Up close and personal with teachers and staff. 21, 39

face time

It’s clear when chatting with Diana Moss that advocating for the future of our planet is a major part of her life. This upper school Spanish teacher advises the student Green Team and is on the faculty Sustainability Committee, and also volunteers for Citizen’s Climate Lobby and Mothers Out Front. Her husband, Brian, and two kids, Kendra ’10 and Kevin ’14, went along when Moss did a Fulbright teaching exchange in Chile in 2005-06, which she says was an amazing family experience. Her love of life and nature came through in her conversation with Harker Magazine.

What makes you feel like a kid again?

I think I always feel like a kid! Being at the beach with a Frisbee, a dog and in the water, or dancing when my favorite song comes on.

What one piece of advice you would offer anyone who asks?

Choosing to do something is better than doing nothing. If you mess up, have a good laugh, make amends if you need to, and then try and learn something from the experience.

Brag about something.

I throw a great party! I love to cook and serve good food, and we have a beautiful garden where we love to entertain our friends and family.

What are you obsessed with?

Trying to best communicate how climate change will affect everyone and everything in the not-too-distant future and to get people thinking about how we can all make a positive difference for the planet.

Why do you do what you do?

It fascinates me what motivates and inspires curiosity in my students. I also love the Spanish language; it flows like music in my ears. Hispanic culture is so varied and rich and people I’ve met in Spanish-speaking countries are so warm and welcoming. I love sharing these things with my students.

Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest and why?

Chilean author Isabel Allende. She is classy, sassy and a wonderful storyteller.