Rutan joins NAU-Yuma administration

  Yuma County needs more teachers, and a former superintendent working at Northern Arizona University-Yuma says he's ready to help find some worthy of their apples.

  Doug Rutan, former Somerton school superintendent, recently joined the ranks at NAU-Yuma as coordinator of the school's education program and as an education professor.

  As head of the program that offers a four-year teaching degree, Rutan says NAU-Yuma not only helps produce quality teachers, it also gives local folks the chance to enter a profession that's always in great demand.

  "There are lots of people in the Yuma area interested in getting an education degree. Here is the possibility for them to get that four-year degree and move into the field of education and make a difference for kids without leaving Yuma. Then hopefully they will stay here and teach here."

  Rutan joins NAU-Yuma after an eight-month search to fill that position.

  "The addition of Doug Rutan will take us to the next level of education quality and delivery," said Larry Gould, executive officer for NAU-Yuma. "His experience as a school superintendent will serve this campus as we move to the next level."

  Rutan began his 35-year career in education when he graduated from NAU's education program and began teaching in Yuma at Post Elementary. He taught here for five years, moved away, then returned to Yuma in 2005.

  Rutan served as superintended with the Somerton School District for the past three years. He left that position in December.

  Rutan holds a doctorate in education administration from the University of Idaho and a master's degree in education administration from the University of Arizona. He earned a degree in elementary education from NAU.

  He is a member of the Yuma Business Education Coalition and has served on the NAU College of Education Task Force.

  Rutan said there's nothing better for a school than a solid educator with ties to the community they serve.

  "We found that if we hired Yuma County-raised people they stayed," he said, recalling his superintendent experience. "Then you get good, long-term teachers who know the area, love the area and spend their whole careers here."

  Rutan said his first goal at NAU involves "growing the numbers" for the education program.

  "We need to get into the schools and talk more to people who are substituting, people who don't have degrees but have a desire to work with kids," he said.

   "We also need to talk to students we have now and make sure they realize that after two years at Arizona Western College, they have a great opportunity to stay here at NAU-Yuma rather than think they have to leave."

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Darin Fenger can be reached at
dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.