New MRH Middle School Principal: Known Nationally, Chose Maplewood

Newly named Maplewood Richmond Heights Middle School Principal Michael Dittrich was playing roller hockey with some students at the Maplewood city rink.

He said made the suggestion that they could pick up some of the trash around the rink. The students then had the bigger idea to replace the nets and refresh the paint on the rink.

He said from that day on the students have completely taken over maintaining the rink, including forming a plan to keep it from going downhill again.

“They contacted the city and said we want to help you," he said. "So the city purchased the paint and new nets and we provided the students."

He said it's a great example of MRH education. "In the end, it’s not only scholars, but also citizens and leaders and stewards that matters."

Dittrich was recently named the MRH Middle School principal following Robert Dillon's abrupt resignation last month. He was previously the school’s assistant principal.

MRH Director of Communications Brian Adkisson said Dittrich rose to the top in every category out of all the applicants for the job.

Dittrich, 37, was assistant principal at Hancock Elementary in Hancock Place School District for 10 years before coming to MRH. He’s been in education since 1999.

He was named the Missouri Outstanding Principal and a National Outstanding Principal by the National Association of Elementary School Principals in 2012, while at Hancock. He said the recognition gave him lots of options, and the only one he took was to be assistant principal at MRH Middle.

“Knowing what my values were in education, with expeditionary learning, and technology, it’s a natural fit,” he said. “I wasn’t looking to move, but an opportunity to join a community like this and a school like this is pretty hard to pass up.”

Dittrich said the Common Core State Standards initiative, which connects the learning in different classes, fits into the established MRH curriculum. He said they’ve already had conversations on how communications arts, science and social studies teachers, for example, can work together.

“We’ve said, OK, we’re going to the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont (TN). How are we going to meet all these standards through our experiences–our expeditions? And we already have learning targets when we’re leaving.”

He said that’s something he looked at when he considered coming to MRH last year.

“I knew Common Core was coming, and knowing that I had the opportunity to join something like this, Common Core really goes in line with what we’re doing.”

Also in Patch:

• MRH Middle School Names New Principal
• Former MRH Middle School Principal Bob Dillon Accepts Affton Position
• Details Emerge About MRH Principal's Resignation
• Reason for MRH Principal's Abrupt Resignation is Unknown