Emmaus High School Technical Education teacher Scott Didra, of Upper Macungie, has been recognized with two awards for excellence in teaching.

Didra was selected as the Pennsylvania Technology and Engineering High School Teacher of the Year for Pennsylvannia.

"The Teacher Excellence Award is one of the highest honors given to technology and engineering education classroom teachers and is presented in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the profession and their students," Joe McCade, Technology and Engineering Education Association of Pennsylvania awards chair said.

The Teacher Excellence Award provides public recognition at the state through international levels. Didra formally received an engraved plaque at the state conference in Camp Hill Nov. 7. He was also honored as a guest speaker and presenter for the two day conference. Didra will receive national recognition at the annual conference in Milwaukee, Wis. in the spring.

On Nov. 6, Didra was also presented with the Innovative Educator of the Year Award on behalf of the Department of Applied Engineering, Safety and Technology at Millersville University. The honoree was selected by the faculty and staff of Millersville University.

"The Millersville award is special to me for a few reasons," Didra said. "For one, I'm a graduate of Millersville. I also met my wife Wendy at Millersville 34 years ago. And to make it even more special, my daughter Kerri graduated from Millersville with a degree in technology education. When Kerri was young she would often go to 'take your daughter to work day' while I was teaching industrial arts at Emmaus Junior High School. She loved the hands-on projects we did in class. She also enjoyed working with me on projects at home in the garage.

"Industrial arts transitioned to technology education in 1999. Millersville is one of just two colleges who offer technology education in the state of Pennsylvania. Kerri was one of a select few females who graduated from Millersville with that degree. She is currently teaching Tech Ed at Perkiomen Valley Middle school.

"My son-in-law Greg also graduated from Millersville in Tech Ed and he too is teaching at Perkiomen. It's a pretty cool feeling as a dad. My daughter teaches Tech Ed and coaches softball. My son-in-law teaches in the same school with her, and my son Chris went to college for architecture and is now an architect for MKSD Architecture in Allentown."

In addition to teaching, Didra has another passion where he has been a high school softball coach for 24 years.

Many students have maintained contact with Didra since graduating and as they continue their studies in college.

Some students also attended the award ceremonies.

Two graduated EHS students, Damon Barreca and Megan Smolinski talked about the influence Didra had on their career choices.

"He has just been really fun to be around as a student," Barreca, a student at Millersville, said. "You can tell how he cares about his class and students. There is a lot of enthusiasm in the way he presents and teaches his material. I had no idea what I wanted to do before I took his class. After the architecture class and designing the fall 2011-2012 playhouse, my career choice was clear.

"One thing I really learned is to try and do it right the first time. If you don't get it right, make it right. He taught us not to settle for anything if it isn't right. Go back to the drawing board until you get it right. It is something I really want to teach. There aren't too many teachers who come to class with a smile every day and who can show his enthusiasm and caring about his students and their lives."

Smolinski attends Penn State University - main campus, and is a junior studying to be a secondary education in social studies.

"Mr. Didra is one of the reasons why I pursued a job in education. When you walked in the classroom, he always had a smile on his face. He gave respect to his students and he received respect in return. He was always open to talk to students. He always found new ways to teach content. There was never a dull moment in his classroom. He was always looking for a new way to engage his students.

"His class was unique as he could use hands-on learning. Students are working directly with the content. I learned from him to have a positive attitude. I learned to always surround yourself with a positive attitude which will show in your teaching and to connect with every student who walks into the door. That's what I respect about him; he could connect with the students throughout the year. He goes above and beyond, he schedules time with alumni too. I am so pleased for him to receive this award. He is a teacher of excellence."

Two current EHS students Ben Whitby and Bethany Reeves also commented on Didra.

"[Mr. Didra] is my favorite teacher I've had," Whitby said. "He makes the environment really fun. He has over 30 years of teaching experience; that brings something to the table. He has taught in so many areas, so that helps. At the beginning of the design process, everyone's ideas are welcome. Everyone gets their say. He wants everyone to feel included in 'the firm' which is the name of the architecture class. There is nothing like the program at the school from the design process, to building four structures, to seeing it to completion. The way he carries himself and the team is an awesome environment to be around."

"He is extremely interactive," Reeves said. "Everything we do is hands on - we all work with each other. Everything is a group effort. He interacts with everyone and is always there to help. He is so different than every other teacher. Everything you do with him, he makes you interested."

On Didra's award, Whitby offered his "congratulations" to Didra. "He definitely deserves it. He has put so much work into this school and the program. He comes in over the summer to finish projects. He puts in so much extra time so the kids have the most awesome experience. It is really admirable."

The students said the entire architecture program is built around everything Didra does.

Didra reminisced about when he started teaching back at Emmaus Jr. High School and was the "young guy" in a group of teachers who had been teaching for 25 or more years. "I remember thinking that was so far away for me and I couldn't imagine how I would ever make it that long," Didra said.

"Now I'm the 'old guy' in the group and I can't think of anything else I would rather be doing or have done over the past 32 years.

"The physical environment within my job has changed a lot over time. What I have come to realize though is it doesn't matter where we are, or what subject we teach, what matters the most is who we are with. As teachers we have the opportunity and the power to create our own environment within our own classroom where kids will want to be. With all that we hear about demands and restrictions in education, our classroom environment is the most important key to allowing our kids to learn. How we achieve this positive place for our students is really up to us.

"My single most important piece of advice for new teachers entering our profession is to 'just be yourself.' If we can allow our students to see us as a person and treat them with respect in an environment of mutual respect, you will be surprised at what you will get back in return.

"I am truly blessed to have such great kids in my classes over all of these years. They have all touched my life in some way or another."