Harry Dittrich, Pathway School of Discovery’s library technology specialist, was chosen as one of 100 educators across the country in the Advocate Program. In its 10th year, the Society for Science Advocate Program offers training, stipends, and year-round support for STEM educators helping underrepresented youth and students from low-income households enter in STEM fairs or competitions.
With a well-established role as the leader of Pathway’s Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) group, Dittrich is no stranger to leading scholars to success. As a part of this program, Dittrich’s goal is to have a group of scholars compete at regional STEM conferences or fairs with aspirations of moving on to state and national competitions.
Dittrich (left) leads Pathway’s Health Occupation Students of America program and will lead students to STEM competitions as a part of his work as an advocate. He is pictured with colleague Jen Hall.
While competing at tentpole STEM fairs is the main goal for Dittrich, he said this year’s work is just the beginning.
“This year, we’re going to put on a bigger science fair than we’ve done in the past,” Dittrich said. “In the future, I would love to make it a STEM conference where we have actual industry leaders come in and present. They also will get to see the amazing things our kids are doing. Hopefully we could bring some opportunities here to our students.”
Dittrich is gauging interest from scholars and plans to put together a group of middle schoolers to lead STEM competitions and conferences. With this sort of opportunity from these kinds of caring educators, it comes as no surprise that Pathway has outperformed the local district for 16 years.
Dittrich (left) poses with former advisor Kristen Davidson.
Being named as a Society for Science is an exclusive honor for Dittrich but his work with middle schoolers is another distinction. Only 29 of the 100 Society for Science advocates were listed as middle school educators.
“My biggest thing is getting these kids more exposure to the options they have for a career,” Dittrich said. “For so many of them, they aren’t always aware of what careers and fields are out there. I want to show them there is this whole wide world of opportunities.”
As an advocate, Dittrich was flown out to Washington, D.C. for training and networking with the other 99 advocates. He will have the opportunity to apply again as an advocate next year and a lead advocate the year following.
Dittrich is one of the 29 middle school educators selected as an advocate by the Society for Science.
While the honor is validation and a celebration for Dittrich, it is just the beginning of the work ahead.
“For me, being selected to be a part of this is huge,” Dittrich said. “It’s giving me more tools that I can give back to my students. I want to bring things back to my classroom that have a real impact.”
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About Pathway School of Discovery
Pathway School of Discovery is a tuition-free, public charter school in Dayton, Ohio, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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