For many students, high school can be incredibly challenging, whether it’s socially, mentally, or academically. It can be scary to talk with adults about personal issues, but the new Jenkins House social worker, Maureen Masters, welcomes students warmly as they open the door.
Masters grew up in Lynn, Massachusetts. She described herself as “unbelievably shy” during her K-12 education, something many students today can relate to. “I realized that I had to pretend at first to be tougher than I was because I was going to get eaten alive as a sweet, shy human, so I ended up joining the drama club at that time, and that helped because it was a group of kids that were like-minded,” Masters shared.
She explained that high school was not easy for her, which is why she wants to bring the comfort of a support system that students feel they do not have at Malden High. Her job’s ability to help others without expecting anything in return is what motivated her to become a social worker.
Her interest was piqued at 17 years old, and she dedicated herself to Salem State University. She began her career working for the Malden Public Schools 26 years ago, and soon began at the Early Learning Center on Mountain Ave 23 years ago when it opened. When the district eliminated the social worker position, she transferred to Malden High. “I have never in my life met such warm, welcoming, helpful people, I love it here,” Masters expressed.
Upon entering Masters’ room, you will be welcomed with a giant bulletin board displaying the words, “I’m so happy you’re here.” “I am genuinely happy when kids are here. I want kids to feel safe, so I try to make the space something that conveys care,” Masters emphasized. Her room is comfortable, with complementary candy, string lights, and fidgets.
Jenkins House principal, Jayson Payeur, expressed his positive experience working with Masters: “She’s communicative, and she does a really nice job of telling me students that she’s concerned about, or students that are on her radar that we need to support.”
“The huge reason why I love it at Malden High is that I already feel like the work that I’m doing matters; it makes a difference. I am in a position where I can positively affect students’ lives and how they feel. That is an incredible thing that I get to do every day, and I have not felt that for a long time,” Masters mentioned.
Outside of her position, she shares a great love for nature, with one of her favorite spots being the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Masters also has a Husky named Sadie, whom she loves taking for walks in Lynn Woods.
One of Masters’ favorite hobbies is playing games that get her mind moving. “Online, The New York Times has these word games I love. I like to play games with my family as well; it doesn’t matter what kind of a game, you’ll always end up having a good laugh.” At this time, Masters is also welcoming her first grandchild.
Among Masters’ admirations, she appreciates how diverse Malden’s youth community mental health programs are. “The social workers, the guidance counselors, the house principals, the teachers, nurses, they’re incredible. They all have this wealth of knowledge that I can use to help students, which is fabulous,” Masters noted. With other various community resources like the Teen Health Center and the SAFE program in Brunelli, Masters added that her access to these programs allows her to help students even more.
She also encourages students to reach out when needed, whether that’s staying a bit longer in her room for extra help, or involving parents and helping them understand how they can support their child while also respecting a student’s confidentiality.
Masters’ room is located on J370, near the Boyle-Jenkins bridge. With how much enthusiasm Masters brings to her job, why not stop by for a quick chat? We all could use a listening ear from a different perspective.
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