By Leila Greige, Anna Powers, and Megan Downer.
To begin, we would like to point out that, as a school newspaper, our purpose is to document the happenings in the city of Malden and reflect on our position as a high school in the community.
When we first decided to write this article, as a leadership staff, we wanted to be sure we were able to interview as many people as possible in order to understand where the Malden administrative staff as well as our community stood. We interviewed a variety of people including house principals, the interim principal, superintendent, as well as parents and students. We believe that, while the ultimate decision is out of our hands, as members of the Malden High School community, the opinions and input of parents and students is extremely important.
After a week of interviews we came to the conclusion that, though it was known that the high school was searching for a new principal, everyone was, and continues to be, on a different page when it came to which part of the process that they were on, which, considering how quickly administrative change is happening, is understandable. This resulted in a lot of people saying that they want the future principal to bring stability back to the high school, regardless of who they are. As a newspaper staff we could not agree more: stability is necessary at Malden High School.
Throughout the process of interviewing, we found the general qualities everyone in Malden is looking for in a new principal. Leadership abilities can be difficult to identify in an applicant because they can’t be summarized on a resume but some qualities like dependability, inclusivity, and supportiveness are nonnegotiable. Students need these qualities from their principal, and Malden High School deserves these qualities from its leader.
Throughout, students expressed that they wanted someone who is aware of and embraces our cultural and linguistic diversity.
For students, it is important to have a face that they can recognize and trust. Students need someone who will be involved in their lives, supporting them at various events, and showing them what Malden Pride looks like. MHS students need someone who will consider all 1,845 of them, not only as a collective but also as individuals. Though change can be good, they need a leader who knows their names, families and stories. They need a leader who will not be selfishly ambitious or treat their school as another pitstop along the road, instead fully committing to leadership of the school.
We exist as a newspaper to shape discussion in the school and make sure that the students are informed on the things that matter most. The principal search is a public process that should not only involve teachers and parents, but students. Malden High School is a special place because it prides itself on making sure that every student is heard.
It is important that students understand that their voice is most important when it comes to picking the next head of the school.
Knowing that they have the ability to be involved in such a big decision is empowering to a lot of students. We believe that as a student-run newspaper, sharing our journalistic discoveries with the rest of the student body will help Malden High School pick the best option for the next principal.
