How To Accept New Leadership

As a senior preparing to graduate high school a week from now, I have started to reflect on my experiences over the course of the last four years. I am fortunate to have had a positive high school experience, and I owe part of this to Principal Dana Brown.

For the past few months, The Blue and Gold has covered Brown’s every move leading up to his leave, though not retirement, from Malden High School. Frequently covering events such as the City of Malden’s school committee, and MHS’s school council, has allowed me to have an inside perspective on how students, parents, and faculty, especially at MHS, feel about Brown being replaced.

The one phrase I have heard more than any other is “Brown’s shoes are big ones to fill.”  Even though Brown, without a doubt, has completely transformed MHS from what it used to be over a decade ago, and yes, has incredibly big shoes to fill, the people must learn how to accept this change in leadership to ensure the environment of the school is maintained.

Here are some ways we can all accept Brown’s leave, and welcome the new leadership to come:

1. Change is emotional, but embrace it.

Unfortunately, we all have to accept that Brown cannot run MHS forever. For the past thirteen years of his life, he has actively been present at almost every high school event from beginning to end after a long day at work. As a senior, I am selfishly glad that Brown decided to “graduate” with my class, but coming back to visit next year will feel different. Although, this is not something for me, or any student, parent, or faculty member still part of the school system to dwell on. Brown knows it is his time to move on, and take the next step in his life just like I am, and we all will eventually in time, so we must accept the path he has chosen to take, and embrace it too.

2. Put the change into perspective.

To reiterate, Brown has been the principal of MHS for thirteen years now. But ultimately, the high school’s new principal is neither inexperienced or new to the world of administration. Edward Lombardi, who will take over as principal officially on July 1, 2016, is currently the principal of Lawrence High School, which shares many similarities with MHS such as its urban location and wide range of diversity. He went through the entire principal search process to the very end, and is clearly well qualified for the position, hence why he was chosen without hesitation by the committee.

3. Understand that even though someone great is on his way out, someone just as great in his own way is on his way in.

I personally met Lombardi at the April school council meeting after hearing him address the people present, and I can say in all honesty that he is a great fit for MHS not only because of his background, but because of how he plans to approach taking on such a large school: not alone, but together. Like Brown, he is also a family man, and shares close relationships with many of his students. He too often finds himself in his office after hours, or at many of LHS’s school events, usually with his family present.

4. Adapt to the change made.

Remember, just because Brown will not be roaming the halls of MHS everyday next year, he has played a significant role in all of our lives, and knowing him, will continue to do so without a doubt. Rules and policies may change, but the relationship we all share with him will not. Also, Lombardi is entering an entirely new environment, and has to adapt to this change too, probably even more so than the rest of us. Even though this may take some time as it would take any person in a new position to do, especially Brown’s, I can guarantee that every person attending or working at MHS will form their own individual relationship with him because of the unique and individual qualities that he has to offer.

Thank you Mr. Brown for making MHS the greatest high school to possibly attend, or work for, on behalf of all of the students and staff who will miss you as we all progress into this next stage of our lives.

And Mr. Lombardi, welcome to MHS. Even though I will not be here when school begins in August, many students and staff will be waiting eagerly to welcome you into the next part of their lives.