 52 year old teacher and I know this is a devastating loss to Dana's students and mostly to his very large and blessed family. I want to say to them, that his legacy of love to you will sustain you and your future generations. I lost my father to a drowning accident before I was able to remember him- he was 29, but recently I have realized that knowing his commitment to achieving an education in engineering and working up with IBM and then Honeywell, and just hearing about how he cared and loved us gave me a legacy to aspire to. I wonder why I could not have had him until he was say 53 but this is the lot I have been given. I say you are blessed because you had you father long enough to know his strengh and wisdom and advice, and apparently married long enough to have nine grandchildren for him. I made poor decisions and my children did not have a father either.

Your blessings do not take away the terrible empty hole of grief you feel in your chest and the lonliness for that one that has gone so I pray you are comforted by the loving Spirit of Jesus in these coming times.

I wish this country was on fire about education like it is about Health care reform. The education system is as broken as the health care.I was disheartened to learn that the majority of the federal funding will go to law enforcement and homeland security. We need to reward the people who teach our children and find the money to truly educate our children,not teach them how to do well on this one test in order for the school to get proper funding.We will have a better chance if our children are being taught fine arts like music and art along side a well rounded athletic programs. My sympathy to the Hungerford family at this very hard time in their lives.

I had a heart attack at 53. In on Sunday out by Wednesday. (stint) Not sure who was luckier? 1 thing for sure.....this man..WILL BE KNOWN FOR THE THINGS HE LEFT BEHIND. Kindness, love to just mention a few. My prayers will be w/the family.

What an amazing, heartfelt, wonderful tribute to a man who obviously left the world a better place than he found it. I think teachers are among the noblest of citizens because they, perhaps more so than any other really, have that ability to affect true change in the world. By reaching children and helping them to succeed in life, they ensure our future is something worth looking forward to. They don't get nearly enough credit for the jobs they do and the impact they have.

I was lucky enough to have several teachers like this man when I was growing up. I'm 43 today, and yet I can still hear them in my ear when faced with certain challenges urging me on or guiding me through. This man likely has a legacy that will live far beyond himself and might even inspire a few to follow in his footsteps, carrying on the torch he is now forced to pass on.

My heart goes out to his students and his family and friends. I hope some solace can be taken in the fact that his legacy is so strong. When a great teacher dies, you need only look into the faces of every student ever touched by them to see proof that they live on in each and every one of their lives. And 20 years from now, his words will likely be echoing in the ears of many of his former students as well. Great teachers never truly die, because that influence they had and implemented so well will last forever.

Condolences to the family and friends of this wonderful man. A good teacher is like a precious gem, and a good math teacher can make a huge difference in a young student's life. I remember Mr. Marcos from my high school....he reminds me of how Mr. Hungerford has been described here. A note to you older adults...get your physicals, EKG's, and make sure that, if you have any risk factors, you get a stress test done...demand it from your doctor. Take a lesson from this untimely death.