Most everyone at SHS knows Ms. Ward, but you may have noticed a change this year: She isn’t at her usual spot anymore! Best known for her sunny disposition, Ward was the first person people saw when they entered SHS, as she worked in the main office for 17 years.
Over the summer, Ward accepted a new administrative position with the SHS counseling office. Although students may not see her at the front desk every day like they used to, Ward says they’re welcome to stop by the guidance office and say hello.
A 1985 graduate of SHS and 1990 graduate of Salem State College, Ward began working at the high school when she enrolled her youngest child in kindergarten. Siobhan (Class of 2017) and Matty (Class of 2019) are now in their twenties. Before working at SHS, Ward worked in flight operations for Northwest Airlines. Although she enjoyed the position, working at SHS made caring for her children more manageable. She explained, “It was hard to commute to the airport and work long shifts.”
Ward noted that her recent job change wasn’t completely out of the blue: She was interested in a 12-month position, and her previous job in the office was a 10-month position. When asked if she’d change anything about her current role, she said, “No, I love it. I wouldn’t change anything.”
Ward compared her new responsibilities to students getting adjusted to their new classes. She commented, “It’s like you guys coming back to school every year. It’s like I have a whole new class that you don’t think you can do, but you can do it.”
According to Ward, moving to the counseling office has been relatively easy, and members of the guidance department have made the environment comfortable for her. Ward’s previous job in the office required her to manage a lot of information, including schedule rotations, attendance, and monitoring who was coming in and out of the building. Now, she can focus on her work, which includes scheduling college visits, helping with the college application process, and managing students’ community service documentation and alumni transcripts. Fortunately, she still gets to talk to most of the students and colleagues she’s known for years.
Outside of SHS, Ward is quite an animal person. She has four dogs, two goats, two pigs, twelve chickens, several ducks, and a bunny. Ward enjoys caring for all the pets in her “backyard farm.” She also mentioned that she “can’t say no” to animals in need of a home. Both of her pigs, Penny and Poppy, were rescue animals.
If you haven’t had the chance to see Ms. Ward this year, be sure to stop by and say hello in her new office. She is happy to see both new and returning faces!