Emilly Weihrauch also contributed to this article.
On December 8th, at 6:00 PM, a school committee meeting was hosted after students collectively participated in a scheduled walkout earlier that morning. Credited to junior Amelia Berliner as the protest organizer, the act of protest addressed principal Chris Mastrangelo’s non-renewal of his contract. Lasting roughly 40-50 minutes, students made their way to 215 Pleasant Street, holding up signs and chanting phrases in support of Mastrangelo. This action was met with a substantial turnout at the committee meeting later that evening, as various teachers and students volunteered to publicly speak about their concerns.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, the committee made it clear that each speaker was permitted an allotted time of three minutes to ensure equal, yet ample time between each person.
In the circumstances that someone could not attend in-person, a Zoom meeting was held for people to raise their hands digitally and get their points across.
Students
The meeting began with student concerns and was opened by senior Thomas Conti, who laid the stage for what was to come. He briefly introduced himself, his role as a student, and his speech’s purpose. Conti passionately explained how Mastrangelo does best at supporting the school’s environment, and not extending his contract would “hinder free thought and expression in this school and this city,” by undermining their power as higher-ups.
Directly following Conti was sophomore JJ Scott, who introduced himself as a student advocate and member of the Speech and Debate team, and expressed his discontent with the upcoming changes in the school. Scott made the point that “change is inevitable,” but it is not fair to cut Mastrangelo’s job short, and instead, the committee should “help ease the transition and ensure the best interest for the student body.”
Sophomore Minerva Davenport alluded to the past with her great-grandfather, Cecil Calvin Busby, who had previously worked at Malden High, leaving a great impact on the school’s community.
“Mr. Mastrangelo has managed to make the same impact my great-grandfather had all those years ago. I have had friends and family who attended Malden High while Mr. Mastrangelo worked here in his 17 years, and they all said the same thing: that he was the best and he was worth coming back for,” Davenport remarked.
Junior Frankie Marenghi-Pellino’s powerful statement praised Mastrangelo for supporting and uplifting the school’s diversity. She continued to counter superintendent Dr. Timothy Sippel’s own words, essentially stating he does not know enough about the school’s environment to truly make a change “for the better.”
In a similar fashion, seniors Juninho Victor, Moisha Howse, and junior Zia Maxwell recalled their journey throughout Malden High, reinforcing the ideas of how Mastrangelo was able to keep up with his job in encouraging everyone, upholding his empathy and compassion.
Mauro Mendes, a junior, expressed his past growing up in Beebe. “I was always sent to the office a lot. The vice principal there was really kind and helped me go through it; she always saw me all the time. She always helped me through and helped me get through it. That’s the type of principal Mastrangelo is.”
Teachers
After a round of student advocacy, the teachers took to the podium, starting with Chris Giordano, the teacher leader of the math department, who attended the committee meeting via Zoom. He began by recognizing Mastrangelo’s impact throughout the school in small and big ways. Giordano would go on to explain how Mastrangelo assisted him since 2010, acting as a helping hand for 16 years.
He would act defensively on behalf of Mastrangelo, asking if the school board could easily strip his job, what would it mean for the teachers?
As Giordano stepped down, History teacher Richard Tivnan stepped forward to the podium, voicing collectively for the school how “the shock in the building was immediate” and “the students and staff were left feeling uncertain and unstable.”
Contributing to the community’s thoughts, teacher leader of the ELL department, Jennifer McCabe, spoke for many parents of multilingual learners, who agreed that Mastrangelo created a “safe haven” for the students.
ELL teacher Jessica Gold Boots would step onto the stage to amplify student voices by asserting that, “when teenagers organize in mass to defend an educator, it’s perhaps a sign that the adults in the room should stop and listen.”
Continuing with instances of Mastrangelo’s positive influence, Joseph Luongo, who retired back in 2024, recollected his difficult, yet lighthearted memories of the pandemic, where coming out of it was a “very difficult time,” yet, despite the hardships, Mastrangelo persevered in pushing everyone back on track and rebuilding post-pandemic.
PACE teacher Rebecca Griffith-Allen shared similar thoughts to Marenghi-Pellino in aiding those who are less fortunate, referencing how no one is hungry, or how everyone is given a coat, which is due to Mastrangelo’s “leadership and his support of educators and student-driven priorities.”
Librarian Stephen Nedell, who was the final speaker of that night’s “public comment,” relayed his son’s opinion, alum Zachary Nedell, and how both shared similar views in being there for Mastrangelo and his contract. Stephen Nedell would conclude by praising students for their ability to take on tremendous roles in speaking up for what they thought was right.
Parents
Lastly, parents were allotted time to voice their concerns as well. Isabel Delacruz remarked that as a parent, she believes it should be Mastrangelo’s right to finish with dignity. She underlined how it is hypocritical to promise to “provide 18 years of care”, only to go and disregard that rule entirely for educators. Delacruz believes that if they do not care about their educators, it reflects how they would treat children.
Another parent, Jeanine Coggswell, shared how Mastrangelo “empowers” students, and given that he is a huge motivating factor in students’ lives, it would be wrong to remove him before his full 18 years.
Many Maldonians have expressed great dissatisfaction with Sippel’s choice. Not only have teachers banded together to support Mastrangelo, but it is also evident in student voice and actions, as well as the parents of those who spoke out.
Concluding the walkout and meeting, Sippel sent out new statements regarding Mastrangelo’s retirement, sharing that he will continue with his plans. A series of surveys has been sent out to the Malden community, and student listening sessions have been hosted in the school cafeteria. Since then, Sippel has already selected a handful of potential candidates who he deems fit the role and characteristics of what Maldonians have expressed.
About the Author
