They say that the difference between an average teacher and a great teacher is passion. As a lifelong health and fitness enthusiast, Ms. Diane D’Agostino has exactly that. Ms. D’Agostino is a long term substitute for Mrs. Jennifer Edwards who is currently on maternity leave.

“She’s very upbeat and enthusiastic,” health and physical education teacher Mr. Brenton Ditchcreek said. “She is all about fitness, so she’s always trying to improve what we already have. She’s here for the kids.”

Not only is Ms. D’Agostino passionate, but she’s also qualified. She began her education career at Bethlehem School District, where she taught middle school health and physical education. After taking time off to be a stay at home mom, Ms. D’Agostino began teaching fitness classes to children and adults. She received a masters in Education with a focus on exercise science from East Stroudsburg University.

Ms. D’Agostino eventually went on to become a program director and club manager. After the company closed, she renewed her teacher’s certification and began substitute teaching.

“I like to draw on my experience in the fitness and wellness industry to reinforce the point that your health is your foundation for everything you do in life,” Ms. D’Agostino said. “You can be successful in many things, but if you don’t take care of your health, it’s a lot more difficult to move forward. And that’s all three aspects: mental, physical, and emotional health all come into play.”

Ms. D’Agostino is enjoying her time at Southern Lehigh, and she is impressed by the friendliness of the students and the professionalism of the staff. She is especially fond of the health and physical education department, who have made her feel right at home.

“Everyone is above and beyond,” she said.

The students and staff are equally impressed by her positivity and knowledge.

“She has a lot of respect for everyone and is very dynamic,” freshman Emma Smith said. “[In her class] you participate more than just writing down notes. It’s more about the students than just the teacher lecturing.”

Ms. D’Agostino is also an avid cyclist, and she dreams of one day touring Europe on her bike. She recently participated in Bike to the Bay, a 100-mile bike ride through southern Delaware. She has cycled in many tours and has enjoyed a plethora of biking adventures.

“I once geared up for a cycling tour that was four hours away and realized when I got there I’d forgotten the wheel of my bike,” she said.

Ms. D’Agostino is looking forward to working at Southern Lehigh and sharing her love of wellness with the staff and students. Be sure to give her a warm welcome!