UPDATED: Dr. Margaret F. Boland, lifelong educator and former diocesan leader, dies at age 79
February 2, 2022 at 1:51 a.m.
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., announced the news in a written message sent to the Chancery staff and others. In it, he stated, “It is with great sadness that I write to inform you of the death this morning of our dear retired colleague Dr. Margaret Boland. She was for so many years a great support to Catholic education and the principals and faculty in our Diocese as associate superintendent of Catholic schools. Her death during Catholic Schools Week is especially poignant.”
In an email exchange with the Bishop a little more than a week ago, Dr. Boland expressed her admiration for the members of the Catholic school community in the Diocese. She wrote to the Bishop, “Thank you for your very kind words about my service in the Diocese. Working with our schools was always a joy to me. We have many fine principals, fine teachers and fine students.”
Dr. Boland added, “I welcome your prayers. I need them as I begin my spiritual journey home.”
Bishop O’Connell conveyed in his announcement about Dr. Boland’s death, “I ask you to accompany her on that journey with your prayers. May she rest in peace!
The lifelong educator earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Notre Dame College, Staten Island, N.Y.; a master’s degree in educational leadership and guidance and counseling from Kean University, Union, and a doctorate degree in educational leadership from Seton Hall University, South Orange. Before arriving in the Diocese of Trenton, Dr. Boland worked in the New York City public school system for 12 years at both the high school and junior high school levels and as a director of guidance.
When she relocated to Toms River, she began teaching eighth grade math and science in the town’s St. Joseph School, where her son attended. Dr. Boland also developed the algebra and pre-algebra program for eighth grade students in conjunction with Donovan Catholic High School. In 1993, Dr. Boland was named principal of St. Benedict School, Holmdel, and two years later she assumed the role of associate superintendent for the Diocese, a position she held for the next 25 years.
As associate superintendent, Dr. Boland assisted the elementary and secondary schools with curriculum development as well as designing curriculum guidelines, guiding parents in the learning process, and initiating policy development, technology improvements and guidance with the accreditation process. She collaborated with multiple diocesan curriculum committees to develop and design curriculum guidelines for grades Pre-K-12.
During her time in the Department of Catholic Schools, Dr. Boland served on diocesan high schools’ school boards and mentored new principals in the Leader to Leader Program. She published in Momentum and the Catholic Journal of Inquiry and Practice.
Dr. Boland provided the guidance to develop the local chapter of Catholic Athletes for Christ program in all diocesan high schools. The only CAC program in the country that was truly diocesan, it holds a Leadership Convocation for high school students in the Chancery each September.
Upon her retirement in 2021, Dr. Boland joined the faculty of Red Bank Catholic High School as Director of Learning and Innovative Design. She was involved in many collaborative educational initiatives including participating in a roundtable educational research program at Oxford University, England, and over the years, she has presented at National Catholic Educational Association conventions and in other dioceses on leadership and assessment.
Dr. Boland also served on the national committee that designed the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Elementary and Secondary Schools. Focusing on the academic domain, standards and benchmarks are now a part of diocesan accreditation nationally for the COGNIA Catholic school accreditation process. She also served as a reader for doctoral students and on accrediting teams for COGNIA in different dioceses and individual Catholic schools.
Dr. Boland, as a Franciscan Associate for twenty-five years, served on their committees as a facilitator or presenter when requested. She was a member of St. Luke Parish, Toms River, where she served as a Eucharistic Minister.
Dr. Boland is survived by her son Joseph Boland and wife Catherine; grandchildren William, John and Edward; sister Mary Shalaida and husband Jack Shalaida, brother-in-law Walter Mason and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by husband Joseph E. Boland and sister Kathryn Mason.
Visitation was to be Feb. 6 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home, 703 Main Street, Toms River.
A Mass of Christian Burial was to be held Feb. 7 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Luke Parish, Toms River. A committal service will take place Feb. 7 at noon in St. Joseph Cemetery, Cedar Grove Road. Toms River.
Memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.andersoncampbelltomsriver.com.
Correspondent Christina Leslie contributed to this report.
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Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., announced the news in a written message sent to the Chancery staff and others. In it, he stated, “It is with great sadness that I write to inform you of the death this morning of our dear retired colleague Dr. Margaret Boland. She was for so many years a great support to Catholic education and the principals and faculty in our Diocese as associate superintendent of Catholic schools. Her death during Catholic Schools Week is especially poignant.”
In an email exchange with the Bishop a little more than a week ago, Dr. Boland expressed her admiration for the members of the Catholic school community in the Diocese. She wrote to the Bishop, “Thank you for your very kind words about my service in the Diocese. Working with our schools was always a joy to me. We have many fine principals, fine teachers and fine students.”
Dr. Boland added, “I welcome your prayers. I need them as I begin my spiritual journey home.”
Bishop O’Connell conveyed in his announcement about Dr. Boland’s death, “I ask you to accompany her on that journey with your prayers. May she rest in peace!
The lifelong educator earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Notre Dame College, Staten Island, N.Y.; a master’s degree in educational leadership and guidance and counseling from Kean University, Union, and a doctorate degree in educational leadership from Seton Hall University, South Orange. Before arriving in the Diocese of Trenton, Dr. Boland worked in the New York City public school system for 12 years at both the high school and junior high school levels and as a director of guidance.
When she relocated to Toms River, she began teaching eighth grade math and science in the town’s St. Joseph School, where her son attended. Dr. Boland also developed the algebra and pre-algebra program for eighth grade students in conjunction with Donovan Catholic High School. In 1993, Dr. Boland was named principal of St. Benedict School, Holmdel, and two years later she assumed the role of associate superintendent for the Diocese, a position she held for the next 25 years.
As associate superintendent, Dr. Boland assisted the elementary and secondary schools with curriculum development as well as designing curriculum guidelines, guiding parents in the learning process, and initiating policy development, technology improvements and guidance with the accreditation process. She collaborated with multiple diocesan curriculum committees to develop and design curriculum guidelines for grades Pre-K-12.
During her time in the Department of Catholic Schools, Dr. Boland served on diocesan high schools’ school boards and mentored new principals in the Leader to Leader Program. She published in Momentum and the Catholic Journal of Inquiry and Practice.
Dr. Boland provided the guidance to develop the local chapter of Catholic Athletes for Christ program in all diocesan high schools. The only CAC program in the country that was truly diocesan, it holds a Leadership Convocation for high school students in the Chancery each September.
Upon her retirement in 2021, Dr. Boland joined the faculty of Red Bank Catholic High School as Director of Learning and Innovative Design. She was involved in many collaborative educational initiatives including participating in a roundtable educational research program at Oxford University, England, and over the years, she has presented at National Catholic Educational Association conventions and in other dioceses on leadership and assessment.
Dr. Boland also served on the national committee that designed the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Elementary and Secondary Schools. Focusing on the academic domain, standards and benchmarks are now a part of diocesan accreditation nationally for the COGNIA Catholic school accreditation process. She also served as a reader for doctoral students and on accrediting teams for COGNIA in different dioceses and individual Catholic schools.
Dr. Boland, as a Franciscan Associate for twenty-five years, served on their committees as a facilitator or presenter when requested. She was a member of St. Luke Parish, Toms River, where she served as a Eucharistic Minister.
Dr. Boland is survived by her son Joseph Boland and wife Catherine; grandchildren William, John and Edward; sister Mary Shalaida and husband Jack Shalaida, brother-in-law Walter Mason and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by husband Joseph E. Boland and sister Kathryn Mason.
Visitation was to be Feb. 6 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home, 703 Main Street, Toms River.
A Mass of Christian Burial was to be held Feb. 7 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Luke Parish, Toms River. A committal service will take place Feb. 7 at noon in St. Joseph Cemetery, Cedar Grove Road. Toms River.
Memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.andersoncampbelltomsriver.com.
Correspondent Christina Leslie contributed to this report.