My experience as a Pre-K 3 Lead Teacher at this establishment was, unfortunately, one of the most disappointing experiences of my teaching career.
For context, I have been teaching for approximately five years and have worked in public schools, private schools, charter schools, and daycare settings. This was the first workplace where I felt unsupported as both an educator and a professional.
My employment was recently terminated without being given a reason. During the hiring process, I was not informed that the company follows an at-will employment policy, meaning employees can be terminated with or without cause. While I understand this is legally permitted, it created an environment where I felt there was little job security.
The work culture at the New Rochelle location was challenging. In my experience, administration frequently engaged in workplace gossip about employees, the director's management style was extremely micromanaging, and interactions with the assistant director/Pre-K 3 teacher were often unprofessional. Teachers were also pulled aside and questioned about workplace gossip, which created an uncomfortable atmosphere rather than one built on trust and teamwork.
Another major concern was the inconsistency in disciplinary procedures. Human Resources initially explained that the disciplinary process would consist of a verbal warning, written warning, suspension, and then termination. However, that process was not consistently followed. Instead, employees often received final written warnings followed by termination, creating confusion and uncertainty.
Staffing was another ongoing issue. Classrooms were frequently out of ratio or understaffed, making it difficult for teachers to provide the quality education and supervision that young children deserve. Constant staffing shortages placed unnecessary stress on teachers and negatively affected the classroom environment.
The compensation also did not reflect the expectations of the position. As a lead teacher with a bachelor's degree, certifications, and several years of experience, I found the hourly pay to be disappointing given the workload and responsibilities.
I genuinely cared about my students and invested my own time and money into creating a welcoming classroom environment because I believe every child deserves that. Unfortunately, I did not feel that the organization valued or supported its teachers in the same way.
Based on my personal experience, I cannot recommend this workplace. I hope the organization takes steps to improve its leadership, communication, staffing, and support for educators so that both teachers and children can thrive. read more
