This year, many new staff members have joined our school, and Ms. Diana is one of them. She is an instructional assistant here at Sutton High who has past experience in the school.

SHS News: “What is your name and what do you do here?”

Ms. Diana: “Olivia Diana. I am an instructional assistant.” (Instructional assistants provide support to teachers)

SHS News: “What made you want to come to Sutton?”

Ms. Diana: ”I grew up here and live 10 ish minutes away from the school. I also have two teen siblings, so being on the same schedule as them makes my life so much easier.”

Next, I wanted to ask about how she thought of becoming a teacher, and her previous experience with teaching.

SHS News: “What influenced you to become an IA?” 

Ms. Diana: “Well the teachers here did. There were a lot of them that influenced me and coming back has reminded me why. My time as a substitute for 6th-grade science has also influenced me a lot. I totally didn’t expect to love it as much as I did.”

SHS News: “How long have you known you wanted to be a teacher?”

Ms. Diana: “I think I was about 17 years old when I decided I wanted to be a teacher but that has changed a few times. This time last year I would have told you I don’t know what I want to do but I think it’s normal to not entirely know what you want when you are in college and flip flop between ideas on future careers.”

SHS News: “Have you taught at a different school?”

Ms. Diana: “I used to volunteer at a school in the Virginia Beach, Hampton roads area, where I was a Teaching Assistant (or TA) for the University of the Virgin Islands. For the same class, I was an intern where I got to mess around with their assignments.”

Finally, I wanted to ask if she had any advice for the high school students.

SHS News: “If you could tell the High School one thing, what would it be?

Ms. Diana: “Take advantage of the resources that are beyond the curriculum. Pick your teacher’s brain. They have so much more they can teach you other than just your classwork. But also pay attention to that.”

The many new staff members that joined our school, including Ms. Diana, are helping students every day to be the best they can be. Even if some people don’t know them yet, they play a vital role in the school system and are working hard every day to improve it.