At first, Mrs. Meader worked for five years at Samaritans, a suicide prevention organization. She led programs in middle and high schools, teaching students how to seek support when struggling and what to do if they were concerned about someone else. She later transitioned into full-time school counseling, working at Reading High School and then Somerset Berkley High School before coming to Sharon.

Mrs. Meader noted that students, staff, and families have been very welcoming to her and that she has enjoyed seeing how involved Sharon students are in academics, clubs, and athletics. This year, she is focused on learning about the school and building connections with students. “I want to work with each student individually to support your academic goals and emotional well-being,” Mrs. Meader said. Currently she is prioritizing student support through individual meetings with students and getting to know their academic goals, social emotional support and programming, and post secondary planning.

Work in the counseling office is varied and unpredictable, Mrs. Meader said, ranging from college planning to helping students with friendships, family challenges, and academic stress. She added that this variety is part of what makes the job meaningful.

Mrs. Meader grew up in Rhode Island and moved to Massachusetts at age 26; outside of school, she spends much of her free time with her children, ages two and four. She has also been an avid runner for more than ten years—she ran the Boston Marathon in 2014—and enjoys reading fiction and relaxing with her favorite show, Stranger Things.

At the core of Mrs. Meader’s work is a belief in helping students understand who they are and grow into confident individuals. Her advice to students is, “Stay true to yourself. Do what feels right for you and not for anyone else.”