Ariana Edwardsen, Kayla Turner, and Kynadee Allen also contributed to this article.
Following the retirement of beloved ceramics teacher Julie Mullane after 18 years of teaching, Malden High School welcomes an alumnus to the ceramics department: Michaela Ilebode.
Despite being sports-focused during her high school years, she had a love for the visual arts and majored in Fine Arts at the University of Massachusetts in Boston after graduating from Malden High School in 2015. She later attended Lesley University for her master’s in Art Education.
“I think we’re very lucky to have Ms. Ilebode here, not only because she was a former Malden High graduate, but because she is an amazing art teacher. So, I think it’s wonderful that she’s now teaching back where she got her roots from,” Courtney Gould, another new art teacher, expressed.
When it comes to her goals as a teacher, Ilebode strives to create a space where her students can have fun and explore themselves freely through their respective experiences, making sure that everyone has a positive one. “Schools sometimes can be the only outlet for people to have a positive experience through their day-to-day life,” Ilebode explained.
“I really enjoy Ms. Ilebode’s classroom environment,” voiced sophomore Wafia Saruwar. “It’s a very calming environment and I like the fact that she plays music because I think it sets a good environment for us to be able to tune in with our artistic abilities,” Ilebode added.
Scott Marino, Ilebode’s former Girls’ Basketball coach, described her as a great teacher who has the “ability to explain things” and is “able to connect with kids.”
Prior to joining Malden High School, she had an art club at Melrose Middle School and continues to coach Girls’ Volleyball there.
Sophomore and varsity volleyball player Hadassa Pierre-Rene shared that “as a freshman when practicing with JV, coach Ilebode was hard on us, pushing us to exceed our personal and team expectations, using practice as a time to improve.”
Ilebode has made great connections with her colleagues and the players she coaches. These connections have essentially helped them succeed. She pushes her team, whether in arts or sports, to be the very best they can be.
“She really does a lot for the department. She doesn’t have a problem taking the lead on things,” Gina Yu, a neighboring art teacher, shared. “For example, she did an entire spreadsheet ordering stuff for all ceramics classes,” Yu continued.
Ilebode has a rare, distinct ability: the ability to closely observe the classroom “while she’ll still have students on the wheels at the same time,” voiced Gerard Tanetta, Director of History and the Arts at Malden Public Schools.
So, let’s give a warm welcome to one of Malden’s own, Ilebode, whose familiarity with the city of Malden and MHS is a strength among many. She’s flexible but firm when she needs to be, and overall, a kind and helpful addition to the Malden High faculty.
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