June 5, 2018

Catholic schools associate superintendent Gail Furman to retire 

REGIONAL
Story and photo by Rebecca Drake

SPRINGFIELD – Gail Furman, associate superintendent of the Springfield Diocese’s Catholic Schools Office, has announced she will retire at the end of the current academic year.

In a letter to Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, Furman said, “I have had the wonderful opportunity to work in the Catholic Schools Office since the fall of 2002. During that time, I have been graced by the presence and companionship of a wonderful group of teachers, administrators, school staffs, and other employees here in the diocesan offices and in the parishes.

“The most affecting experience for me has been to witness the commitment and enthusiasm of school personnel for the mission of the Catholic schools and to be a part of that dedication,” Furman wrote. “The past sixteen years have been filled with truly meaningful and enriching experiences for which I am most grateful. However, it is now time for me to step aside from this service and step into retirement.”

Franciscan Sister of St. Joseph Andrea Ciszewski, superintendent of Catholic schools, who is also retiring this year, praised Furman’s abilities and dedication.

“With her extensive education and experience, her dedication to Catholic school education, her wisdom and her great sense of humor, Gail Furman has provided outstanding service to school administrators and has served the Diocese of Springfield with distinction,” Sister Ciszewski said of Furman, who holds a doctor of education degree.

Sister Ciszewski noted the many responsibilities Furman has assumed in the schools office. “As associate superintendent, Gail Furman has oversight of personnel and student services. She conducts interviews with prospective school administrators and teachers, is the liaison with public school officials for federal and state educational programs and grants, and attends to school safety in-service and related issues,” she said.

“Dr. Furman oversees the IOWA testing program and assists in providing professional development opportunities as well as evaluations of school administrators and teachers,” she continued. “She has also assisted with curriculum revisions.”

“Dr. Furman has found great satisfaction in her roles as a judge in the annual Spelling Bee Contest, a facilitator at the annual Battle of the Books Contest, and the diocesan liaison for the annual Excellence in Teaching Award Program,” Sister Ciszewski said of her longtime colleague.

In an interview with iObserve, Furman said she will miss the people she has worked with over the years.

“My time in the diocesan schools has been tremendously rewarding. The kind, good natured, faith-filled people with whom I have interacted, both in the schools and in the diocesan offices, have been the highlight of my experience,” she said. “Everyone has been pleasant and kind, even in sometimes trying circumstances. It was never a chore to come to work.”

Asked what she looks forward to during her retirement, she said, “I am going to sit back for a while and see what new opportunities may develop. I am an avid reader and will be able to spend more time doing that. I am also a big sports fan, particularly for the Red Sox, Patriots, professional golf and college basketball, so I’ll be watching a lot of competitions.”   

She also is thinking about pursuing some old and new interests.

“I’m a World War II buff and will undoubtedly watch some of the old movies about the war that I haven’t seen in many years,” Furman said. “I’ve been toying with the idea of taking an online course or two but am not yet sure what direction that study might take. 

“I am interested in a number of areas that I might want to pursue so we’ll see where that goes,” she said.