Celebrating Women’s History Month – the woman whose kindness inspires us

Ms.+Dupre+and+her+children

Ms. Dupre and her children

Ms. Karen Dupre is a French teacher at Naugatuck High School and deserves recognition for Women’s History month.

Ms.Dupre was born in Connecticut and went to college at Nazareth in Rochester, NY and also at Miami in Ohio. Ms. Dupre decided to become a teacher because when she was younger she was very passionate about her teachers.

Ms.Dupre doesn’t find herself inspiring but believes she was chosen as an inspiring women because as she says “I love what I do and I just maybe provide a safe place for students.”

She looks up to her mom, her mentor when she first started teaching and Mother Teresa. But, Ms.Dupre sees her students as being the most inspiring women in this building.

She was told that she would never be able to have children, but, then, she gave birth to 3 miracle  triplets and long after that gave birth to her, also miracle, son Peter. Her triplets are now turning 21 this year which “makes her feel old” but she is proud that they’re becoming very successful adults and that they’re going down the right path.  She remembers the first year of raising her triplets as a blur but after that i her routine saved her and kept her sane.

Ms. Dupre inspires her daughters to be strong women by explaining to them that being independent is important and to be able to provide for themselves is important.

“I want them to know they can do things on their own and not have to rely on other people necessarily for everything but that they do need to be able to rely on people to ask for help when needed.”

We interviewed Mr.Sendra who is a spanish teacher at the Naugatuck High School who has known her since she has started at the high school.

He believes that Mrs.Dupre is a strong women and herself and she does it by modeling. He believes that she is an example for young girls and a good mother for her kids.

“She’s a very attentive mother to her kids” and she is very personal with her kids [students].

He knows that they develop a very deep connection with her, and he says “the kids are in the room all the time and you get kind’ve jealous but you’re not.”

He’s always felt a strong connection with her and she makes him feel like he can be kinder as a person because she is so kind.

Ms. Dupre’s kindness and perseverance inspire all of her students who are grateful for her empowering presence.