PA Leadership Charter School Employee Review

Current Employee – been working at PA Leadership Charter School

Pros – The teachers are very nice and true professionals
Decent work environment and flexibility with schedules
Able to work with peers to make classes better.

Cons – Teachers and most staff are not treated as professionals
No pay raises or bonuses paid in 5 years
No real advancement unless you are in with the managers.

Advice to Senior Management – Palcs has a very high turn over rate, about a third of the students leave us each year. The problem is, there are a lot of students that should be withdrawn because they don't go to class, do zero work, and are not getting an education. If we are not educating a student they should go to a school that better fits their needs. Why should a school district or the state (which ultimately is our tax money) be going to pay for an education that isn't happening.

Keeping students that are not working or learning will only come back to hurt us, as it has and is, when they don't pass the pssa tests, and we don't make ayp again.

The other real problem is that teachers need to be treated with respect, and as professionals. Middle management micromanage the teachers. We don't have anyone with real experience and ability in these positions. Middle management also bring people into these positions that they are comfortable with (yes men) not people who have the qualifications, experience, and ability. This leads to poor management and a lack of vision for the future. There needs to be a way for for teachers to rate their bosses, and a way to remove poor managers. There needs to be true fairness in promotions and filling job opening. There are a lot of highly qualified experienced people at palcs that would do a far better job than those with the titles now.

The raises and bonuses have been almost none existent for the past 5 years for teachers and staff. But, many in management have been given straight out raises, or have been given extra titles an money. Why not offer these new "jobs" to other people. Why are the same people always given any new jobs. Why have some of these people been given straight out raises when raises, even cost of living, hasn't been given to others.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend