An Appreciation: Maria Z. Whalen, A Public Servant

The City of New London and the New London Public Schools owe a debt of gratitude to Maria Z. Whalen, the New London Public Schools, Director of Business and Finance   who is retiring at the end of September.  For more than twenty five years she has kept the budgets of the New London Public Schools in balance.

Maria’s life is her work, her family and her church. Her sons are now on the road to becoming a lawyer and a physician; it takes little urging to bring a smile to her face as she bubbles with pride about them and what they have accomplished.  She is also the continuous caretaker for parents, in-laws and “out laws.”  And on any given day or weekend, she is off after a twelve hour day to fulfill responsibilities at her church.

There are many stereotypes of finance officers.  Many think that they all wear green eyeshades and live behind piles of paper on their desks, and only they know what’s in those piles.  Maria would only wear a green eye shade if it matched with her sense of fashion. She does have the piles of paper on her desk…on her shelves…on her floor…and on the chairs in front of her desk…and she knows what’s in them.

Maria is like a lioness guarding her cubs.  Woe to the person who interrupts her in the middle of her finishing the “keying in” she does to complete a required state report.  Woe to person who criticizes those who work on her office or those who she supervises.

Finance officers I have worked with over forty years in public schools can often seem a bit “crusty.” One of my earliest experiences was with Tom Larkin, Chief Finance Officer of the Broward County Schools in Florida, he was the old stereotype. It seemed like every shirt he owned had ten cigarette burns on it next to his pocket protector. He too had the ever present piles of paper on his desk, and he knew what was in every one.  A person entered Tom’s lair at their own risk.  But once they did, he was unbelievably helpful in unraveling the complexities of a billion dollar budget.  Maria at times can seem like Tom (minus the pocket protector and cigarette burns).  Both of them were and are extremely knowledgeable, helpful and above and beyond all else, honest.

Not only has Maria Whalen kept the New London Public Schools “ in the black” for twenty five plus years, she has made certain that the district operates within the law and financially sound accounting practices. She is the ever discrete resource who has frequently advised city finance staff on matters in which she has unparalleled expertise.

It also needs be said that Maria has succeeded at what used to be seen as the sole province of men.  When she started as a chief of finance and business, the number of women with masters in public administration were few and far between. Having witnessed how women in such roles have been and sometimes are treated today, it has be said, in the words of one ultimate accolade I have heard used, that Maria is one tough cookie. Not only has her competence and knowledge sometimes been questioned, but her wisdom in advising her superiors, who have most often been men.  And what most have been forced to often admit, perhaps grudgingly, is that she’s right.

For all the criticism I have seen and heard levied toward her, few have acknowledged her professionalism, personal integrity, astounding work ethic (staying hundreds of hours to make sure that people living paycheck to paycheck receive their checks) and love for the children and staff of the New London Public Schools. She exemplifies what loyalty and public service are all about. She will be missed.

Thank you, Maria Z. Whalen.

Nicholas A. Fischer

Superintendent of Schools