Growing up, Diana Rapp was considered a struggling student, but with support from her family and mentors, she was able to turn around her academics. Her turn around has turned her into an insatiable learner and an inspired educator.聽
鈥淭hanks to my amazing teachers, tutors, and family I was able to exceed expectations by turning my struggles into successes,鈥� Rapp said. 鈥淎ll of this support throughout my life inspired me to pursue education.鈥�
As a math teacher, Rapp aims to connect with and support students like her. Rapp鈥檚 clear leadership skills led mentors in the CU Teach program to encourage her to apply for a research grant that Rapp used to study growth mindset in secondary math classrooms. As an undergraduate researcher on the Noyce Teacher Research Team, she explored best teaching practices from a team of expert mathematics and science teachers. She embraced the professional development opportunity with a drive for perfecting her craft.聽
鈥淒iana has an ability to build strong, solid relationships, resulting in motivation and commitment on the part of students and a desire to work with her on the part of peers and coworkers,鈥� said Kim Bunning, her mentor from聽CU Teach and nominator. 鈥淪he is gifted at balancing innovative ideas, curriculum requirements, and the social emotional needs of kids, creating really powerful lessons about things that matter.鈥�
Interestingly,聽Rapp nominated Bunning for CU Boulder's聽Marinus Smith Award, recognizing聽outstanding educators, last year. "Funny how it all works,"聽she聽said.聽Rapp credits mentors like Bunning from the聽CU Teach program and聽the CU Boulder School of Education聽for providing hands-on classroom experience from day one.聽Her professors and advisors allowed her to find her voice in the realm of education, she said. Now she wants to provide inspiration for her future students and incoming CU Boulder students.
鈥淢y advice for incoming students is never be afraid to ask for help,鈥� she said. 鈥淵our professors want to see you succeed and will go above and beyond to help you.聽Being part of the School of Education creates a community unlike any other. There have been countless times where I needed assistance and my CU Teach community was there to help me.鈥�
