Meet the Board Monday: Vice President, Norma Woodman Rutledge, Class of 1966

Norma served as a BRHS faculty member and Director of I CARE and School Counselors before retiring after 35 years with the East Baton Rouge Parish School System.  She then served as Executive Director for BR Crisis Intervention for 10 years.  She earned her B.S. and Masters of Education from LSU and is a licensed Prevention Professional.

Norma married her ‘High School Sweetheart,’ Jim Rutledge, also a class of ’66 graduate. They have two children and seven grandchildren.

BRHSF: Did you have a favorite teacher, club, sport or experience that made a long-term impact on you at BRHS?

NR: My years as a student at BRHS are filled with wonderful memories, friendships and experiences that impacted my personal and professional life.  Belonging to clubs, singing and traveling with the choir and performing as a high-stepper are just a few of the memorable activities.  Having great teachers inspired me to go into education and eventually teach at my Alma mater. And of course, that’s where I met my husband of 50 years!

BRHSF: What made you decide to join the BRHSF Board?

NR: A love for Baton Rouge high and a love for education and young people.  After retirement, I was honored to have the opportunity to use my knowledge and skills to continue to support education and student development by serving and giving back to the school that I love and that gave me so much as both a student and teacher.

BRHSF: Why is the Foundation’s mission of philanthropic support for BRHS important to you and to the community?

NR: BRHS was an outstanding comprehensive high school that provided me with a strong well-rounded education when I attended as a student.  It was nationally recognized as an outstanding high school during my tenure as a member of the faculty.  It is absolutely essential that this beacon of quality education in our community continue to provide exemplary educational opportunities for the students of Baton Rouge and remain an educational institution of national prominence.

BRHSF: As a Board member do you have any personal goals for your service? What do you see as your most important role as a Board member?

NR: To use any time and skills I process to help advance the mission of the Foundation and to encourage others to support BRHS for excellence in education for the students.

Fun Fact! I loved to dance and twirl a baton…I still have my tap shoes and my high-stepper boots. The gold satin lined, green velvet cape that was part of one of my uniform at BRHS is now used as our “Christmas tree skirt.”