John Valentine Dittmore

John Valentine Dittmore served as director of The First Church of Christ, Scientist (Christian Science church) in Boston from 1909 until 1919. Before that he served as head of their Committee on Publication in New York and served as trustee for ten years over Mary Baker Eddy’s estate – founder of the church – until her passing in 1919.

Early Life and Education

Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) programs across the United States have a range of origins. Some began as child protection initiatives, others provided services for children with special needs, while others served to enable mothers’ labor force participation.

ECEC is increasingly being recognized as a social determinant of health. Research indicates that the experiences and interactions children have during their first three years are vitally influential for their subsequent development.

The early years of a child’s life are critical for learning and building healthy, secure relationships with caregivers. These connections and experiences can have an immense impact on many aspects of development such as social skills, emotional intelligence, and peer interactions. Furthermore, this time period serves to build children’s social networks and give them confidence when engaging with others which will ultimately assist them in school success.

Professional Career

Dittmore has extensive leadership experience in higher education. He served as associate dean of the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas, as well as serving as faculty member in the Department of Geography at California State University, Long Beach.

Recently, Dittmore has been actively engaged with several nonprofit organizations in Silicon Valley. One such group is Healthier Kids Foundation, a local non-profit that raises funds to provide health insurance for children throughout Santa Clara County.

He serves on the board of directors for Structural Integrity Associates and six not-for-profit foundations in his region, where his involvement includes teaching science to students.

Personal Life

Dittmore has extensive experience as an engineering consultant to Silicon Valley companies and has also held leadership roles in numerous nonprofit organizations.

Dittmore and his wife Elaine are currently raising six children together. Together they have 20 grandchildren, and remain involved in the lives of their extended family.

He is an enthusiastic sports fan and proud member of West Melbourne Football Club. Additionally, he volunteers at his local church as part of his community involvement.

Pullin has filed a lawsuit against Dittmore, alleging he violated her civil rights by threatening to arrest her for interfering with official business. Additionally, she contends that he unlawfully searched her vehicle prior to arresting her and discriminated against her based on race.