2013 Election: Thomas Ruggio, D68 School Board

Campaign Info

• Position sought: District 68 school board
• E-mail: ruggiot@woodridge68.org

Personal Info 

• Education: Illinois State University - 1969 - Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a Special Education Endorsement; Northeastern Illinois University - 1974 - Masters in Special Education; Concordia College and Northern Illinois University - 1978 - Type 75 Administrative K - 12 Certification (General Supervisory, General Administrative)
• Occupation: Retired in 2004 ending my 35 year career in the education field. During those years I was a teacher, a building administrator and a district administrator. I am currently a member of the NSBA (National School Board Association), IASB (Illinois Association of School Boards), IRTA (Illinois Retired Teachers Association) and IAASE (Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education).

Candidate Questions

What is the primary reason you are running for this office?

I have always felt strongly about giving back to your community.  All three of my children benefited from the excellent educational opportunities they received while going through the Woodridge 68 school system.  

Other concerned citizens volunteered their time and efforts guiding the District during those years and now I feel it is my turn to give current students those same excellent educational opportunities.

I was first elected to the Board in 2005 and have been the School Board President for the last two years.  I have been a part of the planning for the District's future and I want to help the District achieve all our goals.   

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?

The single most important priority for the next four years will be continuing the excellence that District 68 has achieved.  Since beginning to implement the current five-year Strategic Goal Plan student achievement has improved each year.  

With the adoption of the new Common Core Standards, the goals for success have increased to higher levels.  I believe that through our Academic Transformation Plan we will continue to focus on individual student growth and preparing our students to be college and career ready.  

What do you think are the top 3 goals for District 68?

1. Continuing to improve student achievement.

2. Maintaining a healthy financial status.

3. Succeeding at implementing Common Core Standards and the new principal and teacher evaluation systems."

With state funding always hanging in the balance, do you have any ideas for alternative revenue sources?

Several years ago the Woodridge Public Education Foundation was founded.  Through the Foundation special innovative educational projects and programs are funded to enrich our students experiences.  
Forming school-business partnership is another way to help individual schools with increasing student experiences.

What can the district do to improve test scores and curriculum?

It has been almost a full year since the Woodridge 68 School Board adopted our Academic Transformation Plan.  In our plan we FOCUS on strong caring relationships, high expectations, meaningful experiences, data and specific and timely feedback.  

We have improved our District infrastructure to support our Plan as well as dedicated our Professional Development opportunities to improving our students' continued achievement.

Is there any other information pertinent to your campaign that you would like to add?

In the eight years that I have served on the Woodridge 68 Board of Education I have represented the Board as the Board President (2011- present); LEND Representative (2007-2011); IASB Governing Board (2007- present); IASB DuPage Division Executive Committee (Director-At-Large 2011-2012, Vice Chair 2012- present); IASB Joint Annual Conference Delegate (2007-2011); SASED Board of Control Representative (2005-2009), Vice Chair (2009 - 2011), Chairmen (2011 - present) and numerous District Committees.