Dynamic educator begins great adventure as an assistant superintendent of Catholic schools

Known for her upbeat, dynamic approach to Catholic education, Gina Fleming is a new assistant superintendent of schools for the archdiocese. Here, she greets a student with a high-five during her six years as principal of Holy Name School in Beech Grove. (Submitted photo) Click for a larger version.

By John Shaughnessy

Gina Fleming laughs as she recalls a humorous moment that shows the joys, the surprises and the opportunities to make a difference that she always embraced as a teacher and a principal.

It’s a story about “first-day jitters,” says Fleming, the former principal of Holy Name School in Beech Grove who begins this school year as a new assistant superintendent of Catholic schools for the archdiocese.

“Last year was the first year we had three-year-olds at Holy Name in the pre-kindergarten program,” she recalls with a smile. “At the beginning of the year, it was quite an experience with the three-year-olds going to the cafeteria. One of them grabbed onto my leg and had tears streaming down his face. He said, ‘My mommy said I had to eat everything in my lunch, but I don’t even know what this is.’ He held up a frozen ice pack that his mom sent to keep his lunch cold.

“He couldn’t understand why his mom would want him to eat it. It got even funnier because when I led him back to his seat, there was another 3-year-old chewing on an ice pack, and she was grimacing. It just goes to show that every moment in every day in every school provides teachable opportunities that we can laugh about for years afterwards.”

Fleming is in the midst of her own new adventure after becoming an assistant superintendent of schools on July 2.

“I’ll miss the daily interaction with students and teachers, but now I get to have that interaction with 69 schools,” says Fleming, a 1989 graduate of Roncalli High School in Indianapolis and a 1993 graduate of Marian University in Indianapolis. “I’m looking forward to working with the principals, the pastors and my colleagues here [in the Office of Catholic Education.]”

With 19 years of experience in education as a teacher and a principal, Fleming is now the point person for the archdiocese in the areas of curriculum, school accreditation, professional development of teachers, and government programming, including services for children and the state’s school voucher program.

“She’s a dynamo and a very empowering leader,” says G. Joseph Peters, associate executive director of Catholic education for the archdiocese. “We’ve seen great progress at Holy Name with her leadership—in curriculum, instruction and development, including student enrollment.

“She’s also been involved with the Strategic Management and Development Project for the past four years. This is a project with 17 schools in the archdiocese to help them with their futures in the areas of strategic planning, enrollment, fundraising and planned giving.”

Just as important are the personal qualities she brings to her new position, Peters notes.

“She’s an extremely positive, faith-filled person who is great with people,” he says. “She’s always optimistic, always upbeat—an excellent team player who takes the initiative and isn’t afraid of hard work.”

Fleming promises to direct those qualities and experiences to her main focus—doing what’s best for children who attend Catholic schools.

“All of my experiences help me recognize that all children have unique gifts, and it’s our responsibility and blessing to maximize their gifts and help them reach their greatest potential,” says the mother of two sons who attend Holy Name School. “For me, the essence of Catholic schools is that we’re here for each other, and we’re following the best role model ever—and that is Jesus.”

She teams with Rob Rash, an assistant superintendent of schools who works with school administrators. Rash provides leadership in the personnel areas of recruitment, selection and professional development.

Fleming describes her approach to education as “holistic,” concentrating on the academic, spiritual, emotional and social growth of children.

She considers parents as the first teachers of children, and values them as partners in education—a belief that was fostered as she grew up as the youngest of nine children in the family of Florence “Hank” and Bill Kuntz Sr.

“My inspiration started with my parents,” she says. “My daddy was a teacher and coach at Arlington High School and a principal and a coach at Scecina [Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School in Indianapolis.] And he was the executive director of the CYO [Catholic Youth Organization] for 25 years before passing in 1984.

“While he was busy working and serving others, Mom was a wonderful teacher to all nine of us. Being precocious as I was known to be—being the baby of nine—she allowed me to be creative.”

She laughs and adds, “I also had eight siblings who taught me a lot.”

Fleming also has a special place in her heart for the teachers and staff members who dedicate their careers and lives to Catholic education.

“When you talk about the level of commitment, the level of sacrifice and the incredible gift of faith that teachers and other staff members in a Catholic school bring, it’s really incomparable,” Fleming says. “Incredible things can happen when you’re immersed in a setting where everyone shares that same vision of knowing, loving and serving God.”

She had that experience as a student and as a principal at Holy Name School. She and her husband, Scott, are committed to giving that same opportunity to their sons, Drew and Noah.

As Holy Name’s pastor, Father William Williams believes Fleming will have a great impact on education in the archdiocese.

“Gina is the model for what the true Catholic educator is,” Father Williams says. “In everything she says and does, she incorporates her faith into it. She does it in her dealings with students, parents and teachers. She lives out her faith in her life, too. She has a clear love for God and the Church, and that rolls into what she does as an educator. She has the personality to draw people into her, and then she takes them to Christ. It’s an amazing gift.”

For Fleming, the true gift is what Catholic education offers students:

“Ultimately, I see our responsibilities as educators to empower our children to lead and serve the world in a way that glorifies God.” †

 

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