Neva Coakley Grice
Chief of Safety Services, Boston Public Schools
“Every one of our children deserves a second chance. The sheer definition of youth is to be able to make mistakes and recover. As adults, it is our role and responsibility to champion for resources and support that foster opportunities for all our children to be the best that they can be.”
Neva is a force, an innovator, and a leader who helps young people in Boston build a better future. She’s in constant motion, finding resources, creating partnerships, and creating positive change.
In 27 years and many roles with the Boston Police Dept, Neva initiated and participated in nationally recognized programs such as the Operation Homefront Program, Operation Ceasefire, Operation Nitelite and the DYS Re-Entry Program, RISE Program, and the Camp Frank A. Day Program. As Boston Public Schools Chief of Safety Services since 2020, Neva oversees a staff of 70 in 118 schools and is dedicated to reviewing policies and practices to ensure that students and staff feel safe and supported in school.
Neva studied Mathematics at Hampton University, VA, and received an associate degree in criminal justice, Magna Cum Laude, from Quincy College, MA, in 2011.
Neva was featured in the PBS documentary ‘A Girl’s Life’, and in ‘Hope Matters, The Untold Story of How Faith Works in America,’ by Jack Calhoun. In 2019, Neva was awarded the prestigious Spirit of MAWLE (Massachusetts Association of Women in Law Enforcement) Mentoring Award, and in 2022 the Suffolk County DA’s Role Model Award.
We are grateful for Neva’s partnership with LEAP.