Mrs. Diana Sands—of the Ludlow High School graduating Class of 1991— returned to her roots 20 years later to teach and mentor future generations of high school students. Using the experiences she has had along the way, her lessons both in biology and in life stick with her students as they move forward through the chapters of their own lives.
Sands’ Education
Mrs. Sands was always interested in biology, and she excelled in mathematics. For some time, she was interested in human medicine and loved to problem solve; gravitating to a major in the STEM field was natural to her.
After a rewarding four years at Ludlow High School, Mrs. Sands began her collegiate career at Mount Holyoke College, where she was in between majoring in math or biology; however, after her sophomore year, the decision was clear and biology was in Sands’ future.
Earning her undergraduate degree of Biological Sciences at Mount Holyoke, Sands pursued her Master’s in Biotechnology at Worcester Polytech Institute, WPI, where she would meet her husband, Michael “Bubba” Sands, and lead labs for her class. Shortly after, she would attend Southern New Hampshire University, earning her MBA, Master of Business Administration, in Global Business.
Time Before Ludlow High School
After completing a challenging and gratifying collegiate career, Mrs. Sands moved to Maine, where she would work as a Research Associate at a Veterinary Diagnostic Company, IDEXX Labs in Westbrook. Presently, IDEXX Labs is the world leader in veterinary diagnostics, and here she worked on several projects involving Clinical Chemistry, Hematology and Urinalysis. She also co-authored a US Patent for the technology the lab developed.
This job provided her advanced knowledge in the field of genetics and proved to be a “great company and fantastic job,” Sands stated.
Although the occupation was enjoyable, Sands desired to raise her children alongside the helping hands of her family. After ten years of working in Maine, Sands returned to Western Massachusetts, figuring teaching would better suit her lifestyle: providing a better work-life balance and being accessible to her children.
Before committing to Ludlow High School, Sands worked for a short period of time at Smith College in the Chemistry Department, with Kerry Valentine—present Chemistry teacher at Ludlow High and close friend to Mrs. Sands.
Inspired by the convenience of education toward her daily life, Mrs. Sands also realized from her father—Rich Rusiecki, a former math teacher at Paul R. Baird Middle School—that teaching could provide a good life both for her and her family.
When asked why she wanted to pursue teaching in the field of science, Mrs. Sands responded, “Science involves constant learning, asking questions and being curious. At times, you are the student, then you master a topic and become an expert, hence you become the teacher. The process of learning is something that I love.”
Mrs. Sands has been teaching at Ludlow High School for fourteen years. Currently, in 2025, Sands teaches Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors Biology, proving her in-depth knowledge of the Biology curriculum.
One of the reasons Mrs. Sands enjoys teaching AP Biology is the application of science her students can use throughout their life: “I love teaching my AP biology students about biotechnology… I can develop their technical skills very quickly and give them tools that will transfer to college and the workplace,” Sands states.
Running labs is Mrs. Sands’ strength, and she loves to share her experience at IDEXX with her students: preparing micropipetting labs, running gels, and transforming bacteria with green fluorescent protein!
AP Biology student, Abigail Odiorne, states that her favorite lab involved using micropipettes because “I feel like an actual scientist and that it is something I will enjoy doing again in college!” Her students love lab days, and Mrs. Sands prides herself on being able to provide real-world biotechnology in the classroom.
When asked what her favorite part of teaching is, Mrs. Sands responded, “My objective is to make learning fun, so when students laugh, smile, and think the labs are cool, I know I have succeeded. When students are allowed to explore and be curious, they learn. And of course, everyone knows I love to have fun along the way.”
AP Biology student Samuel Pontes concurs with Mrs. Sands’s statement: “Having fun in Mrs. Sands class makes learning feel easy.”
Life Outside Education
Mrs. Sands is not only a Biology teacher, but a mom as well. For years outside of school, Mrs. Sands’ children were very involved in athletics, creating a new title for Mrs. Sands: soccer, hockey, and lacrosse mom. Although it was a big commitment, she enjoyed watching and supporting her children.
Mrs. Sands and her husband bought a house in Western Mass. that was built in 1840 on a four-acre plot of farm land. This comes with a lot of work, raising chickens and ducks, gardening, and keeping up with housework. Her two dogs, Angus and Archie, and her cat, Charlie, also require a lot of love.
The Alley in Ludlow is another place where you may find Sands, taking a yoga class or an intense pilates class. Walking, listening to music and podcasts, and spending time with Bubba and her two kids are other important ways Sands passes time.
Sands’ Duties During Her Time at LHS
Recently, the graduating class of 2023 needed a third class advisor to help carry the class across the finish line of graduation. Mrs. Sands took on the role of class advisor and planned field trips, prom, and graduation festivities—all taking up valuable time.
After all of her hard work, Mrs. Sands states, “Senior week with graduation is always the icing on the cake—best part of advising!”
Continuing in 2023, a teacher in the science department left LHS three-quarters of the way through the school year. With a background in chemistry, Mrs. Sands took on the class and taught her new students to the best of her ability.
By the end of the year, Mrs. Sands’ plate was full: teaching her biology classes, receiving a new chemistry class, being Head of the Science Department, being a class advisor, and also a National Honors Society, NHS, advisor. With all of her responsibilities, it is safe to say that Mrs. Sands’ dedication to Ludlow High School and her students does not go unnoticed.
Mrs. Sands’ Advice For Students
Mrs. Sands offers a lot of insightful advice and expectations for her incoming students: “Two key elements for learning are to always ask questions and participate in class. I try hard to make my classrooms comfortable for all students and encourage them to ask questions. Over time, students become more open and volunteer their answers when I pose questions, or ask for clarification if they don’t immediately understand something. I try to foster a sense of community and camaraderie within our classes and especially during lab activities.”
For those wondering if they should take AP Biology or not, Mrs. Sands recommends: “…students really need to ask themselves why they are taking the class. If they love science and want to be challenged, then it can be the right choice! It is a lot of work, but the curriculum is pretty awesome with such a hefty lab component.”
Sands concludes her statement by discussing how her AP Biology students are “very well prepared for college.”
From the plethora of examples of why Mrs. Sands is so loved at the high school, her top reason is her “mom moments” she has with her students. If a student is struggling or is in need of guidance or support, Mrs. Sands is quick to use her wisdom and life experiences to answer any question or concern thrown at her.
At the end of the AP Biology curriculum, there is around a month before the end of the school year that is considered free time for students. Mrs. Sands uses this time to prepare her Junior students for their road ahead, offering college readiness sheets for research and helping navigate college application processes and resume building.
The Future for Mrs. Sands
What is next for Mrs. Sands? As the Science Department Chair, Sands hopes to continue to share her love and passion for science, by showing students that these courses are relevant and rewarding. “I hope I continue to have the energy to keep developing their skills and fostering curious and critical thinking,” Sands states.
Mrs. Diana Sands embodies what it means to be an educator—someone who not only teaches content, but also inspires curiosity, resilience, and a love for learning. From her impressive academic and professional background to her deep commitment to her students and community, Mrs. Sands has made a lasting impact on Ludlow High School. Her ability to blend real-world experience with classroom learning, her dedication to student success, and her warm, supportive presence make her not just a teacher, but a mentor and role model. Whether she’s leading a cutting-edge lab, offering college advice, or simply sharing a laugh with her students, Mrs. Sands continues to shape lives—one biology class at a time. Her journey is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and purpose in education.