Committee members are nominated by state associations, as is the chairperson, who guides the members through their work.  Each of the NFHS’s eight sections are represented on the given rules committee and each committee member serves a four-year term.

The NFHS is pleased to welcome three new members of the Middle School Committee: Bill Faflick, Dr. Jennifer Rukstad and LeVar Ridgeway.

Bill Faflick, Chair, previously represented section 5 and will now serve as the committee chair through 2026. He is the Executive Director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association.  He joined the KSHSAA staff after a 32 year career in the Wichita Public Schools. During that tenure, he served six years as Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools with direct oversight for ten high schools, fifteen middle schools, and three K-8’s.  Prior to that, Faflick served twelve years as Director of Athletics for the school district.  He also taught math for fourteen years at Wichita Southeast High, his alma mater.  During his time at Southeast, Faflick was the cross country and track coach, served as athletic director, and sponsor for many student activities including FCA, NHS, and SADD.

Faflick graduated from Kansas University with a B.S. in Secondary Education, Mathematics and completed a Master’s Degree from Wichita State University in Secondary School Counseling and School Psychology.  Additionally, he earned Masters in School Leadership and District Leadership from Wichita State.  Faflick and his wife Diann, currently serving as the Executive Director of TogetherTopeka as part of the work of the Topeka Chamber of Commerce, are parents of four children (Hope, Jacob, Nathaniel, and Abigail).  Mr. Faflick and his family have been extensively involved in their schools, community and church while residing in Wichita and in the recent transition to Topeka. 

Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, Section 5, is in her first year as the Executive Director of the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA). She is in her 25^th year in education, after serving as a high school mathematics teacher, coach, athletic director, and principal in Columbia, Missouri. In the last three years, she served as an assistant superintendent in the Columbia Public Schools, with two of those years leading secondary schools. Dr. Rukstad has served on the MSHSAA Board of Directors and Appeals Committee. When she was an AD, she served on the Missouri Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Board of Directors. She and her husband Jeff have two children, Trevor (22) and Hayden (7).

LeVar Ridgeway, Section 4, was named Assistant Director of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association on July 12, 2021. His responsibilities includes the administration, coordination of duties and tournament planning for the sports of hockey, soccer and softball, as well as the administrative duties of middle-level regulations.

Ridgeway served as the Athletics and Activities Director in the Shorewood School District (Milwaukee, WI) from 2013-2021. In that position, he coordinated and managed the athletic programs and activities for grades 7-12 and was responsible for all events, facilities, game contracts and official assignments in compliance with district and WIAA regulations.

Prior to his position at Shorewood, Ridgeway served 12 years in the athletic department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in three different positions. In 2001, he worked as the Marketing and Promotions Coordinator for a 13-sport Division 1 intercollegiate program. From 2002-2009, he performed the duties of the Director of Tickets and Events, as well as managing large events and operations for the university.  His final role was as Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Operations from 2009-13, implementing marketing programs, directing all in-game marketing and promotion responsibilities for all intercollegiate sports, and producing marketing and public relation campaigns.

The Middle School Committee Meeting will take place in Indianapolis October 10-11, 2022.