Long-time Elementary School Teacher Discusses her ...

Rahway, N.J. school teacher Diane Shuster has dedicated the past 41 years of her career to teaching the children of her hometown community. Noted for her expertise in the instruction of science and math (she holds a Master of Liberal Arts), she cites her daily interactions with children to be her real reward. “I always wanted to teach for as long as I can remember – ever since moving to this town, going to Madison Elementary School and being a part of that educational community,” she says. “There, the teachers just instilled [in me] a love of teaching and working with children.” She strives to teach by example and hopes that her students can learn from her experience that with conviction, commitment and determination, anything is achievable. “There’s nothing – nothing – too great to try…There’s just so much out there that you can grab for. I [tell] the children over and over again, when I started I had three careers open – I could’ve taught, gone into nursing, been a secretary,” she says. “They have the whole world! They can do anything they want…I’m just very lucky that one of [my] choices is something that I always wanted to do.” Ms. Shuster collaborated for 10 years with Merck Pharmaceuticals on the implementation of the Merck Institute for Science Education program. Her efforts in the sciences were recognized in 1992, when she was presented with the Tri-State Area’s Association of Science Technology Award by the Liberty Science Center. Ms. Shuster is also an entrepreneur with Heartfelt Creations, her own handmade greeting card company. She can be contacted via email at dlshuster@verizon.net.