When John Longueville and his wife Lori went house hunting in 1983, they weren't just looking for a home—they were choosing a future.

"I said, 'Honey, what's Unity Point?' And she said, 'That's the school our children are going to go to,'" Longueville recalls with a chuckle. Lori went on to explain that she wanted their children to attend school in a district with a reputation for high-quality, student-centered education.

That moment marked the beginning of what would become a decades-long relationship between Longueville and Unity Point School District. After his three children—Matthew, Julia, and Adam—began attending the school, Longueville's appreciation for the district grew steadily.

"The dedication and service that goes toward those children, their maturity, their adjustment, and their education just caused me to say, 'This definitely is the best place for our children to be,'" Longueville explains.

In 1995, encouraged to join the strong legacy of service by Unity Point residents by then-Superintendent Dr. Ludwick and fellow community members, Longueville ran for the school board. What followed was an extraordinary 18-year tenure serving the district—12 years from 1995-2007, and then another six years from 2017-2023.

During his service, Longueville worked alongside other volunteers to usher in some of Unity Point's most significant developments. In 2003, the school completed its major addition, including the gymnasium, commons area, cafeteria, and new classrooms—a dramatic improvement from the previous multipurpose tile floor that served as cafeteria, gymnasium, and auditorium combined.

Perhaps his proudest achievement, however, was chairing the committee for a critical 2014 financial referendum. With the school facing potential cuts, the community narrowly approved the measure by just four votes—securing an additional half-million dollars annually for the district.

"The community speaking for itself, putting the high emphasis on children's education, has caused and will continue to put half a million dollars a year into our financial coffers to run that school," Longueville says with evident pride. "As long as those doors are open, that referendum stands."

His professional background uniquely shaped Longueville's perspective on education. For 25 years, he worked in human services with youth, spending his first 15 years working with juveniles before supervising parole for the bottom 37 counties of Illinois.

"I was in and out of numerous schools. I attended IEP meetings. I served as an advocate for IEP-identified students who were returning to the community after an institutional stay," Longueville explains. This experience gave him valuable insights that he brought to his school board service.

Even after completing his board tenure, Longueville continued his involvement with Unity Point. Until health challenges intervened, he volunteered with the "Lunch Bunch"—a program providing a quieter lunchtime environment for students who prefer it.

"That volunteer time of mine has been more than satisfying," he reflects. "Those relationships with those young men were so gratifying. And it was obviously gratifying for them because they kept coming back."

For Longueville, Unity Point's strength lies in its diversity and adaptiveness. "Last I knew, there are 25 different languages spoken at homes in our school district," he notes. "The efforts and growth and accommodations that have been made for these students is in itself remarkable."

He points to the story of a neighbor's daughter who arrived at Unity Point not speaking English and eventually became valedictorian. "It's a great story," he says, "but it's not an unusual story."

Reflecting on his years of service, Longueville recalls a touching gesture when he completed his first 12-year board term: rather than a traditional plaque, he requested an eighth-grade diploma from Unity Point.

"It took me 12 years to earn that 8th-grade diploma," he laughs, "but it's been about 18 of the best years of my life."

Currently battling two different cancers, Longueville approaches his health challenges with the same positive spirit he brought to his school service. "I'm the happiest cancer patient you're ever going to meet," he says simply, describing himself as a "cancer warrior."

His legacy at Unity Point—like his outlook—remains resolutely bright, built on a foundation of service, community, and unwavering belief in the power of education. His closing words of wisdom echo his legacy: “If you want satisfaction, direct service is the way to go”.