Dianna Dornink

Dianna Dornink of Rock City has taught all 12 years of her teaching career at Durand Elementary, currently teaching fourth grade. She wants “students to feel safe in the classroom and feel confident in coming to [her] for help with academics or social concerns.” In one case, she learned that a student wasn’t getting all needs met at home: guardian worked a late shift and guardian’s partner doesn’t care for kids. This student wasn’t getting breakfast or one-on-one care from an adult. Dianna worked with the school social worker to cover those needs at school so this issue wouldn’t need to prevent academic success or confidence. Because students learn in different ways and paces, Dianna differentiates student work and tells students at the start of the school year that everyone is working on the same skill, just slightly differently. Dianna is comfortable being an example for students. She will share her personal struggles to show how one can overcome obstacles. She collaborates with coworkers, showing them “how to communicate, support, and positively work together with someone.” Observers praised Dianna for her upbeat, cheerful nature and communication with students. This finalist is used to long days, getting to school early and staying late to meet students if they need tutoring, test prep or just a sympathetic listener. Teaching partner, Dawn Hart, says that Dianna is always “seeking ways to have fun with her students and make school a place her students want to be. Dianna has high expectations of her students, but she also thrives on the learning process and making mistakes as part of learning.”