World language, a fundamental subject found in school curriculums all over the world, can range from a language like German to American Sign Language (ASL). At Cathedral, French is a language that draws many students in due to its elegant vocabulary and connection to  the beautiful city of Paris.

Gary Spurgin, a Cathedral French educator, was caught in that love for the French language and has now been teaching it for over 40 years. 

Raised on a farm in Indiana, Spurgin attended a small high school consisting of less than 90 students. It was there that he first discovered his love for French, inspired by a teacher who motivated her students to go above and beyond to mastering the language, and that stuck with him.

From there he majored in French in college and after graduating, he applied to several schools, but unexpectedly,  Cathedral High School, a school in which he hadn’t even applied to, had reached out to him. When he arrived for his interview, the school year had already begun, just two days in. However, by the end of that interview, he left with a secure position as a French teacher at Cathedral. It was 1981 when he first stepped foot on the Hill, and now, in 2025, he continues to teach with the same enthusiasm he had when he started. 

Being a member of the IFLTA, Indiana Foreign Language Teacher Association, since 1984, Spurgin has been attending the state conference where educators gather to share their classroom experiences. With that, they publish newsletters and podcasts, and host meetings, allowing Indiana teachers to keep on current trends and methods.

In 1993, Spurgin began presenting his ideas at the state conference, aiming to inspire other teachers to create classroom environments where each student can thrive. His contribution led to his election as an officer of the organization, where he served as Vice President and later President, for a total of 4 years.

After completing his term, the work didn’t stop there, he went to the state legislature, testifying for the Seal of Literacy, which ultimately resulted in the name being changed to the Certificate of Multilingual Proficiency, which is only used in Indiana. His success in this effort led to another four-year term, during which he led the regional conference involving the 14 central states, extending his influence beyond Indiana.

Spurgin said, “I learned a lot from it, met some wonderful people, and attended various conferences throughout Michigan, Illinois, Arkansas, and more.” Throughout this time, he also participated in the American Association Teachers of French (AATF), serving as an officer and treasurer and presenting at the National Conference.  

Recently, after decades of dedication to the French language and leadership within the IFLTA, Spurgin was awarded with the William Hatfield Distinguished Lifetime Teaching Career Award on Friday, November 14th. This award recognizes the most  involved members who have made an impact at national, regional, state, district, and school level while sharing their expertise across Indiana.

Spurgin said, “William Hatfield was one of the very first presidents of the organization. 
He was a pioneer and a trendsetter who did much to promote world language education in the United States.”

With over 250 languages spoken at home in Indiana, Spurgin believes language is essential for effective communication. He hopes that as society evolves, so too will languages, drawing many people to the beauty of the French language and every other language of the world. Spurgin said, “It’s essential because you learn about culture, you learn about other people, and you learn their lifestyles.”