Jayne McHugh Selected As 2026 Boyertown Area Citizen of the Year

by Lesley Misko

Married for 48 years this month, Boyertown High School sweethearts Jayne and Tom McHugh have long shared a deep commitment to their hometown. It’s a partnership rooted in service—one that first brought Tom the title of Citizen of the Year just a few years ago, and now brings that same honor to Jayne as Boyertown’s 2026 Citizen of the Year. 

For McHugh, the recognition came as a surprise—one she initially struggled to accept.

“When Mel [Roth] told me, I looked at her and said, ‘Why? Why me?’” McHugh recalled with a laugh. “It just didn’t sink in. I guess I just don’t realize what I do. I just do it.”

That understated response reflects a lifetime of service driven not by recognition, but by a genuine love for community. A retired teacher in the Exeter School District, McHugh spent nearly two decades in the classroom, teaching both first and fourth grades. But her influence extends far beyond education.

She has been a cornerstone of numerous local organizations, including the Junior Woman’s Club of Boyertown, where she served as president and helped lead fundraising efforts that contribute thousands of dollars annually to local causes. She is also a charter and lifetime member of the Boyertown Alumni Marching Unit, where she currently coordinates trips and events—including the group’s 50th anniversary celebration—and continues to perform.

“I just do it because I love the organization and I love Boyertown,” she said. “I want to help them be successful in whatever they’re trying to accomplish.”

McHugh’s involvement spans generations and interests: from the Wreaths Across America committee, where she helps coordinate the placement of more than 1,000 wreaths on veterans’ graves each year, to the Boyertown Ambulance Board, church committees, and local music groups. She also serves as secretary and events coordinator for the Director's Big Band and volunteers at longstanding community traditions like her church's Great Swamp Picnic.

Her leadership style is hands-on and collaborative—often described as tireless, though she sees it differently.

“I wasn’t as busy when I was working as I am now that I’m retired,” she joked. “It’s crazy—but it’s all good.”

McHugh takes on the character of a deceased parishioner at her church's annual October event.

Her roots in Boyertown run deep. Raised on a chicken farm, McHugh attended local schools and graduated in 1974. She and her husband raised their family in the same community, building a life grounded in shared experiences and relationships.

“We’ve never thought about moving away,” she said. “It’s the people, the organizations, just the whole community. We love taking walks in town, seeing familiar faces. It’s just home.”

That sense of belonging—and responsibility—was shaped early by her family and mentors, whose influence she still carries with her today.

“I idolized my grandmother tremendously,” McHugh said. “She was a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse right down the road. She just had such a strong presence.”

Her parents, she added, modeled resilience and generosity while raising their family on a working farm. “We didn’t have a lot, but we never wanted for anything,” she said. “My sister and I talk about it all the time—how did they do that? They gave us such a great life.”

In school, educators like band director Arlen Saylor and teacher Mr. Kuszyk left a lasting impression.

“To this day, I still call them ‘Mr.,’” she said with a smile. “They instilled respect, discipline, and pride in us. They were incredible role models.”

Those early influences helped shape McHugh’s own path—one that took an unexpected but determined turn later in life. After years as a stay-at-home mother and school volunteer, she returned to school at age 40 to pursue a college degree.

“I just finally said, ‘I think I want to do this,’” she recalled. “So I went. And I worked hard—I really worked hard at it.”

She earned her degree from Kutztown University and later completed her master’s at Wilkes University, all while balancing family responsibilities. Her experience as a nontraditional student informs her advice to others.

“Go for your dream—no matter what age,” she said. “Don’t ever think it’s too late.”

Her years in education also brought personal challenges, particularly when both of her sons were deployed overseas at the same time during their military service. During that period, her colleagues became a source of strength.

“They were like family,” she said. “They knew when to talk to me, when to just put a hand on my shoulder. That meant everything.”

Even in retirement, McHugh continues to expand her involvement. She is currently helping plan a community-wide Freedom Festival in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary and remains deeply engaged in the Junior Woman’s Club, where she recently helped lead an initiative to place a commemorative “bear” sculpture in town.

“I’m so proud of that group,” she said. “For 75 years, we’ve been raising money and giving it right back to the community. It’s hard work, but it’s fun—we’re nonstop.”

She also speaks passionately about the people who make Boyertown special, particularly its volunteer first responders.

“They are just incredible,” she said. “You hear those calls go out all the time, and these men and women leave their jobs, leave their families, and go help. That says everything about this town.”

Recently, McHugh showed up outside the high school to help send off music students leaving for a performance trip in France.

Despite her long list of accomplishments, McHugh remains characteristically humble about her selection as Citizen of the Year. The honor, she said, belongs as much to the community as it does to her.

“I’m very, very appreciative of the people who nominated me,” she said. “But it’s really about all of us—everyone who volunteers, everyone who gives back.”

Even the moment she learned of the award has become part of local lore. Her husband, serving on the selection committee, stepped out of the room during deliberations to avoid any conflict. When he returned, he was greeted with a joke.“

They told him, ‘Do you want the good news or the bad news?’” McHugh said, laughing. “The bad news was he had to take me out to dinner because I was Citizen of the Year.”

For McHugh, the recognition may still feel unfamiliar, but her impact is undeniable. Through decades of service, she has helped shape the spirit of Boyertown—one built on generosity, connection, and pride.

Her guiding philosophy is simple, but powerful.

“Life is short,” she said. “Every day is a blessing. Think about your ‘dash’—what you do with the time you have. Make it meaningful. Be happy. That’s what matters most.”

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