Dr. Joshua Ruland, a retired public school administrator and former District 202 teacher, is the newest member of the District 202 Board of Education.
The Board of Education at its April 11, 2024 regular meeting appointed Ruland to fill the seat vacated in March by Board member Heather Roach.
Ruland will fill the remainder of Roach’s term through April 1, 2025. He can then choose to run for a full term.
The Board chose Ruland from six community members who applied for the open seat.
Board members chose Ruland because of his wealth of knowledge in the educational and financial fields, said Board President Rod Westfall.
“Dr. Ruland brings experience in board policy and school finance,” Westfall said. “We are excited to have him as a member of our board and look forward to his contributions”
He retired from public education in 2021 and currently works as a financial advisor.
Ruland is a community member and parent of four children – a 2021 graduate, two current high school students, and one middle school student in District 202.
Ruland taught at Plainfield High School-Central Campus from 2003 to 2007 before moving into administrative roles.
His administrative jobs included Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning in Minooka Community Consolidated School District 201 and Director of High School Core Curriculum at Indian Prairie School District 204. He also was an adjunct professor at Lewis University and Olivet Nazarene University.
Ruland said his experience in education positions him to quickly step in and help the school district continue to move forward.
“I can represent the views of our community while also using my understanding and experience of school policy and administrative procedures to understand the complex nature of what challenges our schools, students, teachers, parents, staff, and administrators face,” he said.
Board of education members (in photo)
(Front row from left) Board Secretary Toni Galan, President Rod Westfall, Vice President Barb Seiden. (Back row from left) members Elias Kalantzis, Dr. Kathy Baxter, Margarita Morelos, Dr. Joshua Ruland.
