Mrs. Diane M.C. Coleman is the treasurer for Positive Community Connections. Growing up in Queens, NY and now living on Long Island, Mrs. Coleman earned a Bachelor's of Science degree from St. John's University double majoring in mathematics and education. She then earned a Master's of Science degree from St. John's in special education and has continued her education earning 82 additional credits above her Master's degree. She has also been a member of the Board of Directors of the Theta Phi Alpha National Sorority. Mrs. Coleman was a co-founder of Friends for Life, an organization that provided social activities for local high school students on the spectrum.
Mrs. Coleman retired as a special education teacher from the South Country Central School District in Bellport, NY after 32 years of teaching. She holds three New York State certifications in high school mathematics, elementary education, and special education. She has taught students on the spectrum in inclusion, self contained, and life skills settings, as well as high school math. She was class advisor for the class of 2012 for four years.
Mrs. Coleman is a certified CSS Start-Up and Support Broker in New York State and has authored a CSS plan for her son. She brings to the board her experience as a teacher of students with special needs, and as parent of an adult child with autism. Mrs. Coleman has presented workshops to teachers, parents, MSCs and Brokers on Consolidated Support Services and Self Determination. She has completed Town Hall Training offered through Niagara University on "Teaching and Empowering Local Communities: Learning how to Include and Respond to People with Disabilities".
She has been married to her best friend Peter for over 30 years. They have two wonderful children.
