Allen Krugman Memorial Art Scholarship Fund

A Teacher at Heart My dad was a teacher at heart. He absolutely loved his work as a photography and art teacher at Central Islip High School, where he dedicated more than 30 years to inspiring and encouraging his students. He believed in his students, even when they struggled to believe in themselves. He encouraged them to pursue their goals, believe in their potential, and continue their education after high school. His photography students will always remember the familiar soundtrack playing in his darkroom: “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah,” and songs by Gene Autry, Bob Dylan, and Ella Fitzgerald. These songs became part of the memories they shared with him and are a small reflection of the joy he brought to his classroom. “Krugy” or “The King of Corn” as the students called him, was a beloved teacher whose impact extended far beyond the classroom. His students’ love and admiration for him was often expressed through the heartfelt messages they wrote on the back of the photography projects they gave him as gifts at the end of each school year. He always said, “I had the best job in the world. It never even felt like a job because I was always having so much fun.” That love for teaching was evident in everything he did. He went above and beyond for his students, encouraging them to recognize their own potential and to pursue their dreams. Every student knew his life theme song: “You Can’t Always Get What You Want, but sometimes you get what you need.” For Allen, teaching was about giving his students the encouragement, confidence, and opportunities they needed to find their own path.