IN THE tiny “classroom” of her childhood playroom, Diane Gipson was already a teacher. Barbie dolls and teddy bears sat in neat rows, listening intently as Gipson pointed to chalk scribbles on a board and assigned homework no one would complete. She didn’t know it then, but through those moments, she was unknowingly preparing for a bright and fulfilling career where she would love, empower, and educate younger generations.
Gipson grew up around many powerful role models. Her mother, grandmother, and aunts were devoted educators who spent their lives inspiring young students. Their influence on both Gipson and their students was undeniable, and it set her on her own path to the classroom.
“It was familiar because that’s all I knew,” Gipson recalled. “My mom was excellent at it.”
Even as a child, Gipson’s zeal for teaching was apparent.
“I just knew from the beginning, back in the Barbie doll age, I either was going to be a beautician or a teacher,” she said.
After recognizing that hairstyling wasn’t her strongest skill, she realized that teaching suited her best.
The mother of three children, two of whom carry the baton as educators, credits her mother with inspiring her career and teaching her the most important lessons.
“My mom, a teacher of 43 years, repeated often that the key to being the best teacher is to practice love, praise, and consistency,” Gipson said.
Her mother lived by this motto in her own classroom, earning her Teacher of the Year honors multiple times. Gipson believes her mother was ahead of the curve, especially regarding her beliefs concerning education.
“Back then, teachers were more about discipline and structure, but she believed relationships were the key.”
Gipson began her teaching career at 22, fulfilling her childhood dream and embracing her mother’s motto.
She taught students from second grade through middle school but found her true purpose in the transitional middle school years.
Her teaching style was anything but ordinary. Students, teachers, and staff knew her for her creativity and unbounded energy. From cheering and celebrating small victories to dressing as a fairy during the holidays, Gipson brought a special spark of magic to her classroom.
One Christmas, she donned a fairy costume from her attic collection, complete with a dollar-store hat and borrowed accessories. Those small gestures brought a smile to their faces and made all the difference.
Though Gipson has retired from the traditional classroom, her compassion for students remains. Now, she works as a homebound coordinator, helping students unable to attend school due to medical or psychological issues receive equal opportunities for education.
Though her responsibilities are different now, Gipson’s core beliefs haven’t changed.
As a homebound coordinator, she works with doctors, teachers, parents, and guardians to make sure every student receives the support they need. Whether it’s a broken leg or a more serious situation, like mental health struggles, she is often the reassuring voice guiding families through moments of uncertainty.
From her childhood playroom to the bright hallways of middle school and now to her position as a homebound coordinator, Gipson has remained true to her vision.
Looking back on her career, she hopes her students remember one thing above all:
“I was invested in them as a person, not just a student.” She continued, “I love that being an educator doesn’t stop the day you walk out of the classroom. How you treat them continues, whether you see them again or not, for a lifetime. If they knew you bonded and you cared for them, that lasts for a lifetime.” GN
