Dr. Robert Dillon, the principal of Maplewood Richmond Heights Middle School has been recognized as an Emerging Leader by PDK (Phi Delta Kappa) International, a global association of education professionals.
The PDK Emerging Leader program recognizes top educators under age 40 from around the world for their leadership. A committee made up of PDK’s past Emerging Leaders selected the 22 honorees from a competitive field of applicants, based on their professional accomplishments.
Dillon said there are probably 50 others at MRH Middle School in the past 10 years who deserve a part in the honor.
“When it comes down to it, it speaks to the importance of hard work, importance of really loving the fact that you impact kids’ lives,” Dillon said.
“It’s a labor of love,” he said. “It truly is an opportunity to get kids at a really incredible time in their life and know you’re launching them forward.”
In addition to being honored at an event in Washington, D.C., honorees also have the opportunity to be published by PDK, apply for grants, and participate in PDK initiatives.
Dillon said he hopes there is time to talk with the others being honored.
“Whenever you’re in a room with great thinkers and people with ideas, all you really yearn for is a chance to talk,” he said.
Prior to being principal, Dillon served as an assistant principal and high school teacher. His professional interests include green school initiatives, issues related to school culture, and addressing the achievement gap.
“Its really nice for an organization of their stature to say, the work you’re doing has contributed to the field. That feels pretty good to be able to say that somebody like that would look upon my work and say, ‘job well done.’ (The) second sentence I hope they would say, ‘now keep going.’
Some of the above information came from the MRH website.
