MARYSVILLE – Local social studies teacher Diana Ellerman has worked in military intelligence in Afghanistan, but there’s another side to her intelligence.

Ellerman, who has been teaching at Cedarcrest Middle School for 15 1/2 years, recently received the Gen. John J. Pershing Award. Maj. Ellerman was the top student out of 2,700 distance learners in contention for the honor.

Jason Thompson, acting superintendent for the Marysville School District, honored Ellerman at a recent school board meeting, along with Maj. Paul Apple and Lt. Col. Adrian Henega.

“She’s an inspiration to me,” Thompson said, adding she received her teaching certificate, master’s degree, doctorate and is now working on her principal certification.

Ellerman had to work on the military courses online on nights and weekends. “She’s a glutton for punishment,” said Henega, who also made her his executive officer.

Henega described her in ways he admitted weren’t characteristic of officers in the old Army.

“She’s kind, considerate and compassionate. She cares about soldiers,” he said.

Ellerman said her fellow soldiers helped inspire her. But she especially appreciates the help of her fellow teachers.

Looking back, she said, “As a first-year teacher you just want to survive. They made me thrive.”

Lifelong learner

Thanks to Ellerman’s mom, she is a lifelong learner. Her mother instilled that love in her when she was growing up in Germany. Her mom was a city employee, but insisted her children learn up to seven languages. The third of four children, Ellerman said her mom taught her to have class. She also taught her to always question things. There was no question Ellerman was going to be a teacher. Her other two options were a princess or famous actress. Her family traveled all over Europe, with Rome and Mostar, Croatia, being her favorites. They loved interacting in different cultures.

At 18, she was married. At 23 they moved to the states, as her husband was in the Army. That was 33 years ago.

They raised two kids: her daughter Jackie, graduated from Columbia University and now works in Blaine. Her son, Brandon, graduated from Washington State University and is an engineer.

She graduated from college in Europe, but since that wasn’t accepted here she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from Western Washington University. She earned her master’s and PH.d online from Antioch.

One of the first things she had to do in the U.S. was learn English, which she found was very different from British English.

Passion for country

A career soldier, her husband always had a “passion for this country.” She said she can see why because as they have traveled around the states she loves seeing how different people are.

Her husband, Kim, retired from the military, but when 9-11 happened, “I wanted to serve the nation,” she said, so she joined the Army reserves.

She has been to Japan and Korea on two-week trainings, but her tour in Afghanistan was for a year.

That deployment was tough for the family, especially her son.

“I need you to come home,” she said he told her, eyes tearing. “He then gave me the biggest hug – I couldn’t breathe.”

She said her husband had to learn to do the family finances.

“It was good for him,” she said, adding he became more organized and even saved some money – “since I wasn’t here to spend it.”

In Afghanistan

Ellerman was there in 2008-09. “It was not a pleasure walk,” she said.

She said she was surrounded by great soldiers and great leaders so it made the tour more bearable. “We accomplished what we needed to,” she said.

Ellerman constantly was receiving CARE packages from various sources back home. “They were devoured” by everyone there, she said.

Ellerman took cards there made by her students. She would open one every once in a while.

“They were such a great inspiration,” she said of the cards. “This is why we go” defend our country. “We are still connected no matter where we are.”

Her family

Kim was in active duty in Korea, but was raised in Texas. They met at her best friend’s birthday party, but she wasn’t interested and didn’t stick around. “I was very focused and studious,” she said. But he kept calling her girlfriend.

They ended up getting married and traveling all around with the service. His final stint was here, they liked it, so they stuck around. He now works for the Army Corp of Engineers.

Along with family, friendships also are important to Ellerman. She has a core group of friends in education and the military that help her.

“They are wonderful nuggets of people,” she said. “We do it together. How do you get to the next level?”

Character key ingredient

A person’s character is very important to Ellerman – not only in herself, her family and friends, but also her students. She teaches them about life skills, leadership, supporting your community, and more.

“I want them to be productive, not just behaving,” she said.

When they don’t behave, she disciplines in a very non-threatening, structured way. “Model the proper behavior and set boundaries,” she said. “But first you get to know your students. First build that relationship,” and then it’s much easier to discipline, she said.

It helps when the entire teaching team at the school sets the same expectations, she added.

Some of the kids have a bad home life, and others are just going through those awkward middle school years we all remember.

“It’s OK to be different – just be respectful,” she tells them.

Ellerman said when she becomes a principal she wants to have her school open to all parents and the community. She wants to have a Wall of Fame down one hallway that tells students and visitors all about the teachers. In another hallway, she wants a display of what previous school students have gone on to accomplish.

Like everything she does, Ellerman hopes those things inspire others to excel.