Encouraging constancy, perseverance, and courage: Heritage Elementary's DLI teacher, Marian Diego
“Buenos días, queridos alumnos! ¡Bienvenidos a clase!” These are the words that Dual Language Immersion (DLI) students hear as they walk into Marian Diego’s classroom. An international and exceptional educator, and distinguished researcher, Diego works diligently to increase her knowledge and improve the lives of students.
Maestra Diego, as her students call her, grew up in a valley very similar to Cache Valley in Cantabria, Spain. She completed her BA in Early Childhood Education and BA in Psychopedagogy at the University of Cantabria. She then undertook her Masters in Neuropsychology and Education at the International University La Rioja and later her Ph.D. at the College of Medicine at the University of Cantabria.
After working as a teacher, educational counselor, and researcher in Spain, Diego moved to Nibley and has been teaching in the Spanish DLI program at Heritage Elementary School for three years. She brings with her years of experience and research, which she enthusiastically applies in her classroom.
Diego’s passion for learning is apparent in her teaching style. She believes that every student can learn, but every student learns in their own unique way. Three words define her life philosophy: constancy, perseverance, and courage. “I believe that the key to success lies in those words,” she explained. “I always tell my students that all you need for success is working hard, working hard, and working hard.” Diego’s favorite part about being an educator is seeing how her students develop their knowledge and achieve their academic goals. She enjoys sharing her culture with students and seeing how they build their math and science capabilities in a foreign language.
Diego credits much of her success and work ethic to her family, especially her husband, who also works as a Spanish teacher in the valley. She is thankful for the opportunity to work at Heritage. Of her colleagues, she said, “They are such a professional, hardworking team, who are always so willing to help.” She loves the valley and how welcome she has felt living here. The Wellsville Mountains remind her of the valley she grew up in Spain and she feels at home.
No matter where she is in the world, Maestra Diego works hard to blend her two passions to help her students to the best of her ability. “I desire to connect both the medical field and the education field in order to help my students with learning difficulties to achieve their academic and everyday life goals. This is the legacy that I want to leave.”