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OUR MISSION:
Empower.
The Young Women’s Leadership School of Queens is a space where students can freely learn, grow and explore, which fosters a desire for lifelong learning and successfully prepares them for college.
TYWLS of Queens is committed to nurturing young people’s intellectual curiosity and creativity while addressing developmental needs.
Instructors cultivate a participatory education that dynamically teaches students understanding the source of their authentic power is essential.
By affirming young scholars for who they are, teachers and staff support their constant self-development via opportunities in school and the greater NYC region. Whether reaching goals in math, science, and technology classes or expressing themselves boldly and setting trends, not just following them, TYWLS of Queens students grow to define success for themselves.
TYWLS of Queens instills in its students a sense of belonging, inclusivity, personal responsibility, and equity that emboldens the next generation of young people.
The foundation of TYWLS Queens’ educational philosophy relies on the solid belief of four pillars, the school community’s axis, that helps drive all decisions: Leadership, STEAM, Health & Wellness, and College/Career Awareness.
LEADERSHIP
TYWLS of Queens fosters confidence, patience, and optimism in all students so they can cultivate personal authority. With the diplomatic skills gained, they will feel at ease in positions of visibility and shatter glass ceilings they come up against.
The school attracts reformers with entrepreneurial energy who desire to innovate and interrogate broken systems that structure antiquated, patriarchal, white supremacist institutions in society.
Students will learn to stand up for themselves and their communities, challenge the status quo and expose double standards to integrate change that’ll improve everyday life. After graduation, they’ll become bosses and capable leaders in the workplace who serve as inspiration for others.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg said it best: “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.”
STEM
STEAM is an approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math as access points for guiding student dialogue and critical thinking. Rather than explicitly focusing on scientific concepts and practical skills, STEAM is an interdisciplinary approach that harnesses the natural symbiosis between these fields of study to foster creative problem-solving.
Through hands-on learning experiences, educators work to encourage interest in science and math, starting with middle schoolers, and nurture their interests and passions early so students feel confident in pursuing these fields when they get to college. Whether interested in investigating constellations, mushrooms, or the chemistry of makeup, students understand STEAM is versatile; they have a place and potential career.
Science: Classes offered include Living Environment, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics. Young people are inspired to gather data and conduct analysis, leading some to transform their space into a sound studio, workshop, or lab. Pupils learn about sustainable practices, adopting eco-friendly habits, how to protect their communities from the effects of climate change, and job opportunities in a green economy. “Think globally, act locally” is a succinct way to describe their conscious awareness of personal responsibility.
Technology: Media literacy and digital well-being are the basis of tech classes. Students practice coding, are encouraged to think like hackers for the greater good, and are inspired to use their visual storytelling skills, bringing graphic design projects alive with software. Young people with limited access to technology at home can loan a DOE laptop/tablet for school use.
Engineering: The future of Queens depends on designing resilient infrastructure and establishing sustainable waterways/agricultural systems. Pre-teens and teens incorporate science, math, geography, and technology to brainstorm architectural solutions addressing the city’s built environment and green spaces.
Art: Students who work on innovative projects independently — including murals, creative writing, choreography, monologues, recorded music, and craftsmanship with fabric — learn how to collaborate with like-minded aspiring artists. Through careful study of classical and contemporary approaches to art, students hone their philosophical views on the necessity of creative expression throughout human history. Students create 2-D and 3-D pieces they can showcase in the Winter and Spring Art Exhibitions. Those who choose to take AP 2D Art and Design go on to develop portfolios exploring inquiries/themes/concepts which showcase their skills and values.
Math: Scholars take courses in Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, and AP Calculus. Our young people have intellectual stamina, and by adopting a growth mindset, they understand miscalculations are not mistakes but opportunities to find new applications for theorems and formulas that they can present at Math Conferences.
COLLEGE & CAREER AWARENESS
TYWLS of Queens alums have attended Ivy League, CUNY, SUNY, and other high-ranking institutions, many with financial aid packages and scholarships that allow them to focus on their studies.
Students at TYWLS of Queens are often the first in their families to attend college/the first to pursue post-secondary education in the United States. These scholars and their families need customized support and a vast array of accessible, multilingual information in digital and print formats. TYWLS of Queens aims to be an environment adaptable to student needs.
College is the destination, but faculty and staff prioritize the journey by incorporating advisory programs, experiential learning trips, events with guest speakers, and volunteer/internship opportunities into the curriculum that introduce young scholars to organizations in the city and show them different professional avenues where they can channel the powers of their imagination.
Students are encouraged to inquire, consider their natural and learned talents when workshopping essays/resumes, and decide which torches to pass on in their coming-of-age story.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
We understand that students come in with rich cultural histories and lineages that have come through great odds. Some also experience a loss of connection to their place of origin.
TYWLS of Queens is in Jamaica, which the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity identified as one of the regions most heavily impacted by COVID-19. Jamaica, Queens is a neighborhood highly affected by other health and socioeconomic disparities.
The Socio-Emotional Learning Team always considers students’ personal stories and the context of their environment when checking in about physical, mental, and emotional states.
Athletic directors strive to help young people of color reinforce their connection to the outdoors by exposing them to recreational activities like hiking, camping, swimming, and nature excursions to demonstrate these are spaces where they belong too.
Students are motivated to build a lifestyle that honors their body’s needs, desires, and integrity. With time, students’ creative, evolving relationship with their wellness helps them move towards a mindset of abundance, not scarcity.
Youth learn that advocating for their wellness and autonomy brings a sense of self-respect. Additionally, through early encouragement of their individuality and access to a Health Resource Room, pre-teens and adolescents express their gender in a way that’s true to them, developing a strong sense of self-worth.
