Diana Hutchens

I’m Diana Hutchens, and I’m thrilled to be part of the Ocean Studies community! I’ve been an educator for more than 25 years and earned my teaching degree from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. After many years of teaching in North Carolina, I’m excited to call the Florida Keys home and begin this new chapter.

I believe learning should be meaningful, hands-on, and—whenever possible—a lot of fun! I love creating experiences that get students curious, thinking, collaborating, creating, and sometimes wondering, “Wait…we’re actually doing this for school?” I’m especially passionate about building strong relationships and a classroom culture where students feel comfortable taking risks, asking questions, and discovering what they’re capable of.

One of the things I’m most excited about is the opportunity to connect learning to the incredible environment around us. Between field experiences, marine science, STEM challenges, and the occasional unexpected adventure, there is certainly no shortage of inspiration!

When I’m not at school, you’ll probably find me exploring the Keys, near the water, traveling with my husband, Dave, taking way too many pictures of my cats, or learning something new. I’m a firm believer that the best teachers are lifelong learners—and that life is much more fun when you stay curious!

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