Shanique McFarlane

Challenge Charter Middle School (“Challenge Prep”) is a community-based public charter school that was founded in 2010 to serve students and families in the Far Rockaway section of Queens, New York. We serve grades. We are seeking 6-8, Science teachers who are eager to help grow the school’s curriculum, develop innovative instructional techniques, and accelerate learning for students so they are prepared for college-preparatory curricula. Successful candidates will demonstrate passion and commitment both within their classrooms and among the broader community as the “challenge” at Challenge Prep is to provide our students with a world-class education and serve as a beacon for excellence throughout the community. Educational Culture at Challenge Charter Middle School: Our school’s mission is to cultivate the intellectual, social, emotional and ethical development of our students and prepare them for long-term success both inside and beyond the classroom. We aim to accomplish this mission by building a culture among students, faculty, staff, parents and community members that conveys excitement about learning, fosters creativity and collaboration, and celebrates success. Specifically: Educators at Challenge Prep share a common understanding of what quality teaching looks like by adopting the Danielson Framework for Teaching. Challenge Prep educators believe that how children learn is as important as what they learn, and that academic success is inextricably tied to building social-emotional competencies. All members of the Challenge Prep community take full responsibility for the academic progress of our students, and this is reflected in our methods of evaluating effectiveness of faculty, staff and school leadership. We conduct annual professional evaluations that use multiple measures to determine effectiveness, including classroom observations and student outcomes. We provide intensive supports for new teachers to help ensure their success.