Mayor, DPW Chief go ‘home’ again to support Malden High rising ninth-graders

Malden leaders address students in orientation session; discuss their city roles and local roots

By Steve Freker

When you think about it, it is kind of hard to believe. But it is true. When Gary Christenson first walked in the doors of Malden High School in the fall of 1982, he knew hardly anyone.

“I was in the hallway on one of the first days of school in my first year and I did not know a lot of people. Not many at all,” Christenson recalled, while talking to a group of incoming Malden High ninth-graders Wednesday.

“By luck, one of the first people who walked by was one of my best friends,” he said, “then as I walked down the hall, again, just by fate, I saw another person I knew and I stopped and talked with them. Then another, then one more and then a fifth person.

“Honestly? I think those were the only five kids I knew well in the whole school! But then the first person I had greeted came back down the hall and said, ‘Wow, Gary! You know a lot of people! You should run for Class President, I bet you would have a good chance of winning.’ Then it clicked. That’s when I knew what I wanted to do at Malden High School. That was the day it came together for me, very early in my high school years,” said Christenson, who went on to be Class President in all his years at MHS and eventually went on to a career in state and municipal government.

Fast forward to July 2023, and that first-year high school student is now one of the longest-serving mayors in Malden history, now completing his third term and seeking reelection to a fourth.

“That’s an example of never knowing when you are going to find out what you want to do with your life,” Malden Mayor Gary Christenson told a group of 36 students enrolled in the Malden Academics & Adventures Program (MAAP) this summer, a multi-week orientation program for incoming ninth-graders.

The MAAP program – coordinated by Malden Public Schools Director of Guidance Erin Craven and headed up this year by MHS Guidance Counselor Amy Yu – is in its 12th year. Craven on Wednesday said the program continues to be a big success and well-attended.

“It is a unique and excellent way for incoming freshmen to get a look at Malden High and what to expect,” she said. In addition to guest speakers, there are field trips to city locations and others outside the community that help students learn about the entire high school experience that awaits them.

Mayor Christenson and Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Bob Knox on Wednesday this week made what is now an annual visit to Malden High School to support the rising ninth-graders with their personal stories of their roles and roots in the city. Both city leaders are 1986 Malden High grads who showed you can really go “home” again. The Mayor and DPW Director also related some reasons why they never left their hometown, and how they embrace how Malden has evolved and progressed.

“I love Malden and I love the city we have become and what lies ahead in our future,” Mayor Christenson said. “We are so fortunate to be able to work here every day to try and keep Malden strong and welcoming and continue to work to make our city better.”

“I grew up in Malden, I went to Malden High School, I work here now and I am raising my family here,” said DPW Director Knox. “Every morning I walk out my front door I am so proud I am able to contribute on a daily basis to my hometown.”

Both leaders stressed that a surefire path to success is to take advantage of the seemingly endless resources available to them at Malden High School, be it a math, English or STEM enrichment program, extracurricular club or other activity or athletics. “Try everything!” Mayor Christenson said.

“Do it all, try it all,” Knox echoed.

The Mayor and DPW Director agreed in their talk that the most memorable part of their high school experience was taking part in many activities. “That is the single most statement I hear when I speak to students who are graduating: They tell me they wish they had tried and participated in more activities when they were Malden High students,” Mayor Christenson said.

The MAAP students learned that both the Mayor and the DPW Director are both on far from “9-to-5” schedules – basically always “on call.” Just the night before Wednesday’s talk, Knox explained, how earlier that morning at about 1:30 a.m. he was out in Malden Square checking on crosswalk striping work before returning home for a couple hours of sleep and the beginning of his regular workday at 5:30 a.m. in his office on Commercial Street. Mayor Christenson explained how his day begins usually around 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. and can regularly stretch into the evening hours with meetings, drop-ins at city and cultural events and other activities.

“I have to be in a lot of places at a lot of times; often it is hard to choose, but I get there,” Mayor Christenson said with a smile.

The Mayor said the best part of the job “is being right here with you students, right now. This is it: interacting with Malden’s citizens and making sure we are doing everything in our power to meet your needs.”

The greatest part of his job? “When someone says thank you for something we have made happen for them or their family, or helped them achieve.”

Knox agreed. “It is always nice to be acknowledged for helping someone out, every time.”

Both the Mayor and DPW Director wished all of the students well and encouraged them to reach out if they have any issues or requests. “We are always here,” Mayor Christenson acknowledged.

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