Thomas Giancristiano’s career as a public educator began in 1971 as a Social Studies Teacher in Boston and ended in 2005, when he left his job as Superintendent of Schools in Winthrop, MA, to draw attention to financial issues obstructing students’ needs. Throughout his time at Winthrop, Thomas Giancristiano did not hesitate to make sacrifices for the good of his students, his teachers, and his district. As Superintendent, Giancristiano worked with the district’s $14 million budget, bringing his bottomless energies to bear on a host of demanding fiscal difficulties. In 2003 and 2004, budget shortfalls across the state led to massive cuts, and Thomas Giancristiano was faced with a series of near-impossible decisions. Facing the shutdown of the Winthrop school libraries, the disbanding of such programs as foreign languages and arts programs, and the cutting back of sports programs, Thomas Giancristiano resigned in 2005 in order to force an override vote to bring much needed funding back to Winthrop’s children. Upon his resignation, the Boston Globe published an article in which Winthrop residents mourned the loss of Thomas Giancristiano’s contribution to public education. Thomas Giancristiano now lives in New Hampshire, where he enjoys cooking, bocce ball, and going for walks. He cites David Halberstam and Doris Kearns Goodwin as two of his favorite authors.
