“Good afternoon students, it is now 4:00 P.M…” Does that sound familiar?
For many of the Boston Latin School students who stay after school, this announcement over the intercom not only signifies the closing of the building, but also marks the end of a long day. As consistent as this statement is, however, many do not realize that the voice comes from none other than Special Assistant to the Head of the School Ms. Martha Pierce.
Before her work here at BLS, Ms. Pierce worked for 32 years as the Education Advisor under former Mayor Thomas Menino. Prior to that, she taught in a parochial school in East London, England with three degrees in education. Through her former position as an education advisor, Ms. Pierce gained the experience and knowledge needed for working with schools, which she now uses to operate the BLS office.
When asked about why she decided to transfer, Ms. Pierce revealed that even though she did not personally receive schooling at BLS, her father and four daughters did. She explains, “One [reason] is that I got a sense of what the school was like through my daughters’ eyes, and also through my father’s eyes, […] and I love the energy and the vibe here.”
Her work at BLS has impacted her on a personal level. Through her work with young and older people alike, Ms. Pierce has developed a deeper level of understanding for her family. With her eldest grandchild turning thirteen this year, she reveals, “I think I have a deeper appreciation of what she and her parents are going through, and I think I can hopefully relate a little bit better.”
So what does her day-to-day life in the office look like?
Ms. Pierce starts her day around 7:00 A.M. by greeting the students that file into the School. Throughout the day, she dedicates her time to helping out the staff and keeps the School running smoothly from her office. Many of these tasks include answering phone calls, running tours for prospective families and students, coordinating events, managing difficult logistics and gathering information for handbooks and newsletters.
Every day, Ms. Pierce collaborates with students in the office to choose the following day’s “National Day.” She, alongside the help of others, finds a fun national day or witty line for students to read in the morning. “April break is canceled” was the line created for April Fool’s Day.
Clara Ryan (II), who contributes much of her time to helping around the main office, shares, “Ms. Pierce is truly the warmest, most empathetic person I’ve ever met. She cares so much for every student and will do anything to help them out. […] BLS wouldn’t be the same without her.”
Although she often comments that her work mostly involves “opening doors,” Ms. Pierce’s nearly decade-long commitment to BLS has reached far more than just the students she has met; it has impacted everyone.