THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, June 5, 2026 Page 15 COMMUNITY SUBMISSION: A 21-Year Malden High School Bond Lives On in “Program Fairy Godmother” Dear Editor, As a local educator, I am sharing an inspiring community feature story about a bond that began right here in the Malden public school system 21 years ago and continues to thrive today. The attached piece, “The ‘Click’: A 21-Year Journey to Program Fairy Godmother,” highlights my journey with Anna, a former Malden High School student navigating Autism and Smith-Magenis Syndrome (SMS). It details how a classroom bond evolved into a lifetime commitment of specialized support, family inclusion, and a unique behavioral approach taught by her mother. This is a heartwarming story of lifelong community connection, radical inclusion, and local dedication. I have pasted the text below for your review. High-resolution photographs of Anna and myself are available upon request. Thank you for your time and for highlighting local voices. Sincerely, Dawn M. Frim, M.S.Ed., M.S Peabody, MA 01960 Client’s address: Millen Cr. Malden, MA 02148 (Full permission granted from my client’s mother) The “Click”: A 21-Year Journey to Program Fairy Godmother My journey with Anna is a masterclass in the power of consistency and lifelong community connection. It began 21 years ago in my classroom at Malden High School, where I had the privilege of teaching her for eight years. After her graduation, our bond defied standard educational timelines, continuing for another decade through regular social visits at my home and celebrating Anna’s birthdays together. Today, for the past three and a half years, I’ve proudly served as her specialized support in a unique framework she affectionately calls “Program Fairy Godmother” (PFG). Our daily success is rooted in a hybrid approach: my professional educator background combined with the profound “heart-knowledge” taught to me by Anna’s mother, Olga. Together, we navigate the complex, unique overlap of Autism and Smith-Magenis Syndrome (SMS). While both diagnoses require deliberate sensory support and strict routines, SMS demands an exceptionally high level of “social-seeking” connection to keep a person regulated. The strategy that truly changed everything for us wasn’t found in a standard behavioral chart. Instead, it was a “Mother’s Method” centered entirely on deep relational connection. We communicate through a “secret language” of love-names, like “Kafoofy,” using shared humor to gently redirect moments of aggression. When she is frustrated and calls me a “Witch,” I don’t respond with clinical firmness; I pivot. I ask her if I’m the Wicked Witch, which instantly breaks the tension. She smiles and calls me “Glinda the Good Witch.” Anna isn’t just a recipient of care; she actively pours love back into my entire household. I have watched her grow from a 15-year-old student into a vibrant 36-year-old woman. My husband, whom she calls “Fairy God-dad,” recently commented that Anna was “the best-behaved grandchild” during a family gathering. This beautifully illustrates what true, radical inclusion looks like. Anna is welcomed into my family home simultaneously as a client and a cherished family member. Over two decades, rigid clinical boundaries have completely softened into a genuine human connection. All it takes is the right “click.” C Arthur Staffiere Named Head Coach of MC Girls Soccer Program Malden Catholic is proud to announce the hiring of longtime girls soccer coach Arthur Staffiere as the next Head Coach of the Lancers Girls Soccer program. oach Staffiere takes over for Michael Colombo, who guided the Lancers through a highly successful season that included an appearance in the MIAA Division I State Tournament in the program’s first year competing at the Division I level. Under Colombo’s leadership, the program also earned multiple conference all-star selections and continued to elevate the standard of girls soccer at Malden Catholic. Malden Catholic Athletic Director Bill Raycraft expressed excitement for the future of the program under Staffiere’s leadership. “Coach Staffiere’s experience, passion for developing student-athletes, and commitment to excellence make him an outstanding fit for Malden Catholic,” said Raycraft. “We are excited to welcome him to our community and look forward to the continued growth and success of our girls soccer program.” Coach Staffiere brings more than 25 years of coaching experience and a tremendous background in player development, leadership, and competitive soccer. His coaching experience includes roles with Winchester Soccer Club, SFC New England, Winchester High School Girls Freshman and Junior Varsity programs, and the Waltham High School Girls Varsity program. “The mission, expectations for excellence, and the commitment to developing the girls soccer program is what drew me to Malden Catholic, and I am very excited to get started,” said Staffiere. In addition to his extensive coaching background, Staffiere holds multiple levels of United States Soccer Federation licensing, including a USSF B License, along with numerous NSCAA coaching certifications, highlighted by the Advanced National Certificate. Coach Staffiere has built his coaching philosophy around the development of young female student-athletes through technical skill training, team play, discipline, and leadership development. The Lancers will launch a new chapter under Coach Staffiere as the program continues to build on its recent success and compete at the highest level of Massachusetts high school soccer. Legendary Catholic Conference Soccer Coach Billy Ryan comes to Malden Catholic R ecently, Malden Catholic announced the hiring of legendary Catholic Conference coach Billy Ryan as the new Head Coach of the Varsity Boys Soccer program. Ryan succeeds Scott Elias ’96, who led the program for the past decade with integrity and dedication to developing the excellent student-athletes for which Malden Catholic is known. “This is a transformational moment for our soccer program, and we are honored to welcome Coach Ryan to Malden Catholic,” said Athletic Director Bill Raycraft. “His legacy of athletic excellence, his deep roots in the Catholic Conference, and his commitment to building team-oriented young men through sport align perfectly with our mission. A revered figure in Massachusetts high school soccer, Ryan brings more than three decades of elite coaching experience, most notably as the longtime Head Coach at Boston College High School from 1993 to 2024. His career is defined by sustained competitive excellence, a commitment to serving as a positive role model, and building leadership qualities in young men through athletics. “I am honored to join the Malden Catholic community and contribute to its tradition of developing distinct student-athletes who pursue excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in their communities,” said Coach Ryan. “I look forward to building on the strong foundation that Coach Elias established and leading the program into a bright and successful future.” Ryan has one of the most accomplished coaching careers in the region with more than 300 career victories, 11 Catholic Conference Championships, five South Sectional Final appearances, an Eastern Massachusetts Championship and a Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association State Title. He is a member of both the Eastern Massachusetts Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Boston College High School Athletic Hall of Fame, and he was named Division 1 Coach of the Year during his tenure. “Coach Ryan represents the very best of Catholic education and athletics. His leadership, integrity, and lifelong commitment to mentoring students make him an ideal fit for our academic mission and community,” said Malden Catholic President John Thornburg. “We are grateful for Coach Elias’s decade of service and excited for an exciting new era for our soccer program under Coach Ryan’s guidance.” Coach Ryan sets an example beyond the soccer pitch, too. For over a decade, he has championed the Ellie Fund, helping to raise significant funds to support women battling breast cancer, an example of the servant leadership that has defined his career.
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