Taylor Harris finds joy in the daily uncertainty of teaching

“Like most good things in life, I think I chose JPII at the same time JPII chose me,” says new humanities educator Taylor Harris. “From the moment I spoke with the staff, saw the building, and learned of the students, it was an easy choice to make!” 

Harris brings eight years of teaching experience and six years as an intelligence officer in the United States Marine Corps where he discovered he wanted to be a teacher. “For three years I instructed recent college graduates on how to be intelligence officers, and that experience confirmed for me the potential to make this into a career one day.” It is easy to see how his military background influenced his decision and his teaching style. Harris says teaching allows him to “continue to learn and study the world in which we live in and bring others along that journey with me. I can also challenge myself and others to be the best versions of ourselves. And, I can accomplish or exceed an ambitious goal or mission set before us that requires teamwork and commitment to achieve.” 

Students of Harris share that he is both firm and fair which he agrees with. For him, the classroom is a place to get better personally, and also assist in improving those around you. “So as long as we leave the space better than we found it each and every day, those incremental commitments to growth and progress result in incredible leaps over the course of a year together.” Add a little uncertainty to that, and you will find what Harris likes most about being a teacher. “You never quite know what will be said or discussed in that classroom each day. It’s exciting, and it requires you to be on point and right there with your students. I love that feeling of knowing the general destination, but being surprised each day on the different paths we choose to get there”.

Harris holds a bachelor of science in history from the United States Naval Academy and master of education from Boston University. At JPII, he will teach AP Human Geography and World History, the same courses he taught at his previous school: The Noble Academy, a public charter school in Chicago, IL. In 2023, Harris was recognized as a Noble Network Distinguished Teacher, the highest teaching recognition attainable in the Noble Network. In addition to his military and teaching experience, Harris has worked in collegiate athletics at Northwestern University and Tufts University where he was an assistant lacrosse coach. In his free time, he loves to bike, go on long walks in nature, and spend time with friends and family. He also enjoys playing video games which is a fun way for him to stay in touch with former Marines and colleagues.