Charlie Malwitz

Social worker and peer leadership co-teacher Charlie Malwitz started working at Brookline High this September after working at an elementary school for his masters program at Simmons University. Malwitz has always been interested in education, but what drew him to social work, specifically, is how he can listen to students’ stories.

What does a typical day look like at work?

Since I’m new, a lot of it is just onboarding and starting to meet students. I’m basically learning how to teach because I’m co-teaching a class with my supervisor. That’s just about it, I’m acclimated to the culture and learning my way around the building.

I heard you co-teach the peer-leadership class. Tell me about that.

I co-teach peer-leadership and essentially the class is dedicated to teaching students about different issues that the school faces. So whether it be dating violence, problematic substance use, sort of how to be an upstander, not a bystander. As well as just kind of any issues at school that come up like mental health.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I’m into bicycles, particularly mountain biking, which I haven’t done in a while because I’m injured. I really like music and I know how to play drums.

What do you like about BHS?

I like how many opportunities there are for people who might not learn in the sort of general education-type way. Opportunities for them to succeed through the different programs that they have. I like the fact that it’s a larger school, one of the bigger schools that I’ve been in. I like that it’s large and there’s so much opportunity. I like that it’s sort of situated in a mix between a suburban school and an urban school sort of.

What changes are you hoping will happen in the future at BHS regarding social work?

I’d like to see social-emotional learning practices be interwoven into the general education curriculum, as opposed to a block time where you do mindfulness.