English teacher Neva Taylor was raised in the Washington, D.C. area. She majored in urban studies at the University of Connecticut and earned a master’s in education from Harvard University. Previously, she taught at a charter school in Dorchester and now coaches cheerleading at the high school.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

How did you get into teaching?
I knew I always wanted to do education. I thought I wanted to do education policy, so I was originally on a public policy track, and then I realized that if I wanted to affect educational policy, I should probably get into the classroom. I got into the classroom and I never looked back.

What are you looking forward to and what do you hope to accomplish?
I’m definitely looking forward to finding a new community, with both students and staff. I hope to accomplish, at least in my English classes specifically, fostering a sense of learning and care. [I want to make] sure that kids want to be the best versions of themselves, and that goes for academics and as citizens.

Were there any differences between your high school in Washington, D.C., and BHS?
It’s definitely more diverse than this school, but I would say equally student leadership-focused. We also had a lot of autonomy; our student government was pretty strong. Being so close to the nation’s capital made a lot of people political and social justice-minded. But I would say the diversity is the main difference between here and my high school.

What’s something you always try to do in a classroom?
I try to remember to always say a “good morning” or ask some sort of personal question before starting class.

How do you make class interesting?
I try to make sure we’re relating it to the real world as much as possible, giving those examples or connections that the average person knows from their daily lives.