Among the various teacher couples at Central, science teachers Dan and Christine Brown have been married since October 23, 2010.

“We went to Starved Rock hiking on one of the first days of summer [in 2010],” Dan said. “I proposed to her at Starved Rock, nothing too creative. Despite telling me she was surprised, I think she saw it coming.”

They first met at a teacher meeting on the first day of the 2008-2009 school year.

“I happened to be sitting on his desk and, you know Mr. Brown, he came in like a tornado,” Christine said.

Although hesitant, they started dating second semester of the same school year.

“We kept [our relationship] a secret a long time,” Christine said. “Once people started to know, it was kind of funny to see their reactions.”

Students were unaware of their relationship until they were married, according to Dan. A common reaction to their relationship from coworkers was “the very corny, ‘Oh, you guys have the right chemistry,’” according to Christine, seeing as they both teach chemistry.

“And then it turns out too that, when we got married, we didn’t realize we got married on mole day,” Christine said. “But of course everybody else realized it, so there was another geeky thing for us.”

Dan and Christine’s first date was to Famous Dave’s.

“I wasn’t really nervous to ask her out because we got along so well,” Dan said.

The Browns also enjoy going out on double dates with fellow science teacher Jackie Barker and her husband.

Dan and Christine agree that their most memorable time together was during spring break of 2009.

“Our first vacation was out to California and he showed me around all the places where he lived,” Christine said. “People thought we were crazy. They were like, ‘What? You’re doing that and you guys just started dating?’ And I was like, ‘Hey, it’s gotta work!’ And it did. It turned out great.”

A unique aspect of Dan and Christine’s relationship is how they’re both science teachers and tennis coaches at Central.

“A lot of people would be like, ‘Oh God, you work with your husband?’” Christine said. “But it’s fun and so nice to see him during the day.”

Even though they work in the same department, the Browns tend to have different schedules, according to Dan.

“We don’t often see a lot of each other at work,” Dan said. “It’s nice when we have the same lunch period and get to eat lunch together.”

In addition to having identical jobs, Dan and Christine share the same interests as well.

“We’re camping nerds,” Christine said. “We love anything outside really. Camping, hiking and sports.”

They also enjoy traveling and would like to travel to Turks and Caicos someday, according to Dan.

Lately the Browns have been extremely busy, according to Dan. With the recent opening of Five Star Tennis, Dan’s indoor tennis facility, boys’ tennis season starting in the spring for Dan on top of their jobs at Central and the raising of their nine-month-old daughter Elyse, the Browns try their best to keep each other stable.

“[Christine] is a very honest person with strong values who cares very deeply for the ones she loves,” Dan said. “We constantly support each other and are excited for what lies ahead for our family,” Dan said.