Diana De Paula

Diana De Paula

Fellowship Placement: Library of Congress
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York

Diana De Paula is a dedicated Special Education Biology teacher at one of the largest public high schools in New York City. She serves over 4,000 students in grades 9–12 and specializes in adapting rigorous science content to meet the needs of multilingual learners and neurodivergent students.

With a background in Marketing and a master’s degree in education from Pace University, Diana brings a data-informed and student-focused lens to her classroom. She is an alum of the NYC Teaching Fellows, the Stanford Hollyhock Fellowship, STEM Ed Innovator, and the TERC Climate Institute, and is currently a Master Teacher Fellow with Math for America. In addition to her classroom work, she serves as both the Coordinator of Student Activities and the school’s Sustainability Coordinator, organizing leading national teacher workshops on science instruction.

Diana’s teaching is grounded in student voice and preparing all students to be ready for the workforce. Whether helping students engineer water filters or explore environmental health challenges by collaborating with community colleges, she ensures science learning is connected to their lives and communities.

She has also contributed to STEM policy efforts within the New York State Education system, advocating for greater access to high-quality science education. With strong communication skills, classroom expertise, and commitment to student-centered innovation, Diana is well-prepared to make an impact beyond the classroom.