63rd First Citizen, Diane Rutledge, Passes Away at 74

Diane Rutledge, the former superintendent of Springfield Public Schools District 186 and a lifelong champion of education and community service, died early Tuesday morning after a courageous battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. She was 74 years old.

Rutledge’s career in education began in the very classrooms she would later help lead, first as a teacher at Dubois Elementary School and eventually as superintendent of District 186. Throughout her decades of service, she earned the respect and admiration of colleagues, students, and community members for her unwavering dedication to academic excellence and her compassionate leadership.

In November 2025, just three months before her passing, Rutledge was honored as Springfield’s 63rd First Citizen, one of the community’s most prestigious awards recognizing individuals whose service has profoundly benefited the area. The First Citizen committee highlighted her impact not only in education but also in health care, youth development, civic engagement, and numerous other community causes.

Rutledge’s influence extended far beyond the walls of the school district. She served in leadership positions on more than two dozen community boards and organizations, including Memorial Health System, United Way of Central Illinois, and the Boys and Girls Club of Central Illinois, and played a pivotal role in initiatives that fostered literacy and opportunity for children across the region.

Current District 186 superintendent Jennifer Gill, who first knew Rutledge as her own elementary school teacher, remembered her as a mentor and inspiration, noting her relentless energy, focus, and commitment to serving others until the very end of her life.

“She had undying amounts of energy and focus and still just an avid reader and she was working and still serving school districts up until just a few months ago. It’s hard to put into words,” said Gill. “She was very goal-focused to make sure she was serving her community and her position that she was in, no matter what that position was. I drew a lot from that energy and that focus and learned a lot of great lessons from her, serving underneath her leadership.”