Coach D, |
Laura “Baxter” Obuchowski
|
Kyle Brennan
|
Coach D, it was great having you as my homeroom teacher in my freshman year!! |
Coach D, |
Daniela Elizondo
|
Alex Colondona
|
Mr, Darak, I just wanted to say thank you for everything you have done for me. I always appreciated the way you taught. It was tough but in the end very rewarding. You made me comfortable in your class and confident to answer questions. Even two years later, you still asked me how I was doing every single morning of this year. You really showed you cared. You’re going to be greatly missed by THS. Best wishes! |
I never had you in a classroom but you’re a great dad even though you yell at me for dumb things like doorbells and not putting the TV the way its supposed to be when i play video games even though you NEVER watch TV anywhere except your room. Anyways congrats on sticking it to the man and getting you’re yogurt parfait before they escorted you out of the building. Now go get a job I dont want to have to spend all break with you old man :) |
Josh Darak
|
Jack McCarthy
|
Coach D, I may not have been an amazing student in your class, but you never failed to make a subject that I dread in math interesting. Even after I left your class you never failed to greet me in the hallway as I walked past you. You made a true impact on the school and for that I thank you. |
Harold, I hope you realize how much we love and respect you. You've always had a smile on your face through these difficult times. Many of us feel the same way you do. We applaud you! You're loved and admired by so many people especially our students. It's only a matter of time before before more of us take the high road. |
Anonymous |
Ryan Gomes
|
Coach D was not only a great teacher but a great person. He created an atmosphere where every student felt wanted, something most teachers can not do. He took the time to personally know his students interest and would have conversations with them all the time to keep them engaged in his math class, again something most teachers can not do. Coach D was my favorite teacher I have ever had and the letter he wrote to show the respect and care he had for his students and most of his colleges showed what type of person he is. At the end of the day Trumbull Highschool lost someone they can not replace. |
Thank you Mr.Darak for being the best math teacher I can ask for. You made math actually enjoyable and ur an amazing person. What u did really made an impact on all of us and If u see these ur a well appreciated and respected man that left a great legacy at THS I really wish I was able to say goodbye <3 <3 Much love Coach D |
Anonymous
|
Annie Kacin
|
Coach D’s class freshman year was one I will never forget. He was tough, but you can tell he was trying the help you. His different techniques and teaching methods were what really made the class enjoyable. If it was competing to win math olympics or memorizing special names to help with factoring, each day we were building our strength of not only becomeing better mathematicians but better students. I didn't realize how much I valued Coach D’s teaching until the new school year came around and I was hoping to have him as a teacher again. Thank you coach d for changing the way I look at math. |
Thank you Mr. Darak! You were the best Math teacher at THS and said many things that we agree with. Best of luck in retirement, You always put students first. |
Anonymous |
Shea Marazita
|
Coach D was one of the best teachers I ever had. He inspired me to be a better student in every aspect at THS, and I’m sure anyone who taught me can tell you I was not always the most motivated student. I didn’t always do my homework (I might have been the reason for a major policy change in his class.....lol), but I learned from him better habits and also just how to be a better person. He has always held himself with a sense of dignity and pride in what he does, and he showed me how to to put my heart and soul in to the things I do. Even when I wasn’t taking his class, but I needed help studying for the math portion of the SAT, we gave me study material and helped me durin his office hours. He was an important piece of what made THS great, and I am proud to have been one of his students. |
Coach D, |
Bella Genuario
|
Jaclyn Irizarry
|
Thank you coach Darak for everything you have done for me. You were the best math teacher I’ve ever had. You made learning math fun and easy. I got the best grades in your class and I owe it all to you. You will be missed. Thanks again. |
Coach Darak, while your teaching style may not have particularly resonated with me, you have my upmost respect as a person. Your passion for teaching was strong, and you truly wanted to do all you could to see your students succeed in both math and their futures. You are one of the most admirable teachers i've had. |
Nick LeMay
|
Chris Smaniotto
|
Thanks Coach D for everything that you have done at the school and the math department at trumbull high. Sophomore year in geometry class you always made us laugh and actually enjoy math and being in school. You never failed to make class interesting with spinning the wheel or rolling the die on the board. I admire the passion you had for teaching and all of your students. Thank you Coach D, best of luck for the future! |
Coach Darak, I never thought I’d have fun doing math until I walked into your class. I thought Geometry and Algebra 2 were going to suck, but I enjoyed them so much that now, I miss being in your class. It’s because of you that I’ll have a lifelong foolproof note-taking strategy and a willingness to take on any math that comes my way. Thank you for writing me a college recommendation, and for changing my mindset to help me smile at math instead of frown. You’re the best teacher I’ve ever had, hands down. Best of luck to you and whatever you do in the future. |
Christine Salinas
|
Gina & Zander Faccio
|
We marvel at your courage. Thank you for taking a stand for our kids. Wishing you luck on your next journey. Wherever it may be, never change who you are and what you believe in. You taught our kids a great lesson! |
He was one of my favorite teachers. Made learning math fun. |
JR Vano
|
Rob G.
|
Coach D was an inspiration to me and the rest of my class by incorporating sports, a love of mine, into the concepts of math. He isn't a teacher, hes a coach. He would challenge you to get the right answer and won't let someone fail in the class. A coach works closely with someone because their end goal is to win the game (ace the final). I would not be the person or mathematician I am today without his guidance or spirit. So good luck in your future endeavors, Coach D! |
Coach D, you were great. I loved your class and coming in everyday to see you, cheerful and happy to teach. Even if people hated math, everyone still found some joy in it by having you as a teacher. Even after I finished freshman year math with you, you still greeted me every time we passed each other in the hallways, and that really meant a lot. Most teachers I would try to avoid eye contact with, but I looked forward to saying hi to you. Thanks for all the positive impact. You're truly inspirational. |
Anonymous
|
Christian Correa
|
Coach D was one of my best teachers, eventhough I struggled with getting to school everyday coach D made his class one of the ones that was enjoyable to come back to. I remember coming back to school after many absences and feeling lost on to where to start with makeup work and quizes. Coach D managed to make it a fun and engaging class even for a kid that struggled to make it to school. He helped provide more to his students with the environment and energy of his class. Thank you |
Hey Coach Darak. I just wanted to say a big thank you for what you did. Expressing your views and rightful thoughts about education really struck me. You were the best math teacher and I couldn’t be more proud :D. |
Lily DeLoma
|
Anonymous
|
Thank you for finally being the one to say it all. You are an inspiration and one of my favorite math teachers. Thank you! |
Coach D, you will missed greatly at THS thank you for everything |
Anonymous
|
Anonymous
|
You made my freshman year pretty cool. I could tell how passionate you were about teaching. I have respect for what you said. Keep it real Coach D |
Thank you coach Darak for making an impact on my life you were truly a great person and deserve the best, Trumbull High will miss you tons hope you are well. |
Lauren Larson
|
Rachel Zack
|
Coach D, I never had you as a teacher but you never failed to make homeroom fun. I loved talking to you about hockey and math. Thank you for everything. |
You're an amazing teacher and co-worker. It's obvious how much you care for your students. I applaud you for standing up for yourself but more impotantly for all students at THS. |
Anonymous
|
Hailey Duva
|
You are an amazing teacher I’m so sad that I was only able to have you as a teacher for this little bit of time. You are an amazing person who always knew how to make my day or the other student said day better. I’m gonna miss you |
Thank you for being brave enough to share your view. We all appreciate you so much and wish you luck on your next chapter!!!! |
Anonymous
|
Jack Spielman
|
Well I didn’t have you as a teacher, but your a real strong man to stand up for what you believe in. Good for you. Trumbull needs someone like you. Your a great teacher. |
Thanks coach d for being an amazing math teacher and making me laugh. |
Jillian Mather
|
Carissa Burns
|
Mr. Darak was an amazing teacher. Even tho school has only been in session for 2 months I love the way he teachers and he does an amazing job doing it. |
I never had Derek as a teacher but I used to walk to his class with Michael Hoben after lunch before going to my class with Doyle, and he was always there hearing us talk about jamming with our guitar and bass and needing a drummer. Ever since then when coach D would see me he would smile and ask me if we found a drummer. He away said hi to me and I thought he seemed like a good level headed dude. But that was just the impression I got being friendly with him in the halls and whatnot. |
Ethan Fair
|
Joanna Vizcarrondo
|
As a student who struggles with math, Coach D made math a class I looked forward to. Coach D was easily one of my favorite math teachers. He made class fun and interactive. Unlike most teachers, Coach D gave his students multiple opportunities to earn extra credit. Coach D was one of the most approachable and helpful teachers I’ve ever had. |
You helped me through some terrible times when I thought I couldn’t make it through math class and i’ll forever be thankful for you!! I still tell people about you to this day. wishing you all the best, you made such an impact on me! |
Cassie Urban
|
George |
I might have not done the best in your class, but your a good person who will hopefully change this school into what it should be. |
Hey Coach Darak!! I’m really sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye to you on your last day, but I will miss seeing you in the hallways while I was walking through m wing. Passing by you nearly everyday was a highlight of my day. I never had you as a math teacher, only a homeroom teacher, but you seemed to really care about teaching and giving students a good education. You have a great sense of humor and came to school everyday with a positive attitude and somehow made a useless class like homeroom worthwhile. You are kind and funny and all of us will miss your presence at THS. Best of luck on everything to come!! |
Sam St. John
|
Webster Williams
|
Coach D I never had you as a teacher. But one thing I gathered from being is your home room is that you make everyone feel at home. You make everyone feel that they can come in know they have someone that will listen. That is interested in how they’re doing. I had this short lived pleasure of getting to know the man of whit and sarcasm. It was an honor to shake your hand one last time. |