Meet Me in Medford | Sarah Masciave

By 4Squares Residential Group with Judi 411

Sarah Masciave holds the distinct honor of being the first Meet Me in Medford interviewee to complete the full-circle journey through the community she calls home. She grew up in Medford, attended Medford Public Schools, chose the same schools for her children, and now serves as an adjustment counselor at the McGlynn Elementary School, where she also brings her passion for the arts to life as the middle school drama coach.

We met with Sarah to talk about growing up in Medford both as a child and later as a parent, and what she loves so much about the place she’ll always call home.

You were born in Medford and have spent your whole life here. What was it like as a kid growing up in Medford?

It was very different than it is now. I grew up in the Heights—kids were always outside, barefoot, running through people’s yards, and nobody cared. Everyone knew each other. It was like a little village. We were always down at Carr Park; that was the gathering place. And of course, Saj’s—well, it’s still Saj’s to me, but folks now know it as People’s Market. I used to go there and clean or stock shelves, and he’d pay me in candy or chips. Before Saj, it was owned by Tino and Helen. There were all these little places and people you just knew growing up.

Now I live in the Heights not far from where I grew up. We considered moving to Framingham during our house hunting, as it was closer to work, but we ended up here because we got a good deal. At the time, I had immediate family living close by, so we had built-in babysitters! It just made sense to stay.

What do you like about living in Medford?

I still love that the Fells is right across the street. I can see the sunsets from my window—it's beautiful.

I'm not a big hiker, but I used to go more when my kids were little. It's just nice knowing it’s there. Honestly, it’s the reason we bought the house. My kids saw the tower—they call it “the castle”—and said, “We can see the castle from here!” I thought that was such a sweet thing.

I also love how many dogs are in the neighborhood. There are so many animals around—it gives the place a real sense of life. And even with all that nature, we’re still close to everything.

We used to do Walk-to-School Wednesdays when my kids went to the Roberts. It’s great to live somewhere where you can really do that.

Tell us about your role as an adjustment counselor at the McGlynn and the path that led you to that role.

I was a manager for a graphic design department for 18 years. It was a good job, steady, but after a while, I realized it just wasn’t feeding me anymore. I’d always been interested in mental health and helping people, and I kept thinking, If I don’t go for it now, when will I? So I went back to school to become a mental health counselor.

I ended up working as an art therapist at a few different places on the North Shore. That’s when I started to see how much I loved working with kids. One of my jobs was at Lahey in Beverly, where I was required to consult at a school in Peabody one day a week. I was there as a therapist—someone they brought in for kids who were going through really heavy stuff. We’re talking major trauma: losing a parent, getting removed from their home . . . not your typical school stress.

And I’ll never forget walking into that school for the first time. I just felt it in my bones—this is where I’m meant to be. It felt like home. That’s when I knew I wanted to be in a school system full-time. Then, about a year later, Medford had an opening for a school adjustment counselor, and I thought, “This is perfect!”

Adjustment counselors are there to support kids who are having a hard time emotionally or behaviorally—whether it’s trouble regulating, anxiety, or just going through something challenging.

In Massachusetts, if a student has an IEP that includes counseling services, they’re required to see a licensed adjustment counselor. At the elementary level, we don’t have guidance counselors—it’s just adjustment counselors, and that’s because so many of our students have IEPs. At my school, we have two. Middle schools usually have guidance counselors too, because they help with academic decisions, like whether a student wants to go to the Voke or the High School. But adjustment counselors run social groups, like lunch bunches, and they support kids emotionally. And if the student's IEP requires it, the support must be provided by a licensed counselor. So that’s the distinction. Both roles help with emotional regulation, but adjustment counselors are legally required for students receiving certain special education services.

And how did your role as the drama coach come about?

That was kind of an accident. I also struggle to say no to things.

When I first started at the McGlynn, I was a K through 8 adjustment counselor. Now I’m just K through 5, but back then, middle school was still part of my caseload—and honestly, middle schoolers are my jam. I love that age group.

One day, not long after I started, one of the seventh graders I knew was in the hallway having a panic attack. I happened to be free, so her friend brought her to my office. She was anxious about a math test. I got her calmed down, and as she was settling, I said, “Well, at least you have drama to look forward to,” because I knew she was into theater.

And she said, “The drama teacher quit.”

So I said, “I guess I’m the drama teacher now.”

That was two years ago. Last year we did Into the Woods, and now I have over 100 kids in drama. I absolutely love it.

What would you consider some hidden gems in Medford?

The Medford Arts Collaborative on Mystic Avenue is definitely one. You can get a genuine fine art piece there for the same price as something mass-produced. When I first put my own work in the shop, my cousin told me I was pricing it too low. But I said, “Who am I selling to?” The whole point is to make original art accessible. That’s what the Arts Collaborative is all about—giving people the chance to experience something handmade, personal, and affordable.

And here’s what a lot of people don’t realize: they offer affordable art classes. I worked one of the figure drawing sessions, and it wasn’t full, which was such a shame. There’s no formal teacher, but there is a monitor—I’ve done it myself—to keep things running smoothly. I put on some soft music, and people come in to draw these incredible live models who are paid through the Collaborative.

It’s just a great space. It’s peaceful. It’s community-driven. And it makes both making and experiencing art feel possible for anyone. 

Another one is the Mystic Players. I’ve gotta give a shoutout to the Mystic Players Revival. When I was a kid, there was a theater group in Medford—not just for kids, but adults too. And now, it’s coming back. A woman named Margaret Petrella and a few of her friends are behind the revival. They’re making it happen.

They recently put on a production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Condon Shell—free, two nights in a row. Before that, they staged a play at the library, also free. And right now, they’re looking for writers to submit short horror plays that Medford residents will perform in October. How cool is that?

And of course, the girls’ softball program—Medford Youth Girls Softball —I’ve been coaching for 12 years. Many people don’t realize we have a girls’ softball program in Medford, because it didn’t exist when I was a kid. That’s part of why I’m so passionate about it.

Many parents get involved because their kids are playing, and the league needs volunteers—that’s how I got roped in. I joined the board and remain on it. At first, I was coaching because my kid needed a coach. But now I’m coaching teams and my kid isn’t even on—because I still love it.

People think I’m nuts. They say, “You don’t have to coach anymore,” and I’m like, “I know. I want to.” I really love it.

Some towns have lost their softball programs entirely because parents stopped volunteering. But ours is still going strong—actually, it’s probably one of the biggest programs in the Greater Boston area. We even have girls from other cities—Malden, Everett—because their towns don’t have teams. So they come to play for us.

It’s a great community, and I’m proud to be part of keeping it alive.

What would you tell someone considering a move to Medford about the school system?

I went through the Medford Public Schools and made it out okay—I think I’m pretty successful. People often complain about public schools, but I’m a big advocate for Medford’s system—not because I work here now, but because I’ve seen the support firsthand.

When my son Sam was diagnosed with autism, I checked out preschools in other towns like Winchester and Lexington. Medford’s support, especially through the Medford Early Education Program (MEEP), was way better. They offered speech therapy, physical therapy, and integrated services that other towns didn’t have.

I didn’t want to pay a fortune to send my kid somewhere without those supports. Medford’s preschool was affordable and had amazing staff. I even sent my daughter Eve there as a model student—she helped guide kids like Sam who needed extra support.

So I’ve experienced Medford schools from all sides—growing up here, raising my kids here, and now working here. It’s a community I truly believe in.

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