Bright Local Schools hire new high school principal, district treasurer
Lead Summary
By
Caitlin Forsha-crforsha@gmail.com
Bright Local Schools superintendent Ted Downing has announced the addition of two new administrators in the school district, with Brian Ruckel joining Whiteoak High School this fall as principal and Randy Drewyor being named district treasurer.
A 1986 graduate of Eastern High School, Ruckel earned his undergraduate degree from Wright State University and a master’s degree from the University of Dayton.
Ruckel brings 25 years of experience in education in several area schools, including Wilmington City Schools, Peebles High School and Blanchester Middle Schools.
In those 25 years, Ruckel has experience in a variety of different roles, including working as a teacher, principal and assistant principal, superintendent, athletic director and education consultant. Ruckel has also coached numerous sports, including football, baseball, basketball and volleyball.
“I’m excited to come to Bright Local,” Ruckel said. “The staff has been very welcoming. There are great academic endeavors in place, and we’re ready to move students and staff forward.”
Downing said that Ruckel’s over two decades of experience in education will be a “big asset” to the high school and to the district.
“Brian brings a lot of vast experience, with successful experience as a building administrator and as a superintendent,” Downing said. “Having somebody with his background and the things he’s done in the educational field is a big asset. He’s going to bring a lot of good things to the Bright Local district.”
The school district’s new treasurer, Drewyor has over 30 years of business experience, initially coming to the Chillicothe area to work in operations at the Mead Corporation. His background also includes sales and marketing positions with various communications businesses, including Adelphia, Time Warner Cable and Horizon.
Drewyor served on the Chillicothe City Schools board of education for approximately 10 years and has been an adjunct faculty member at the Ohio University-Chillicothe campus, teaching business courses.
“I’m really excited about being involved in public education,” Drewyor said. “I’m excited to be at Bright Local. The level of enthusiasm, between Ted and the board, was really kind of infectious.
“I really love being around the kids. A treasurer doesn’t have a lot of interaction, but the whole idea of a small school district is you can be interactive and get to know the kids. In the end, that’s why we’re here.”
Drewyor encouraged the community to take an active role, attending school board meetings or stopping by his office with any questions or concerns.
“I want the community to come by and see what we’re doing,” Drewyor said. “If they have questions about the finances, they can stop in the office and we can talk about it.
“There always will be challenges in the years ahead, and the best way to tackle that is if we have an informed district with people that are actively engaged.”
Downing said that he is also looking forward to working with Drewyor.
“Randy has a huge financial background in the things he’s done,” Downing said. “He’s also been a board member and he’s taught, so he brings a background not only from the business side, but he also understands the educational side.
“I’m really looking forward and excited for both of them to come aboard and for us to have a great working relationship for years to come.”
In addition to hiring the new administrators, Downing said that there are “a lot of changes going on” in the district in an effort to improve the buildings and the students’ education.
“We hope to continue to improve the way things are going and continue to make the district stronger,” Downing said. “I think with these guys in place, that will happen.”
Among these changes are the implementation of an iPad program at Whiteoak High School, along with improving lighting and the addition of air conditioning to rooms that were previously never air-conditioned.
“Everything we’re doing, we’re being fiscally responsible, but we’re trying to improve the image and continue to work on bringing pride back,” Downing said.
A 1986 graduate of Eastern High School, Ruckel earned his undergraduate degree from Wright State University and a master’s degree from the University of Dayton.
Ruckel brings 25 years of experience in education in several area schools, including Wilmington City Schools, Peebles High School and Blanchester Middle Schools.
In those 25 years, Ruckel has experience in a variety of different roles, including working as a teacher, principal and assistant principal, superintendent, athletic director and education consultant. Ruckel has also coached numerous sports, including football, baseball, basketball and volleyball.
“I’m excited to come to Bright Local,” Ruckel said. “The staff has been very welcoming. There are great academic endeavors in place, and we’re ready to move students and staff forward.”
Downing said that Ruckel’s over two decades of experience in education will be a “big asset” to the high school and to the district.
“Brian brings a lot of vast experience, with successful experience as a building administrator and as a superintendent,” Downing said. “Having somebody with his background and the things he’s done in the educational field is a big asset. He’s going to bring a lot of good things to the Bright Local district.”
The school district’s new treasurer, Drewyor has over 30 years of business experience, initially coming to the Chillicothe area to work in operations at the Mead Corporation. His background also includes sales and marketing positions with various communications businesses, including Adelphia, Time Warner Cable and Horizon.
Drewyor served on the Chillicothe City Schools board of education for approximately 10 years and has been an adjunct faculty member at the Ohio University-Chillicothe campus, teaching business courses.
“I’m really excited about being involved in public education,” Drewyor said. “I’m excited to be at Bright Local. The level of enthusiasm, between Ted and the board, was really kind of infectious.
“I really love being around the kids. A treasurer doesn’t have a lot of interaction, but the whole idea of a small school district is you can be interactive and get to know the kids. In the end, that’s why we’re here.”
Drewyor encouraged the community to take an active role, attending school board meetings or stopping by his office with any questions or concerns.
“I want the community to come by and see what we’re doing,” Drewyor said. “If they have questions about the finances, they can stop in the office and we can talk about it.
“There always will be challenges in the years ahead, and the best way to tackle that is if we have an informed district with people that are actively engaged.”
Downing said that he is also looking forward to working with Drewyor.
“Randy has a huge financial background in the things he’s done,” Downing said. “He’s also been a board member and he’s taught, so he brings a background not only from the business side, but he also understands the educational side.
“I’m really looking forward and excited for both of them to come aboard and for us to have a great working relationship for years to come.”
In addition to hiring the new administrators, Downing said that there are “a lot of changes going on” in the district in an effort to improve the buildings and the students’ education.
“We hope to continue to improve the way things are going and continue to make the district stronger,” Downing said. “I think with these guys in place, that will happen.”
Among these changes are the implementation of an iPad program at Whiteoak High School, along with improving lighting and the addition of air conditioning to rooms that were previously never air-conditioned.
“Everything we’re doing, we’re being fiscally responsible, but we’re trying to improve the image and continue to work on bringing pride back,” Downing said.