From GU’s Special Education Endorsement to Belleville East Principal: Joe Rujawitz's Story

Published: November 30, 2025

Author: Lydia Cahill

Joe Rujawitz is the new principal of Belleville East High School. Still, long before accepting this role, he was an experienced paraprofessional and special education teacher with a deep passion for his students. Greenville University not only allowed Rujawitz to earn his special education endorsement but also transformed his view of his calling as an educator.

A Change in Plans

Rujawitz, then a fresh graduate with a degree in English from SIUE, thought that he’d found the perfect district to launch his teaching career—but no English positions were available. Instead, Rujawitz became a paraprofessional, and what looked at first to be a let-down turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

"At that time, as a paraprofessional, I worked in our special education program for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities. I realized there that this was the path I wanted to take because these were kids I could help coach. By coaching, I mean preparing them for life as well as helping them academically and with some of their social needs."

Rujawitz realized that helping special education students was not only his job but his passion. To help his students more effectively, Rujawitz decided to earn his special education endorsement.

"I was recommended by a colleague that Greenville does a program that can allow people like me to get their special ed endorsement through a summer course," Rujawitz said.

Rujawitz began an intense summer to earn his special education endorsement before the school year started. He took four classes, each of them only a week-long, the hours stretching from 8 a.m. to late afternoon. However, his instructor's helping hands and kind words went a long way toward his belief in his eventual success:

"Not only were my professors excellent, but they really made me feel like I was making a good decision by getting my special ed endorsement. They were very passionate about the classes and were extremely helpful. I had a lot of questions during this process, and they were there 100% every step of the way. Comments that they made when I turned in work, things like 'Hey, you're doing a great job. Keep it up,' made me feel like I was good at it. They were encouraging."

The special education endorsement at Greenville allowed Rujawitz to step into his new classroom confidently. The program had such an impact on Rujawitz that he continues to recommend it to this day.

"At the time, I was uncertain if I even wanted to go into the field. I didn't know how long it would take, and I had many questions and doubts. The professors at Greenville put every doubt to sleep. I highly recommend that program, still to this day, to any teacher that comes up to me in District 201," said Rujawitz. "If they say they're interested in special education, I tell them to contact Greenville University and explore their program. It's accelerated, but the faculty still does a great job."

Professors' Encouragement Inspires Passion

Most students can remember a class where the instructor took the time to encourage and motivate them. Though such teachers often set high expectations, their students strive to meet them out of respect and admiration. They reciprocate the dedication they are shown. For Rujawitz, those memorable teachers came in the form of professors at Greenville.

"Their encouragement made me want to try harder. I started to show passion, and I was only able to reveal that passion because those instructors believed in me."

The positivity of Greenville University's faculty had a lasting impact on Rujawitz, shaping his academic career and his view of himself. One teacher unknowingly predicted his future!

"I remember the teacher saying something like, ‘Joe, you would be an outstanding principal or union president someday,’” said Rujawitz.

“I had a professor at Greenville telling me that not only am I doing well, but to shoot for the stars. It made me feel like, hey, maybe I do have things to offer. It's funny how it all unfolds now, because now I'm the principal of District 201, the biggest high school south of I-80,” he said.

Paying it Forward

Now a principal, Rujawitz has big plans to create a family community and positive culture within his school. As Greenville poured into him, Rujawitz is now pouring love and kindness into his own staff and students.

"I try to do one thing, and that is be passionate and encouraging. What I like to do for our staff is encourage them and let them know every day how proud I am and how thankful I am for everything they do. I want to make them feel included and part of the overall mission of what we're doing here at Belleville East," said Rujawitz.

"We are a family here, and whoever you are, you are important on this campus, and you have skills that don't go unnoticed. When people feel wanted, needed, and important, you get their best work. It's amazing what people are capable of."

He continued, "It's about relationships and building them with people."

When asked about his proudest moment as a principal so far, Rujawitz said that the positive responses he has received from his staff, students, and the community at large have meant everything to him.

"The feedback that I get from staff is like, 'Thank you for what you're doing. You're motivating me.' Just little things, whether it's like an e-mail or somebody coming up to me saying, 'Hey, I enjoyed that,' or students mentioning, 'This is great. I like what we're doing.' I like knowing that our campus, faculty, and students are taken care of. It's hard to really know that because I can't read the minds of 3,000 people. However, I'm getting more and more encouragement. I'm proud of that on this campus."

A Life Based on Christian Principles

Throughout his career, Christian principles have shaped how this new principal approaches his work and life. Rujawitz realizes that, from the beginning, God knew where he was going and credits his current position to the ultimate teacher.

"I believe in being there for people and doing the right thing even though it's hard. I know the bigger picture of being honest and doing things for the right reasons. I'm only able to do and say that right now because I am an honest person and I believe in these attributes. I wouldn't have gotten that anywhere else in my life if it weren't for religion and faith in the greater power."

A Demonstration of God's Plan

Even though Rujawitz never got an English position like he had once hoped, God has done amazing things in his life through the special education classroom and now as a principal.

As someone whose own career path was full of unexpected twists and turns, Rujawitz had some insightful advice to give to college students as they envision their future lives and careers:

"Be open to wherever the career path takes you. Understand that your goal could be completely different from reality because you never know where the tide will take you. You can have goals, and you can do things right, but it still doesn't guarantee that everything you want is going to be done, Rujawitz said.

He continued, "I would have never in my life thought that I would be where I am today. I got where I am because I'm not afraid of change or of doing things for the right reasons. That would be my advice for anyone getting into education, and anybody who wants to try to change the world."

As Greenville did for him, Rujawitz is now planting seeds of encouragement in his own students' lives. Grounded in a passion for encouraging others and biblical truth, Rujawitz is on the path to thrive at his new position as principal of Belleville East. His journey is a fantastic demonstration of the goodness of God's plans, even if they do not align with our earthly ones.