Educator

Training Coordinator for the Adolescent Treatment Enhancement Grant with the New England Institute of Addiction Studies is Diane's newly hired educational position. She has served the state of Vermont as the Training Coordinator for the Dept. of Alcohol & Drug Abuse Programs (ADAP) since 2001. As ADAP's Training Coordinator Diane was significantly involved in providing education and training opportunities for substance abuse professionals, government agencies, private businesses, medical and judicial professionals and the general public. Special efforts with community methamphetamine awareness in 2005 and 2006 in collaboration with the Dept of Public Safety. Diane assisted the VT Health Dept with testimony on methamphetamine legislation. Coordination of state wide conferences, summer school scholarship processes and grants, and committee member on multi interagency teams have been some the responsibilities Diane has been a part of in the past few years.

Diane served as a para-educator to the Special Education Dept at the Vergennes Elementary School from the mid 1980's to 1992. Bringing education, dignity and value to the children she served. She followed a block of students, for a year to the High School as they transitioned into their new environment. There can be no greater honor than to have the trust of influencing a child.

As a parent of a disabled child, Diane is very familiar with what it takes to advocate for a child within an educational system. There were times answers seemed impossible to find. It is a lifetime effort. The highest rewards realized can come when you witness success in the life for your children. Christopher graduated from Muskingum College in 2003, but Diane is most proud of his efforts to establish a campus housing unit for students with disabilities which had a mission to educate the entire campus on disabilities. Chris currently lives in Vergennes and works with disabled students at Mt. Abraham High School in Bristol .