Art room 300 has experienced several rapid turnovers in the past few years, but students are hoping Sahuaro alum and new art teacher, Mrs. Allie Hughston, will make her return to Sahuaro permanent. Mrs. Hughston, originally from Hartford, Connecticut, moved to Tucson when she was four years old and fell in love with art when she was a student at Sahuaro, which sparked her interest in teaching. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with a teaching emphasis. Hughston first started teaching at Mountain View up in Marana, but she’s always lived on the east side and got tired of the long commute, so Sahuaro is a better fit because it is closer and more convenient. When she first transferred to Sahuaro, she began as an aide in our ExEd department, but she did not have to wait long until there was an opening for an art teacher.
Mrs. Hughston says her favorite thing about her work is her students, but also, “I enjoy my co-workers which is awesome, so I like my team that I’m working with.” She also says that her schedule works well with parenting her 7-year-old son, Jackson (named after a character in Sons of Anarchy). “I enjoy having my time off with my son and do not need childcare for those breaks. It can be stressful at times to balance everything, but I manage. I believe working in education is a nice career to have while being a parent.”
Some of Mrs. Hughston’s favorite artists include Botticelli, Matisse, and Monet, while her favorite art medium is painting. Mrs. Hughston hopes to create an enjoyable and productive classroom. She wants her students to look forward to class and have the ability to learn new skills and techniques. Hughston loves art and aspires to share that love with all her students. It’s important to have a friendly, yet respectable relationship with her students and let them know that she’s always there for them and cares about them all, wishing to create a comfortable and safe place for everyone. 
Some of Mrs. Hughston’s hobbies include doing yoga and thrifting at stores such as Savers and Goodwill. Her favorite foods are cheeseburgers and Arizona iced tea with lemonade. She’s never traveled out of the country before, but she’s traveled to many states, hoping to one day visit Germany, where her husband lived. She also owns two cats and a dog. Mrs. Hughston said, “Most of my dreams have already happened, but I would say watching my son grow up and that he’s well taken care of and succeeds in life.” Her other goal is to enjoy her time here and bond with her students.
