Superintendent Alan Bookman Retiring After 55 Years in Education
- Peter Marteka
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Led Glastonbury schools for the past 22 years
By Peter Marteka
Editor
Submitted Photos
During his retirement announcement to the board of education earlier this month, Superintendent Alan B. Bookman said he never forgot his roots as a math teacher.
“In many ways, I am still a math teacher at heart: curious, solving problems, and learning beside staff and students,” he said.
Bookman will say goodbye June 30 after 55 years in education – 42 of them leading the town schools - first as principal of Glastonbury High School before becoming superintendent.
Bookman started his career as a high school math teacher in West Hartford, later serving as a department chair and an assistant principal at Hall High School. In 1984, he joined Glastonbury schools as principal of Glastonbury High School. During his time at GHS, the student population grew from 1,300 to 2,300 students.
“Serving as principal of GHS for 19 years was among the most meaningful chapters of my career,” he said. “I will always treasure the moments when former students approach me to share that they still remember me as their principal. Those connections are a powerful reminder of why this work matters so deeply. Later when I became superintendent, I never imagined I would be here for 22 years.”
In 2003, Bookman was promoted to interim assistant superintendent. In 2004, he was appointed superintendent, replacing retiring superintendent Jacqueline Jacoby. He has served the district as superintendent for the past 22 years.
Bookman said when he first started the job he would focus on a few key priorities: improving special education, establishing a common vision for leadership and ensuring schools had the financial support needed for important improvements such as building security.
“And we accomplished those goals and, of course, so much more,” he said. “But more than any initiative or milestone, I am proud of the people in this district. This includes everyone – administrators, teachers and staff, students, families and community members. The work we do is meaningful because of the dedication, care and talent of every single person who contributes to this district.”
Board of education chairman Douglas C. Foyle read off a list of Bookman’s accomplishments over those two decades calling them “positive changes.” They included: LINKS Academy (Learning Independence and Necessary Knowledge for Success) for special education, STEAM lab, design and construction of Nayaug Elementary School and the Glastonbury-East Hartford Magnet School, GHS television studio, air conditioning in all the schools, the district website, Naubuc Elementary School second floor renovations and the GHS fieldhouse and strength and conditioning center among others.
Bookman also introduced new initiatives such as full-day kindergarten, one-to-one computing, the Early Learning Center, student support centers, and increased social work support at schools. A few key districtwide systems he implemented were PowerSchool, the district website, and ParentSquare.
“If you look at all these things, some of them are controversial,” Foyle said. “All of them were eventually supported by the board and I think every single one of those has made an enormous difference in hundreds, if not thousands of students’ lives.”
Bookman also praised board members he has worked with over the years saying they have “kept students at the center of your decisions, supported innovation, and partnered with administrators to create an environment where staff can do their best work.”
“I will deeply miss the camaraderie and the shared sense of purpose that defined Glastonbury public schools. I will carry with me the memories of our work together to help students prepare for the future that await them,” he said.
Bookman thanked families for their partnership and trust.
“Your involvement, encouragement, and belief in our students have helped make the district the strong, welcoming, and successful community it is today,” he said.
Bookman also never forgot his roots of being an administrator and all those years learning the role. There are seven current or past Connecticut school superintendents who spent part of their leadership journey working for Bookman. He told current administrators that it “has been the honor of my career to work beside you. You have been thoughtful partners, steady leaders, and trusted advisors.
“I am also so proud of the people who worked in our district and went on to leadership positions in other districts,” he said. “It has been the privilege of my career to work alongside such committed and compassionate colleagues.
“Together we have faced challenges,” he added, “celebrated milestones and built a community where students are supported, staff are empowered and families feel included. I will always be grateful for the dedication, energy and collaborative spirit of the people of Glastonbury public schools.”
Bookman looks forward to spending more time with his wife, daughter, and three grandchildren.
“It is not easy to step away from work that has meant so much or from colleagues who have meant even more.” He added that the memories of his work on behalf of the students of Glastonbury public schools will stay with him always.
Former board of education member Susan Karp, who served as chairwoman from 2011 to 2019, said it is “difficult to capture all that Dr. Bookman has meant to Glastonbury public schools and our town for many decades.”
“His commitment to our students, our teachers, our staff, our families and to excellent education is truly unmatched,” she said. “While so much has changed in how we prepare young people for their future, Dr. Bookman has always prioritized the best resources, the best practices and the best opportunities. His collaborative approach, advocacy and strong leadership have enabled countless successes.
“He always focuses on productive solutions that help our students and our community,” she added. “His hard work and dedication have led to innovation, accomplishments and outstanding recognition for our school system. He has made a difference in many, many lives. It was truly a privilege to work with him. I wish him all the best in his retirement.”
The board plans to work with the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education’s search services to conduct a superintendent search. They will create a profile of the ideal candidate’s qualifications and background and develop a plan for the interview and hiring process. The board promised that “all important partners will be included in the process, including parents, educators, staff, students, and other community members.”
“There will be a small advisory panel of community members and we’ll seek input. If people had that concern, we will do that,” said board vice-chairwoman Julie Thompson. GL