Family: Widow, Daughter, Son, Son-in-law, Two grandsons, and large extended family
Occupation: Community Activist
Education/degrees: BS/BA Friends University, MA Wichita State, EDD University of Kansas
Political experience: Have worked with all segments of the community including city and county government, business and non-profits
Community involvement: Currently Board Member for Chamber Music at the Barn; Trees for Life Curriculum Project; League of Women Voters, Educational Foundation; AAUW
How long lived in district: 11 years
Dr. Diana Cubbage’s service to public schools has covered forty plus years. During this time, she has gained respect and support from not only school district personnel and parents, but also throughout the communities she served as a champion for young people and their families. She has provided innovative and consistent leadership in such areas as safe schools, technology enhancement, alternative education, staff development, inter-agency cooperation, community coalition building, community/school partnerships, early childhood education, and higher standards for students and staff. Recent work has been focused on helping students who have dropped out of school to earn their high school diploma.
Dr. Cubbage is a graduate, cum laude, of Friends University where she obtained both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in history and physical education with minors in science, French, and political science. She received her Master of Arts degree from Wichita State University in political science and has a Doctorate of Education in educational administration from the University of Kansas. Her education service includes teaching; administration experience as assistant, associate, and principal in high school; Director of Junior Highs; Area Superintendent; Association Superintendent; and Superintendent. Recent work has been as a consultant and community activist.
As a member of the Interagency Task Force in Wichita, KS, Dr. Cubbage worked as the school district’s representative to build a strong coalition to develop a plan for not only more comprehensive law enforcement, educational, and agency services to families, but more collaboration in the community’s role for prevention, intervention, and suppression of crime. Under Dr. Cubbage’s leadership, the school district formulated plans which resulted in numerous initiatives for students including mentoring programs, staff training, crisis plans, media relations, summer programs for pre-K through 12th grade, and development of grants including Weed and Seed. Community policing was one result of these plans.
Dr. Cubbage has been a school superintendent in Moline, IL. During her tenure, she worked diligently in the community to gather additional resources for students. Improving campus environment efforts involved additional community support and attention to the diverse needs of the population. One effort was to adjust the emphasis of the alternative school for high school students, which resulted in an enrollment increase that doubled and also showed reduction in the drop out rate. Community cooperation in issues of safety included monthly meetings with the chief of police, school principals, and training for staff and parents in safety issues. Involvement with the Boys and Girls Club, United Way, Junior Achievement, and other community groups added extended programs after school and in the summer for all ages of students and included serving family needs in addition to the students’. Honors include the Bronze Leadership Award from Junior Achievement which was received in recognition of her work.
Dr. Cubbage had been a consultant and trainer for various professional and individual groups throughout the United States on issues such as school safety (including safety audits), technology use and infusion in the curriculum, school organization, leadership development, community cooperation, and coalitions. She has been a consultant for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Gang Violence Training Team with the United States Department of Justice. She also has edited material produced by various offices of the government as well as private agencies.
Dr. Cubbage formed Educational Consultants, Inc. ECI provided consulting and training assistance for school districts and their communities in the Safe and Drug Free Schools, Student Achievement, NCLB Compliance and Implementation, Personnel, Operations, Coalition Building, Alternative Schools for regular and special education, Special Education, Baldrige Processes and Procedures, and Leadership Development. She has also worked in various states to assist students who dropped out of school to earn a high school diploma by partnering with school districts. This aids districts/communities with higher graduation rates while providing an opportunity to students to improve their personal and economic future.
Recent community activism includes working with volunteer educators with Trees for Life to develop Math and Science Curriculum for use through free internet resources for worldwide use. League of Women Voters-Metro Wichita in a number of areas including the Education Foundation for Scholarships, and serving on the Board of Directors for Chamber Music at the Barn are also part of her numerous community activities.
Diana Cubbage For Senate - Senate District 27 