New principal is former cop, social worker

The Des Plaines Elementary School District 62 board has approved Raymond Ruiz as the new principal of Plainfield Elementary School, effective July 1. Ruiz will replace Rene Carranza, who will transfer to Orchard Place Elementary School.

Ruiz, of North suburban Beach Park, is currently an assistant principal in North Chicago. His various responsibilities include implementing programs that meet students’ overall needs, evaluating teachers, implementing and monitoring Response to Intervention (RtI), administering student positive reinforcement programs, and building positive relationships with all stakeholders.

Before becoming a teacher in 1997, Ruiz worked as a Chicago police officer and as a social worker with Methodist Youth Services. After teaching in four California school districts, Ruiz moved to North Chicago, where he was a general education bilingual teacher. In 2008, he was promoted to dean of students, and the following year, assistant principal.

Ruiz holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Loyola University in Chicago. After attending California State University in Pomona, he earned a master’s degree in cross-cultural education from National University in Marcos, Calif., and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Concordia University in River Forest.

“I look forward working with elementary school students again,” Ruiz said. “I worked as an elementary schoolteacher for eight years, and completed my administrative internship in an elementary school setting.

“It is vital to the success of the school to meet students’ instructional and social-emotional needs, and to provide a nurturing environment. They should want to come to school every day.”