Boys & Girls Club Names Dittmer New Executive Director for Teen Center
LAWRENCE, Kan. – A new facility is only part of the construction plan in the works for the Don & Beverly Gardner Center for Great Futures. Beginning September 15, current Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence Director of Operations, Monica Dittmer, will start constructing a teen strategy in her new role as the Center for Great Futures Executive Director.
Dittmer, who began her career at Boys & Girls Club in 2002, will shift away from her long-term post as the Director of Operations into a brand new position. Her first tasks will include creating a Teen Advisory Board and strengthening existing partnerships with Lawrence’s middle and high school administrations. With construction officially underway, Dittmer will spend the 2017-18 school year developing teen-focused programming that will utilize the new spaces and technologies offered at the Center for Great Futures.
“Monica has been hugely instrumental in the growth of this organization,” Executive Director Colby Wilson said. “It’s because of that I chose her for this new role. Opening the Center for Great Futures will challenge all of us in the best way as we prepare to serve five times as many teens in our new facility. We already have the best Director of Teen Services in Amy Hill, and now we are adding another level of leadership.”
While the Center for Great Futures will increase capacity to serving five times as many teens, it’s the way in which the Club impacts teens that will take a major step forward. The ultimate goal is helping young people find something they are passionate about, which will motivate them to do well in school and graduate prepared with a plan for their future. That isn’t possible without in-depth and complex programming focused on workforce development and career exposure. To do so will require a strong focus on finding – or creating – quality programming instructed by qualified community partners and educators. Developing such a strategy will take dedicated time and planning. Thus, the Center for Great Futures Executive Director position was born.
“Monica’s passion for our mission, experience growing the elementary program, history working with teachers and administrators at the school district and her knowledge of the Boys & Girls Club Formula for Impact make her a great fit for this role,” Wilson said. “Add Monica’s talents to Amy’s success managing day-to-day program delivery, building relationships with our teens, and coaching our teen staff members, and I feel great knowing we have the right people leading our expansion of teen programs.”
As Director of Operations, Dittmer paved the way to open a Boys & Girls Club location in all 14 of the USD 497 elementary schools. Her leadership helped BGCLK’s average daily attendance soar to 1,500 kids per day. Yet only 70 kids can fit in the current Teen Center location at 1520 Haskell. Once the Center for Great Futures opens in August 2018, Dittmer will hit the ground running on increasing teen enrollment.
“It’s been rewarding – and a whirlwind – to watch our elementary enrollment grow and grow every year,” Dittmer said. “But I really want to keep those kids in the Club beyond fifth grade. We have the model in place and an ideal partnership with Lawrence Public Schools. I am so excited to work with Amy and our team to see what we can do.”
Dittmer also has plans to engage local and state businesses in programs such as STEM education, financial literacy and soft skill training. She will work closely with Hill to survey the teens and choose programming based on their goals and interests. Once selections have been made, Dittmer will search for community partners and educators that are in alignment with Lawrence Public Schools.
“Having worked with Monica over the years, the school district is excited to build our partnership further into the middle and high schools,” said Interim Superintendent Anna Stubblefield. “This program is filling a huge need in our community, and we are excited to work with her to reach more kids.”
Monica earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work with a minor in Human Development and Family Life (2005) from the University of Kansas. She also garnered applicable work experience as a foster care case manager prior to Boys & Girls Club.