Diane boasts a distinguished career as an elementary public school teacher, with nearly 30 years of experience. Her focus has been on building strong relationships with children and educators, fostering a love for learning, growth, and overall well-being. She holds a Master’s Degree in Multicultural Education and is a National Board Certified Teacher, with a strong commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the classroom. Diane has led professional development workshops on topics such as Culturally Responsive Teaching and LGBTQ+ issues for elementary school teachers. During her last years of teaching 4th grade, she established the first Elementary LGBTQIA+ student group in her district. She also served as a union representative for her building’s teachers and served on the board of Joy as Resistance, a non-profit organization promoting mental health for the LGBTQIA2S+ youth in Colorado. Diane is dedicated to serving students and their families and will continue to do so in various capacities.
My Writings
The Smell of Crayons is a collection of reflections from a career that saw the rise of standardization and commercialization of public schools. In the early 1990s, “Whole Language” was the new thing and no one had heard of Common Core. I have watched the decline of authentic teaching and learning and the rise of mind-numbing standardization. Returning after the Covid-19 shutdown, I became increasingly disenchanted with the lack of support for the social-emotional well-being of students and teachers and the push for “accelerated learning” and the emphasis on testing.
There is grief to losing a part of yourself and when one identifies as a teacher, rather than someone who teaches, it often takes time to heal. Here I reflect on the beauty and the blemishes of my long career, and the pain of leaving a life I once loved.
I’d love to hear from you! Please share your stories or comment on something that resonates with you. If you’re considering a career in teaching, I’d love to know your hopes, dreams, and fears. You can leave a comment or email me directly at [email protected].