Diane Cummins, New Jersey State Teacher of the Year 2004

Policy

I left my own classroom because I decided that it was time for me to do what I had to do, not necessarily what I wanted to do.  The time had come to turn my passion into my mission and to make my voice speak for countless students and teachers.

While there are myriad opportunities for teachers to advocate for our profession, I realized that becoming an administrator would give me a louder voice with a larger audience.  I don’t really think of myself as an administrator, I prefer the title of administrative educator… educator being the constant thing that I am, but the administrative word qualifying the difference from my classroom role.  Despite leaving my physical classroom, I will never lose sight of my primary role, which is to advocate for education by supporting students and the teaching profession.  Now with a voice that extends beyond the walls of my classroom, my school district and community; my daily challenges and decisions are entrenched in one rudimentary goal:  fighting for and doing what’s best for kids, teachers and educational programs.  Underlying each decision that I make is the unwavering question… is this good for kids?; then, if so, I ask myself, “Now, how will I make it happen?”.

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Diane Cummins is currently the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for the Clearview Regional School District in Mullica Hill, Gloucester County, New Jersey.

Prior to becoming an administrative educator, Diane spent the better part of her 24 year-career as both a middle and high school English teacher, department chairperson, staff developer and instructional coach.

Diane received her BA in English education from Glassboro State College in 1989, her MA in Reading from Rowan University in 2000, and has completed doctoral course work at Widener University.