Neighborhood House Charter School (NHCS) in Dorchester has hired as its new executive director, the veteran Boston Public School educator Edverette Brewster. He will start work on July 1, taking over for current executive director Kate Scott, who has been with the school for 28 years, 11 of them as the school’s leader.

Scott announced her decision to step down to spend more time with her family earlier this year, but will remain a key partner to the school, and will be supporting NHCS through this transition. 

Brewster was the unanimous choice of the NHCS board after the posting attracted more than 70 applicants and that engaged students, staff, and families.

“After an extensive search, we believe we found the best candidate to continue the success of our school,” said Christy Strawbridge, Neighborhood House Board Chair. “Edverette brings to this role a variety of perspectives based on his experience as a teacher, principal, and leadership coach. We thank Kate for her decades of service to our school community and look forward to the next phase of our work with Edverette.”

Brewster is a native of Memphis, and a graduate of Vanderbilt University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Arts in Public Policy. He began his teaching career as a Teach for America Corps member and relocated to Boston to teach middle school English Language Arts/Humanities at the Lilla G. Frederick Pilot Middle School.

He has since held multiple roles, including as principal of the Holmes Innovation School in Dorchester and most recently as a leadership coach with Lynch Leadership Academy.

“I am honored to accept this role as executive director,” said Brewster. “I look forward to bringing my passion for inclusion and diversity to the halls of Neighborhood House, promoting culturally relevant instruction and quality support for every scholar and family.”

Outside of the school environment, Brewster is pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership at Boston College. He and his wife Natalya, who also works in education, sing together in the choir of the church where they met. 

One of the very first charter schools in Massachusetts, NHCS was founded by a coalition of neighborhood groups and community leaders, including former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. It opened its doors in 1995 with 51 students. Today, it serves over 800 students in K1-12 at two campuses in Dorchester.