This spring, the members of the Class of 2015 will not be the only ones walking the halls of Walpole High School for the last time. Mrs. Gail Cunnane, the Principal’s secretary at WHS, will be retiring at the end of the school year after 27 years in the Walpole Public School System.
Mrs. Cunnane, a Walpole High School alumna herself, has worked in three different schools in the town of Walpole during her career, accumulating experience in various departments and positions. After working for two years at Old Post Road, she transferred to Boyden Elementary School in 1990 where she went on to work for 5 years. She began at WHS in 1995, working in the Attendance Office for four years, before moving to the Guidance Department in 1999.
“I really got to know the kids working in the attendance office, but when I moved to Guidance, there was so much to learn there and I enjoyed it very much,” said Mrs. Cunnane.
It was not until 2011 when Cunnane began working in the main office of Walpole High. Upon Mrs. Cunnane’s transition to a new job in the high school, Mrs. Marianne McCann took over as secretary of the Guidance Department.
Having known Mrs. Cunnane since 2000 when she first began volunteering in Guidance, Mrs. McCann had the opportunity to learn from Mrs. Cunnane.
“In her transition from Guidance to the Main Office, Mrs. Cunnane showed me patience and kindness,” said Mrs. McCann. “She is a true team player. Her work ethic and willingness to go above and beyond are qualities hard to find.”
With Mrs. Cunnane as his secretary for four years, Principal Stephen Imbusch knows her absence will be a significant adjustment. “I will really miss Mrs. Cunnane. She has kept me on track for many years, and she knows what needs to be done before ever being asked,” said Mr. Imbusch.
While she developed different relationships throughout her career, there remains one common thread according to her colleagues: her influence on those around her has always been a positive one.
Working alongside her in the main office as secretary for the last four years, Mrs. Janet Ferrara has been a close colleague and friend. “Mrs. Cunnane is one of the most hard working, professional people I have had the privilege to work with,” said Mrs. Ferrara. “She has a great sense of humor and she makes me laugh every day. She is a very compassionate woman, always seeing the good in people…I will miss her more than she will ever know,” said Mrs. Ferrara.
While Mrs. Cunnane looks forward to her retirement, she will miss the Walpole High School community and all of the faculty she has worked with for several years. Mrs. Cunnane said she will miss “the people – I’ll miss the staff, the kids, everybody.”
As for retirement plans, Mrs. Cunnane plans on taking a cruise to Alaska next September with her husband. Additionally, she plans on helping all of her grandchildren as much as possible.
“I am excited to just be enjoying life,” said Mrs. Cunnane.
As the 2014–2015 school year nears its conclusion, Mrs. Cunnane will say goodbye to not only Walpole High School, but also to everything and everyone that has helped make Walpole High School her home for the past 27 years.
Reflecting on her career as a whole, Mrs. Cunnane said, “Right out of high school, one of the things I always wanted to do was work with kids, and I am forever grateful that I have gotten to do that over the years.”
