David Ruenzel

David Ruenzel was an education journalist and teacher whose work influenced national debates and reforms in education. He was a contributing writer for Education Week and spent a decade as a features writer for Teacher Magazine, where he was a National Magazine Awards finalist for excellence in public affairs reporting. He began his career as an English teacher at Park-Tudor School in Indianapolis and later served as English department chair at the University Lake School. Ruenzel also taught journalism, literature, and writing at The Athenian School in Danville, California. Most recently, he was part of “The Cadre of Writers” at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. A published author and poet, he also led adult education programs at his church. Ruenzel earned his BA in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his MFA in creative writing from Indiana University-Bloomington.

updated 2025