Neighborhood Charter Schools
Shannon Nia Figueroa is an experienced educator and media professional. Currently serving as a Kindergarten and 1st Grade Science Teacher at Neighborhood Charter Schools since July 2020, Shannon has a robust background in journalism and media production. Before transitioning to education, Shannon worked at CNN from September 2015 to July 2020 in various roles, including Associate Producer and Production Assistant, where responsibilities included content creation and live segment management. Prior roles include writing and editorial positions at 21Ninety, The Crime Report, and Blavity, as well as hosting a morning show at WRHU. Shannon holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Hofstra University.
Neighborhood Charter Schools
Neighborhood Charter Schools' mission is to provide the children of Harlem with new educational opportunities through a rigorous, comprehensive K-8 program that cultivates the intellectual, social and emotional development of each child. Our students, who include high functioning children with autism spectrum disorders, will become independent learners and critical thinkers, will acquire the academic skills that they need to succeed in college preparatory high schools and will exhibit the social and emotional skills that will allow them to reach their full potential. The school provides a rich, rigorous and fully inclusive education to a broad range of Harlem children, including English Language Learners, students with disabilities, students who struggle academically and gifted students. The school has a specialized program for high-functioning students on the autism spectrum (ASD students) in each grade. The ASD program, which is modeled on the successful ASD Nest program currently operating in 16 New York City Department of Education (DOE) schools, is the first of its kind in Central Harlem.