District 230 Board President Rick Nogal honored by State Board

The Illinois State Board of Education formally recognized Consolidated High School District 230 School Board President Richard J. Nogal with the Thomas Lay Burroughs Award for the State's Outstanding School Board President by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) at its meeting in Springfield last week.

In a formal proclamation, the Illinois State Board of Education honored Nogal for championing equity in school funding, instilling a culture of collaboration, and supporting the social and emotional well being of students. Nogal is the 27th School Board President to earn this distinction. ISBE created the Burroughs Award in 1991 in memory of the late ISBE Chairman Thomas Lay Burroughs. The award recognizes extraordinary local leadership, in particular in advancing student learning and educational excellence, expanding equal educational opportunities, and resolving major crises or difficulties.

Superintendent Dr. James Gay shared that “President Nogal has led District 230 with great integrity and passion for assuring all students have equal opportunity to achieve educational excellence. We are fortunate to have benefited from the tireless leadership he has provided on the Board.”

In accepting the award, Nogal remarked, “It takes the collective efforts of board members, administrators, teachers, staff members, parents, elected and appointed officials throughout this State of Illinois to make equitable education available to all students. Through these collective efforts to advance the equitable education opportunities for all of our students, so that every student in Illinois may achieve his or her fullest potential, we truly honor the legacy of Thomas Lay Burroughs."

Nogal has a long history of serving the local community in a collaborative manner that is focused first on ensuring the vision and goals of the organization are met. Mr. Nogal has served on the District 230 School Board since 2011, six of those years as its President. Mr. Nogal’s commitment to the students of District 230 began even earlier as he was a community volunteer on the Student Services Committee for four years prior to being elected to the School Board. In addition, he also served on the partner district Palos Community Consolidated District 118 Board of Education from 2003 until 2011, including two years as its President. Further showing his commitment to the local community, Mr. Nogal has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Palos Community Hospital, as a Trustee and Commissioner of the Palos Fire Protection District, and Chairman of the Our Lady of the Woods Parish Council. When he is not volunteering in the community, he is a business litigation attorney with Goldstine, Skrodzki, Russian, Nemec and Hoff, Ltd.

Photo:
District 230 School Board President Richard Nogal (center) was presented with the Thomas Lay Burroughs Award for the State's Outstanding School Board President by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in Springfield. He was joined by State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tony Smith, Andrew High School Senior and State Student Advisory Member Corlin Leonard, his wife Kris Nogal, District 230 Superintendent Dr. James M. Gay, District 230 School Board Vice President Melissa Gracias, and Vice Chair of the Illinois State Board of Education Eligio Pimentel.