By Elle Wood

MILFORD — Diana Dill has been a Milford School District Buccaneer since the beginning of her teaching career.

Now, going into her 22nd year of educating, she has been awarded the district’s Teacher of the Year honor.

While she initiated her instructing at Lulu M. Ross Elementary School and remained there nine years, she moved to Mispillion Elementary when it opened in 2011. She’s been there ever since.

During those years, she has taught first grade up to fourth and is currently in a first grade classroom.

Ms. Dill said she is pleased her work is being recognized across the district.

“I absolutely love teaching,” she said. “So, it means the world to me to know that other people see my passion for my job, and to be recognized with all the teachers that work in the district is pretty amazing.”

She was also named Mispillion’s Teacher of the Year in 2014. This time, she was able to take it a step further in earning the districtwide recognition.

Ms. Dill added that she loves to learn and often thinks back to all the teachers who had an impact on her.

“When I think back to memories for myself, a lot of my memories reflect upon teachers that really had an impact on me,” she said. “I really want to be that person that can do that and provide a great experience for somebody.”

Even today, the longtime teacher is still learning, working toward her second master’s degree and finding a variety of professional development opportunities.

However, something she loves more than learning herself is watching her students do so.

“The kids get so excited when they realize that they are learning something,” Ms. Dill said. “They will be like, ‘I can’t read,’ and I say, ‘Well, look at this,’ and then, they read it, and they are like, ‘Oh, my gosh. I did that.’”

Outside the classroom, Ms. Dill is active in the community — for example, helping with school activities like Odyssey of the Mind and Girls on the Run, along with Pop Warner cheerleading.

This spring, she even decided to coach a Milford Little League team without much knowledge of the game.

“I have no reference for baseball. I just watch the Phillies, that’s about it,” she said, adding that she always wants to show her students and other children support in any way she can.

“I always go to my kids’ games. I can’t remember a time that I have not gone to interact with my kids in the community,” she said.

In all her years of educating, much change has occurred in the field. However, she noted that she is up for development and wants to grow along with it.

“You have to be open to change because the kids are changing,” Ms. Dill said. “With that, things have to change, and you have to be willing to open your mind.”

The next step in her Teacher of the Year journey will come in October, when she will compete for the statewide award.