GLCPS Announces Endowed Fund in Honor of Dr. Stephen Furtado

The Global Learning Charter Public School (GLCPS) recently announced the creation of an Endowed Fund honoring Executive Director Dr. Stephen J. Furtado, Sr. for his 15 years of unwavering service to the district as he is set to retire on June 30, 2024.

He was recognized as a Globe Honoree at the annual Global Gala which raises money for the Global Scholarship Fund which provides college scholarships for graduating seniors and for eligible students to attend summer academic travel programs.

The GLCPS Endowed Fund will support current and future students’ pursuit of their future goals and dreams. It will provide an opportunity to leave a legacy rooted in the foundation of academic excellence, hard work, and perseverance. Donors are able to contribute to the Global Scholarship Endowed Fund or establish their own restricted scholarship fund. The Global Scholarship Endowed Fund will help students fill a financial gap, eliminating potential financial barriers to academic success, educational experiences, and future goals through annual scholarships.

Dr. Furtado was recognized with a plaque that read: “Never underestimate the difference you made and the lives that you have touched. Your students will forever take a part of you into their futures and your friends a part of you in their hearts. Your leadership, passion and commitment to GLCPS students, staff and families, as well as the South Coast community is a legacy that will impact many for years to come.”

Dr. Furtado has been a steadfast advocate for the students, faculty, and families within the city’s longest-serving charter school for more than a decade. Under his visionary leadership, GLCPS has seen remarkable advancements in educational standards, innovation and community engagement. His commitment to creating an inclusive, nurturing, and academically rigorous environment has left an indelible mark on New Bedford’s educational landscape.

Throughout his tenure, Dr. Furtado championed numerous initiatives that transformed the Global Learning Charter Public School into a model for excellence, including:

• Overseeing the expansion of the school’s campus with the completion in February, 2023 of the new, state of the art Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for STEAM Education.
• Guaranteeing the school's fiscal health and ensuring it remains financially secure.
• Guiding the Board of Trustees and staff toward creating a vibrant, safe, inclusive culture of academic excellence for all students.

GLCPS will sorely miss Dr. Furtado's leadership and dedication. His retirement marks the end of an era for the district.

About Global Learning Public Charter School

Open to New Bedford residents, Global Learning Charter Public School (GLCPS) is a tuition-free public charter school that currently serves 500 students in grades 5-12. Launched in 2002 as a Horace Mann charter school, GLCPS became a Commonwealth charter school in 2006. In order to generate a culture of personalization, the school setting and class sizes are deliberately small. Students, faculty and administration know each other well and teachers are able to tailor the curriculum to the needs and level of each student. GLCPS offers an exciting and challenging interdisciplinary curriculum that follows and builds upon the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. Students learn to work collaboratively in teams, use technology meaningfully in their coursework, strengthen all elements of their communication skills, as well as develop the necessary skills to become engaged and ethical contributors to a global society. GLCPS capitalizes on the exceptional resources of the region (for example, marine sciences), and ties these resources to their curriculum and instruction. For further information please contact Amey Bissonnette, Director of Development, at 508-991-4105 or visit www.glcps.org.