The Legend Diane Derrow

By: Troy Fa’Atuai-McCuen

Ms. Derrow is Culver’s loving choir and drama teacher.  However, even her most dedicated students don’t know much about her. But everyone knows Diane Derrow is a dedicated teacher partly because she loves the process.

“Because I love choir and drama,” said Ms. Derrow. “I enjoy teaching both, I enjoy the results of both areas, I enjoy hearing the choirs, and learning how to make the sound and watching the look on their faces when they make that music. I also enjoy watching the students who are on stage learn how to run a scene, how to act, how to be expressive with their character and then also to watch their whole body change after they’ve done a show, and they own it.”

Derrow’s classes have a lot of performances, but one thing that the school puts on to raise enough money for the productions is the extravaganza. Which includes choir, drama, and even just regular students.

“It just started with a fun idea,” said Derrow. “We use part of it, partly because it brings in funds to help the theater program. Because Culver being so small, some shows it’s hard to make enough money to fund another show. So I came up with the idea to put on a variety show, and it just started with a lot of funny ideas, and it’s a great way to end the year.”

But Diane Derrow has a life outside her career.

“I went to three different colleges from 1961 to 1998 with breaks in between.”

She has to have seen a lot and must know a lot. Which could be a key to her successful career here. But she also has personal points of pride like her family.

“I have three children, a daughter, Mallory, outside Dallas, Texas. A daughter, Sheridin, is in Fort Wayne. And my son, John, is in Colorado,”said Derrow.

With such a life,Derrow can’t imagine doing anything else.

“What else am I gonna do? I can’t not do anything. I still enjoy everything here, so until they get tired of me, I guess, I won’t have a choice. Because I’m probably the oldest teacher here now,” said Derrow.