By Cesay Camara
Ms. Taylor is a 9th and 12th grade English teacher at Manhattan Center for Science and Math. This is her first year teaching at MCSM. Students love how engaging she is in the classroom and how well she is able to connect with them; many describe her as “cool” and “hip.” We sat down with Ms. Taylor to find out what makes her such an exceptional teacher.
Q: Who is Ms. Taylor?
A: Before I “became” Ms. Taylor, I was a performing artist. I have performed in many plays including West Side Story, where I played the part of Graziela. Being a performing artist includes going on many tours. I’ve been on a cruise for ten months—yes ten months, where I saw the Caribbean, the Bahamas, South America, San Francisco, and Alaska. I’ve always loved teaching. I’ve been tutoring after school since I was a sophomore in high school. I was a private tutor for SAT and ACT subject tests.
Q: Why did you start teaching?
A: During my last performance which was at the Metropolitan Opera, I realized that I loved working with students and that was where my heart was. I instantly joined Teaching Fellows and Teach for America. Teach for America wanted me to move out of state, but I love the city and wasn’t going anywhere. The first time I taught was in a school in Washington Heights. The students were in the sixth grade. The difference between teaching them and teaching high school is that now we are actually planning for our futures. We mean business. I teach freshmen and seniors. I feel so lucky to teach both grades. One that just got into high school and is unsure about what they really want to do, and one that is about to leave and is trying to set themselves up for success.
Q: What college did you go to?
A: I went to Columbia University. It was a great experience. The teachers taught me how to think, not what to think. Being from southern California, I loved the feel of being in a city, but I also wanted a more traditional campus experience. It was the first time I ever felt I belonged somewhere. I majored in neuroscience, English and dance. I actually wrote my senior thesis using my majors—on how post-WWI writers used writing to cope with stress and depression.
Q:What makes you different?
A: Well a lot of people don’t know this but I’m French Creole. I also don’t accept anything less than my best. I’m self-critical and always push myself to do my best. I would rather hit a ceiling and learn how to self-cope than to be taught how to do everything. I also have amazing parents. They’re very caring and always made me get out of my comfort zone. My father was a teacher for 10 years and a principal for 20, so I guess you could say my love for teaching also came from him. My mom is a pediatrician and teaches at the School of Public Health at UCLA.