In an Ironman race, the excitement at the starting line soon gives way to grueling challenges. The 2.4-mile swim feels endless, with cold water testing every stroke. The 112-mile bike ride becomes a mental battle, especially around mile 70 when fatigue sets in, making each pedal stroke heavier. By the time the marathon begins, exhaustion has already taken hold, but determination pushes each step forward.
Revere High School French Teacher Diane Gerspacher came into the United States from Liechtenstein in elementary school, with only her immediate family. Her mother was a teacher at Revere which would later inspire Gerspacher herself into her own profession of teaching. In addition to teaching, Gerspacher runs Ironman races.
Specifically about her reasoning behind Ironman races, Gerspacher focuses on the human side of athletics.
“I think we as humans don’t really know what our bodies are fully capable of. I keep training, because I’m getting up there in age and I want to show people that they can keep doing this regardless of who they are,” Gerspacher said.
As a teacher, Gerspacher has a special place in her heart for exchange students, whom she connects with on a deeper level due to her own experience of moving to the U.S. from Liechtenstein as a child.
“I try to reach out a little bit more, because there is . . . a language gap but also a cultural gap. It might not be something that somebody may realize is a difference until you have lived it,” Gerspacher said.
Reflecting on the influence she has had on students over the years, she said it was not something she recognized right away.
“I didn’t realize that (her having an influence on students) until fairly recently,” Gerspacher said.
Gerspacher recalled that her journey was not easy. Moving from Liechtenstein where she was fluent to a place where she could not communicate with anyone except her relatives had a profound impact on her.
“I had tons of insecurities because of it [not knowing the language]. I actually remember I was 25 years old when I got over it, and that’s the day that I’m like ‘oh these people were not laughing at me the entire time’,” Gerspacher said.
This self-awareness and independence shape her teaching style. Gerspacher recalled disliking how adults would speak down to her as a teenager, something she keeps in mind when interacting with her students
“I just remember as a kid when adults would talk down to me just because I was sixteen. So I do try to keep that in mind because I hated that at sixteen,” Gerspacher said.
She views teaching as more than just a one-way exchange of knowledge; to her, it is a dynamic, reciprocal relationship that enriches both teacher and students. In her classroom, the flow of information is not just top-down. Instead, she values the interactions and personal connections that develop through the teaching process, recognizing that her students offer something equally meaningful in return.
“It’s not just me giving students all this information—they give me something back on a human level, too.” Gerspacher said.
Gerspacher’s outgoing personality was not always apparent, according to her former teacher and now colleague, Jeff Shane.
“She was a good student but she was more on the quiet side, and you didn’t really get to see her crazy sense of humor. Now I get to see it. Her and I have a wonderful relationship because she is just funny and sarcastic and we relate to each other,” Shane said.
Shane expressed how much he values how much he appreciates the way their relationship has grown over time. What started as a colleague dynamic has deepened into a personal connection that he truly values.
“It‘s nice to see her as a cool person to know an interesting person to know. She just has so many interests,” Shane said
Shane took a moment to reflect on his initial thoughts regarding Gerspacher’s decision to return to Revere, recognizing the significance of such a choice in the context of their shared professional journey.
“So the first thing I thought was, ‘how cool.’ To want to go back to your high school says two things; one I had a pretty good experience there, and two this is a good place to be and from a teacher’s perspective. That is special,” Shane said
From the moment they began working together, their connection as colleagues seemed to fall into place seamlessly. There was an immediate ease between them, and the professional rapport they developed felt effortless. What started as casual conversations soon grew into a strong working relationship that required little effort to maintain.
“That first year we worked together, we started talking, and it felt so natural,” Shane said.
Lily Dunn, a senior and student of Gerspacher, shared the positive influence that Gerspacher has had.
“Being in her class the past several years has helped my work ethic a lot. . . . It just made my day a lot better. It was something I looked forward to a lot. She’s also very good at teaching life lessons, not just French,” Dunn said.
Gerspacher’s experience as a foreign student in a new country resonates with students in similar situations and anyone who appreciates her larger-than-life personality. Through light-hearted jokes and honest truths, she possesses an innate ability to connect with others on a deeply personal level.
