Challenge Charter Schools
Maria Litos has a diverse work experience in the field of education. Maria is currently serving as the Director of Special Education (6-9) at Challenge Charter Schools since July 2020. Prior to this, Maria worked as an ELA Teacher at District 11, Pelham Academy. Maria has also held the position of Per-Diem Substitute at Westbury Union Free School District, Herricks Union Free School District, East Meadow School District, Mineola UFSD, Locust Valley Central School District, and East Williston. Maria has also worked as an ELA Teacher at NYC Department of Education, where they taught 6th grade ELA aligned to the Common Core Curriculum, including students with disabilities and ELLs. Additionally, they briefly served as an English/Social Studies Teacher at Jamaica Day School of St. Demetrios in 2011. Overall, Maria's work experience showcases their dedication and versatility in the field of education.
Maria Litos has an extensive education history. Maria earned a Master's degree in Elementary Education from Queens College, which they pursued from 2000 to 2004. Prior to that, they attended the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University from 1990 to 1991, where they completed a Master of Science degree along with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and English. Maria's undergraduate studies were completed at New York University from 1986 to 1990, where they obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Journalism. Additionally, Maria has a certification in English 7-12 from the New York State Department of Education, although the specific dates of obtaining this certification are not provided. Maria also has some experience at Adelphi University, though no details regarding this educational experience are given.
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Challenge Charter Schools
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.