Who is John Maynard Harris and why is he running for the house?
John is from Marble Hill Projects. He attended PS ??, JHS 143 and Kennedy (JFK) high school, and went on to college, graduating from Yale University.
John is…a teacher of 32 years in Bronx and Harlem schools.
He works hard to transform the lives of our children through education and athletics, teaching them to apply themselves and to persevere in the classroom and beyond.
Many of his students have gone on to do great things like Kai Cenat, former Deputy Borough President Janet Peguero, Christian King, "Greg the Stat Guy" From the WWE, Rayshawn Addison, and Tianne King.
THIS is the same energy he will bring to Congress!
I was born and raised in the Bronx, in the Marble Hill housing project, 5210 Broadway apartment 7B, that at the time was predominantly Italian and Irish. I hear we were one of the first black families there. Raised in Marble Hill projects, I attended schools in that immediate Bronx vicinity: Marble Hill Nursery School; P.S. 122 up the block; Junior High School 143; and finally, John F. Kennedy High School, with 5500 students, eight floors with elevators and escalators.
I followed my older brother's footsteps attending Yale University.
I am a First Gen Yalie and college graduate. While originally in the class of 1988, I graduated in 1992. I took time off working as a manager at Strand Bookstore and as a paralegal re: the Michael Milken case under Les Fagen at Paul Weiss. After graduating and working at Nkiru Books (eventually owned by the rapper Talib Kweli) I began teaching.
Considering myself wealthy, I have contributed to the futures of Black children, both English and Spanish speakers. Until now, for thirty-two plus years, I've been teaching, mostly in a Harlem public high school. I have taught and influenced an eventual deputy borough president (Janet Peguero as a student and Softball player), internet personalities (most notably "Stat guy Greg" Kai Cenat), successful lawyers, rappers, grant writers, real estate moguls, medical doctors, and reality television personalities. Additionally, for nearly twenty years, I coached high school softball (with daily two-a-days sandwiching my teaching responsibilities from 6 am to 8 am, and then from 3 pm to 7:30 pm year-round). With tremendous success, my students pursued their college softball career passions and presently lead exceptional lives, contributing to their own communities in various ways. I have even walked a former Softball player down her wedding aisle. That first dance was one of my life's highlights. Many of my former students credit me personally for positively changing their lives. My mission of affecting Black communities, I consider accomplished.
From around 2002-2014, I was a Bronx Community Board 7 member, chairing several committees. A tough, time-consuming job (especially during coaching softball) I accomplished much, helping one of my peers becoming a city councilman and ensuring our community advance. Until recently I was a founding member of the Louella Hatch Democratic club.
In the 2000's, I joined the Yale Club. I want everyone to have the prospects I have.