School Board President John DeRuyter was originally elected to the school board three years ago after spending two years on an advisory committee. Over the past year, he stepped into the president’s chair formerly held by David Wilson.

DuRuyter is now seeking reelection to another three-year term. He is one of three candidates competing for a single open position on the ballot.

He says his platform is centered on academic achievement, expanded vocational opportunities and strong fiscal stewardship.

Here’s DeRuyter on the school board’s recent wins.

I am very excited about moving forward with the significant successes we’ve had this last year. We have a superintendent who is so engaged with our community, our students, and our faculty, and who sees academic excellence at all levels as the goal.

DeRuyter says some of those wins include the district’s high 2025 statewide testing scores. Including district students ranking first-place statewide in mathematics and sixth in reading. The tests covered grades three through nine.

As his first term draws to a close, he says he wants to keep the momentum going.

He credits a collaborative school culture for helping produce those outcomes, praising the administration, teachers and families for working together toward higher academic standards.

According to DeRuyter, a major factor behind those improvements has been aggressive pursuit of grants, led by Superintendent Joshua Garrett.

He says the grants provide resources to strengthen foundational courses in mathematics, science and language arts. While also allowing them to introduce new classroom tools like emerging artificial intelligence technologies.

A comprehensive public education must support students aiming for four-year degrees as well as those pursuing creative arts or career technical fields, he says.

DeRuyter says he also wants the district to establish stronger bridges into vocational trades. This could help students graduate as certified electricians, welders or qualified candidates for regional apprenticeships.

Our community has a reservoir of skilled tradesmen.

Explaining that connecting experienced craftspeople with student vocational training will help expand specialized coursework and overcome staffing limits.

Adapted from original article by Jonathan Dawe for the Wrangell Sentinel