When the final bell rings and the hallways are empty, most students assume their teachers head straight home to grade papers or plan lessons. But behind every whiteboard and stack of assignments, Malden High’s teachers have passions and hobbies that reveal a whole new side of them.
Some teachers find their balance through activities like nature, art, music, reading, and fitness, while other teachers find spending their free time with family as the most interesting hobby. English teacher Lucia Musilli finds her weekends occupied by her “two kids and doing things they need to do.”
Similarly, science teacher Martin Berryman spends his weekends often with family and his two sons, the oldest being in Medford High School and the youngest in Medford Junior High, “supporting them and taking them to different events.”
Family plays a huge role in how staff members spend their time outside of their classrooms. “I usually spend time with my husband, and when possible, our best friends who live in Maine. We have three rescue dogs, so our time is usually occupied by them,” history teacher Haley Rizzo explained.
Athletics also play a big role in the lives of many faculty members. In particular, Ewald Charles, Brunelli house principal, plays soccer every Sunday, participating in a club with friends. “I have loved soccer all my life, as early as I can remember, I have been playing soccer,” Charles said.
Spanish teacher, Robert Grinnell, also finds a love for soccer, as he has played since he was four years old. “I have always played soccer; my first job was a soccer referee,” he added. Today, he stays active in both kickball and soccer leagues, often finding community there, especially with friends who share the sport.
Languages are a central passion for both Charles and Grinnell, shaping not only their hobbies but also how they connect with students. “I love learning new languages,” Grinnell said. “I obviously know Spanish, but I am learning Portuguese, and I have a 700-day streak on Duolingo.”
Similarly, Charles explained, “I am always trying to learn a new language. I ask people, ‘How do you say this?’ just so I can understand people more and connect with them.” His own experience moving to the United States at a young age gives him a unique perspective on the challenges students face. “I connect a lot with Brazilian and Hispanic students because of soccer and because I am a foreigner,” he said. For both teachers, the love for language goes beyond personal enrichment but a bridge to understanding and supporting their students.
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