From patrolling the streets and keeping the community safe to becoming one of Milford’s most popular substitute teachers, Mr. Degrego has been subbing in the Milford district for seven years. When many students think of having a substitute teacher for their next period they think of Degrego.
Degrego is very well known for all of the stories he tells every time students have him as a sub, he tells them either his favorite stories he has from other schools, or a newer one that just happened. Every now and then he will tell his story about being a police officer.
Degrego shifted his passion from being in the Air Force, becoming a police officer, then coming to be a substitute teacher.
Degrego says, “I got tired of watching kids cross at school crossing to turn towards the evils of drugs and alcohol and wanted to help students prevent doing that in the classroom.”
Students describe Degrego as a very caring person,always wanting the best for people. Even when he retired from being a police officer, he still volunteered after September 11, 2001 to help unbury victims from fallen debris.
“I got tired of watching kids cross going to school crossing to turn towards the evils of drugs and alcohol and wanted to help students prevent doing that in the classroom,” says Degrego.
Degrego is a substitute teacher at all the schools in Milford. He especially enjoys subbing at elementary schools because his favorite thing to do is bring the kids outside for recess.
He also enjoys the elementary schools because of the bonds he forms with the students. As they continue to get older, they already know him when they see him in the halls of different schools.
Degrego fondly remembers his time as a police officer before becoming a substitute teacher.
“I did enjoy being a police officer because I wanted to help people…my most memorable experience of being a police officer is my rookie year, we were on a high speed chase to catch the Son of Sam.”
Son of Sam was a serial killer in New York where Degrego used to work and was caught a week later after the chase. Degrego crew ended up chasing someone else who fit the description of the Son of Sam.
Degrego endured many different events as a police officer.
He remembers, “Driving back from a call, when I saw a women about to jump off a bridge and commit suicide. I ran behind her, grab her leg and pulled her back over the fence.”
This day really stuck out to him because he still remembers the date and time: July 17, 1992 at 8:00pm. For his act of heroism, he received a police life saving medal.
Junior Nolan Fortier describes Mr. Degrego as a “legendary sub.”Fortier has known Mr. Degrego for around eight years.
“I love whenever I walk into a classroom and see Mr. Degrego, it always puts a smile on my face,” he states.
Students enjoy the way Degrego subs because he makes the class fun for students to enjoy and laugh while they get their work done.
