Rutledge Named Joplin Schools’ 2008 Teacher of the Year

Above: FTC automotive technology instructor John Rutledge accepts an award from Assistant Superintendent Dr. Angie Besendorfer. Rutledge has been named Joplin Schools' 2008 Teacher of the Year.

John Rutledge, automotive technology instructor at Franklin Technology Center (FTC), has been named the 2008 Teacher of the Year for the Joplin School District. As Joplin’s Teacher of the Year, he is now eligible to apply for Missouri Teacher of the Year. Rutledge will be honored during the next regular Board of Education meeting scheduled for May 13, 2008 at 7 p.m. where he will receive a plaque, a $100 award from the district, and the Fred Laas Memorial Award in the amount of $500.

“Mr. Rutledge is a committed educator, and we are proud and honored to have him represent Joplin as Teacher of the Year,” says Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Angie Besendorfer. “After giving up his livelihood to dedicate his life to teaching, he has made a significant impact on the quality of automotive technology training available in our area of the state. His passion for educating students coupled with his active community involvement make him an excellent candidate for Missouri Teacher of the Year.”

Rutledge has taught at FTC since 1999 and has been instrumental in building the school’s successful automotive technology program. The program is now certified by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) – a very difficult certification to achieve. The NATEF stamp of approval ensures employers that the program meets or exceeds industry-recognized, uniform standards of excellence.

Prior to his teaching career, Rutledge operated a successful automotive repair shop in the 1980’s and 90’s. During this time, he became aware of changes and challenges facing the automotive industry, most notably the increasing difficulty in hiring qualified technicians with training in computerized engine controls.

In 1991, after serving two terms as President of the Mt. Vernon Youth Association, Rutledge was elected to the Mt. Vernon Board of Education. His involvement gave him a new vision for assisting young people, and in 1997 he began serving as a substitute automotive technology teacher at Ozark Technical College in Springfield, Missouri. In 1999, he was hired as the full-time automotive technology instructor at Franklin Technology Center, where he teaches high school juniors and seniors as well as adult education students.

The most gratifying aspect of Rutledge’s instructional career is to see his students succeed, he says. “We continue to do very well in state-wide skills competitions, and employers continue to show a willingness to hire graduates from my program. It is a tremendous privilege to touch the lives of so many people.”

Rutledge continues to serve as a member of the Mt. Vernon Board of Education and is a member of the Joplin School District Professional Development Committee. He also holds memberships with a number of professional associations, including the Missouri State Teacher’s Association, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, and the National Association of Career and Technical Educators. In 2004, he was named Teacher of the Year by the Missouri Trade and Technical Association, a division of the Missouri Association of Career and Technical Educators.

(posted 05/09/08)