Meet the New Dean of Students for Westwood's Thurston Middle School

Educators often comment that the middle school years are some of the toughest and most challenging years to work with students. But don’t tell that to Edward Walker, the new Dean of Students at Westwood’s Thurston Middle School.

“I don’t ever see challenges dealing with kids,” Walker said. “Young people are young people. Part of my leadership lens is to think about what changes we can make as adults that will help support students.”

Prior to coming to Westwood Public Schools, Walker spent over seven years as a guidance counselor at the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. Born in Boston, Walker says his formative years were spent in Roxbury – with some time in Georgia – before returning to Boston as a 10th
grader. A graduate of Charlestown High School, he earned a BA in African American Studies with a concentration in English from Bates College, and a master’s degree in School Psychology and Counseling from Cambridge College.

Walker is the first person to hold the Dean of Students position at Thurston.

“I am excited about the possibilities that come with this being a new position,” Walker said. “It gives me some leeway to help create and define the position. The purpose of this role is to help create a positive school culture and to both celebrate and elevate the academic, social, and emotional experiences of all students.”

Walker is quick to point out that he doesn’t want to be seen only as a disciplinarian. Instead, he aims to build true relationships with the Thurston students and community members.

“I have the chance to meet with students every day, talking and engaging with them,” Walker said. “I get to see sixth, seventh and eighth-graders, daily. It’s been a great opportunity for me to develop some relationships and partnerships. I want them to see all the different facets of who Mr. Walker is. They see me giving 100 fist bumps a day. They see me taking the time to learn their nicknames.” “They see me modeling the behaviors I expect of them.”

High on Walker’s agenda is working with guidance staff to develop curriculum concentrating on Social Emotional Learning topics, such as responsible decision-making, self-management, and relationship skills, to help students better navigate their middle school years.

“We saw a real need for the Dean of Students position for our middle school students,” said Westwood Public Schools Superintendent Emily Parks. “On top of the normal developmental issues that come with these years, our current students have dealt with the pandemic, virtual learning, and increased pressure from social media. Mr. Walker brings compassion to this role along with an impressive skill set and enthusiasm for working with students.”

The married father of four – with kids ranging from 6- to 23-years-old – calls himself a “servant-leader,” and says he is looking forward to serving the Westwood community. Walker shared the personal motto he tries to live his life by: “Make a difference in the lives of those who won’t stop until they’ve made a difference in the world.”