John Diodate

Background

About John Diodate

As a child of an educator I knew that I wanted to go into teaching as a career choice. After graduating from high school I entered college as an undeclared student with a focus on math. I applied to the elementary education department at Buffalo State College and used my math courses towards my concentration. I was lucky to be hired to teach fifth grade in a Catholic school about five miles from my house after graduating from Buff State. While at St. Leo the Great School I taught 5th and 6th grade, coached, ran the concession stand, worked the before and after school programs, and played guitar at weekly mass. From there, I interviewed at a few public schools and earned a spot with the faculty at Lewiston-Porter. While there as an elementary teacher I started teaching fifth grade, but also taught kindergarten, first, and second. While there I brought looping to the district. During my 8 years as a teacher at Lew-Port, I attended Buff State again for my Master's degree in elementary education and also attended The University at Buffalo for a second master's Degree, this time in School Leadership/Administration. I was lucky to be in the "right place at the right time" and fulfilled the majority of my admin internship hours as the Lew-Port High School assistant principal. I was officially hired as the assistant principal and worked there for three years. I knew that I wanted to get back into an elementary school and was hired as the Principal of Thomas Marks Elementary in the Wilson CSD. This is the position that I hold today although the name of the school changed to Wilson Elementary in 2013 after the combining of the two elementary schools. Wilson is a great rural district that is led by a fantastic superintendent. While at WCS, I had the great opportunity to attend the NYSCOSS Future Superintendent Academy during the 2016-17 school year. Some day, when the time and fit are right, I would consider a central office position or work in higher education helping to develop aspiring teachers and educational leaders.