Lasallian Founder's Alumni Award: Dedication to Quality Education, David Ruskoski

November 9, 2023

 From the Bishop Kelley Class of 1981.

Our next recipient is receiving an award for Dedication to Education which is one of the five tenets of the Lasallian Charism.  And if you ask 1981 graduate, David Ruskoski, how he developed high academic standards, he will tell you he did that here at Bishop Kelley.  A 1981 BK grad, David reminded us that when he was a student here, the grading scale was 93% for an A, 85% for a B, 77% for a C, and 70% for a D.  He said that made college courses feel a bit easier since the normal grading standard, the one we use today, is not as high. 


When David graduated from Bishop Kelley, he first earned Associate’s degrees from Tulsa Community College in History and German.  He then attended the University of Oklahoma where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Criminal Justice. Eventually, he moved to Atlanta where he studied at Georgia State University, earning a Master’s in History and completing his coursework toward a Ph.D., also in History.


In 2000, David moved back to Tulsa from Atlanta and became an Adjunct Professor at TCC while writing his dissertation on a World War I topic.  During this same time frame, David was a high school teacher, with most of his teaching done at a Title I high school in the Tulsa Public School system.  While teaching high school, David also coached boys basketball and girls soccer.  He graduated from Georgia State University with a Ph.D. in History in 2006 and was initially an Assistant Professor of History at Tulsa Community College where he is now an Associate Professor of History.


Dr. Ruskoski has led several “study abroad” trips to Europe, given lectures about American History at TCC’s Sister College, Jilin (Gee-Lin) Normal University in Siping (Si-ping), China, and has given several presentations about his research into the first World War at TCC, the University of Tulsa and many other places including Chaumont (Show-Mont), France.


David serves on the Tulsa Council for Holocaust Education and he has given several presentations at the Tulsa City/County Library. A year ago, he organized and hosted an event called “Tulsan’s Remember the Holocaust” that featured Holocaust Survivors who live in Tulsa. 


David continues to serve on the Tulsa Holocaust Education Committee.  He serves on the Advisory Board of the YMCA.  He’s also served multiple years on the United Way “Day of Caring” volunteer committee. David is a single parent to his three grown children, Heather, Laurel and Paul.  Paul is a 2022 BK graduate and he currently attends Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois which is also a LaSallian institution. 


David has twice received TCC’s Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence and he also received the Outstanding Alumni award from Tulsa Community College.  David credits two Bishop Kelley faculty members for being exceptional educators.  Donna Yadon, according to David, brought an amazingly positive attitude to her classes.  David says, as an educator, Brother Michael Witt was as brilliant as any that he encountered in his college career.


Please join us in congratulating this year’s recipient of the award for Dedication to Education, Dr. David Ruskoski.


Lasallian Founder’s Alumni Award

Recognizing the accomplishments of Outstanding Bishop Kelley Alumni who exemplify the five core principles of the Lasallian Mission; Faith in the Presence of God, Quality Education, Concern for the Poor & Social Justice, Respect for All Persons & Inclusive Community.


If you know a deserving BK Alumni, please nominate them here:

https://www.bishopkelley.org/alumni#LasallianFoundersAlumniAwardsNominationForm

Bishop Kelley Names Zach Postoak Head Varsity Baseball Coach

May 20, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tulsa, OK - Bishop Kelley High School has officially named Zach Postoak as Head Varsity Baseball Coach following his service as Interim Head Coach during the 2025–2026 season. Postoak joined the Bishop Kelley community during the 2024–2025 school year and has quickly become an important part of both the academic and athletic departments. He began as a full-time substitute teacher before transitioning midyear to teach computer literacy while also serving as an assistant coach for both the baseball and softball programs. Prior to arriving at Bishop Kelley from Owasso Public Schools, Postoak taught and coached in Oklahoma at Berryhill Public Schools and Cushing Public Schools. During his career, he has served in both head baseball and assistant softball coaching roles, helping lead teams to district championships and postseason appearances. He also spent time coaching at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Sports Science. During the 2025–2026 season, Postoak stepped into the Interim Head Baseball Coach role and helped guide the Comets to a runner-up finish at the OSSAA Class 5A State Baseball Championship. “Zach has done an outstanding job leading our baseball program,” said Bishop Kelley Athletic Director Lance Parks. “This team competed at a very high level throughout the season, finished undefeated in district play, and made an outstanding run to the state championship game. We are excited to officially name Zach as our head varsity baseball coach and look forward to continuing to build on the momentum and success of this season.” Postoak expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue leading the program. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to continue serving Bishop Kelley and leading this baseball program,” Postoak said. “This season gave our student-athletes the opportunity to grow, compete, and learn at an elite level together, and I’m excited to continue building on the foundation our players and coaching staff have established.” In addition to serving as Head Varsity Baseball Coach, Postoak was recently named Head Softball Coach for the Comets softball program. About Bishop Kelley Baseball Bishop Kelley Baseball competes in OSSAA Class 5A and is committed to developing student-athletes who pursue excellence in competition, leadership, and character. The Comets program emphasizes discipline, teamwork, and representing Bishop Kelley with pride on and off the field. About Bishop Kelley Bishop Kelley High School is Oklahoma’s largest private high school and is considered a life-preparatory institution. It offers a faith-based education that fosters academic excellence, spiritual growth and personal development. The school features a rigorous curriculum, including more than 40 honors and AP courses across a wide range of disciplines. With an average ACT score of 28 and an average SAT score of 1260, Bishop Kelley graduates are well-prepared for college, with 90% attending four-year institutions. The Blessed Stanley Rother Academic Support Program provides individualized assistance to students with diverse learning needs. Beyond the classroom, students can choose from more than 30 clubs and organizations, while athletes, academic bowl, and the speech and debate team compete in 20 OSSAA-sanctioned sports. The campus includes state-of-the-art facilities for academics, athletics, dining and the arts. Recent improvements were made possible through the successful completion of the $25 Million We Are BK capital campaign-funded entirely through private donors, not tuition dollars.

Bishop Kelley Welcomes Julia Dierker as Head Girls Golf Coach

May 20, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tulsa, Okla. - Bishop Kelley High School is pleased to announce the hiring of Julia Dierker as the school’s new Varsity Girls Golf Coach and a member of the Social Studies faculty. Dierker brings a strong combination of competitive golf experience, classroom leadership, and program development to Bishop Kelley. Most recently, she served as the Girls Varsity Golf Coach and English teacher at Broken Arrow Public Schools, where she revitalized the girls golf program and helped guide multiple student-athletes to collegiate golf opportunities. Under her leadership, the program earned back-to-back Frontier Valley Conference Runner-Up finishes, and at least one athlete committed to college golf each year. In addition to her coaching success, Dierker has experience teaching several subjects at the secondary level and will obtain her master’s degree through Northeastern State University at the end of this calendar year. She has also worked extensively in youth development and athletics programming through organizations such as First Tee-Tulsa. “Julia’s passion for mentoring young women, her competitive drive, and her commitment to helping students grow both academically and athletically make her an outstanding addition to Bishop Kelley,” said Lance Parks. “We are excited to welcome her to our community and look forward to the impact she will have on our students and golf program.” Dierker said she was drawn to Bishop Kelley because of the school’s strong academic standards, competitive culture, and mission-centered environment. “Coaching young women to lifelong improvement and success in the classroom and in sport is my passion,” Dierker said. “I admire the strong tradition of academic excellence, competitive achievement, and high standards that define Bishop Kelley, and I am excited for the opportunity to contribute to the continued success of the school and its students.” A former collegiate golfer herself, Dierker competed at both Coffeyville Community College and University of Arkansas–Fort Smith, earning Academic All-American honors and serving as team captain during her collegiate career. Dierker will begin her role at Bishop Kelley for the 2026–2027 school year. About Bishop Kelley Girls Golf The Bishop Kelley Girls Golf program has a strong tradition of competitive excellence, sportsmanship, and student-athlete development within the OSSAA. Comet golfers are challenged to grow both on and off the course through discipline, integrity, and a commitment to continual improvement. The program emphasizes individual growth while fostering a team culture rooted in accountability, encouragement, and respect for the game. Bishop Kelley Girls Golf strives to develop confident young women who pursue excellence in athletics, academics, leadership, and service while representing the mission and values of Bishop Kelley High School with pride. About Bishop Kelley Bishop Kelley High School is Oklahoma’s largest private high school and is considered a life-preparatory institution. It offers a faith-based education that fosters academic excellence, spiritual growth and personal development. The school features a rigorous curriculum, including more than 40 honors and AP courses across a wide range of disciplines. With an average ACT score of 28 and an average SAT score of 1260, Bishop Kelley graduates are well-prepared for college, with 90% attending four-year institutions. The Blessed Stanley Rother Academic Support Program provides individualized assistance to students with diverse learning needs. Beyond the classroom, students can choose from more than 30 clubs and organizations, while athletes, academic bowl, and the speech and debate teams compete in 20 OSSAA-sanctioned sports. The campus includes state-of-the-art facilities for academics, athletics, dining and the arts. Recent improvements were made possible through the successful completion of the $25 Million We Are BK capital campaign-funded entirely through private donors, not tuition dollars.