Dr. Diane Rutledge is the 63rd recipient of Springfield’s prestigious First Citizen Award.
A lifelong educator, mentor and community leader, Rutledge has dedicated more than five decades to improving the lives of children, families and organizations across the Springfield area through her leadership, volunteerism and advocacy. It is, however, Rutledge’s impact outside her role as an educator that earned her this year’s award.
Throughout her life, Rutledge has had a profound influence on generations of educators and students alike. Her leadership has elevated institutions, strengthened community programs and inspired countless others to serve with the same passion and purpose.
“Dr. Rutledge exemplifies what it means to be Springfield’s First Citizen,” said First Citizen board president Butch Elzea. “Her impact reaches far beyond education. Through her decades of community service – in health care, youth development and civic engagement – she has truly made the Springfield area a better place to live, learn and grow as a community.”
Beyond her distinguished professional career, which began as a teacher at Dubois Elementary School and evolved into her tenure as superintendent of Springfield Public Schools District 186, Rutledge has made it her mission to give back to the community she has called home. She has served in leadership roles on more than two dozen community boards and organizations, including Memorial Health System, United Way of Central Illinois, Boys and Girls Club of Central Illinois and the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln.
Her deep commitment to literacy led to the creation of the Books for Babies program at Springfield Memorial Hospital and local implementation of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, ensuring children begin life with access to books and learning opportunities.
Rutledge and her husband, Steve, also established the Steve and Diane Rutledge Fund through the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln to support ongoing causes including health care, women’s issues, law enforcement and literacy – continuing their shared legacy of service.
Over her lifetime, Rutledge has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Illinois State Board of Education’s Those Who Excel Award of Excellence, the Good as Gold Lifetime Achievement Award, the Athena Award and the Western Illinois University Distinguished Alumni Award.
Rutledge was selected from a pool of nominees by the First Citizen Award selection committee and was honored at a Nov. 12 ceremony held at Erin’s Pavilion at Southwind Park.
Nominees not selected this year will be considered for the following four years. To nominate someone for next year’s First Citizen, visit firstcitizenaward.org.
Congratulations, Diane. This is an award well derserved?
I was lucky enough to have Dr. Rutledge as Principal at Owen Marsh and benefited from her service as superintendent as well. I cannot think of someone more deserving of an honor like this as Dr. Rutledge. The entire community is better off because of her years of service.