Democracy Prep Public Schools Reviews

Cons

The only think I can think of is that this is not a 9-5 job. However, if you're looking to make a noticeable impact in education, a 9-5 job is not going to cut it.

Cons

Very long hours and lots of things to juggle

Cons

They are not what they seem.

Cons

Admin, Leadership, Overworked Unnecessarily, long school day, no support from leadership, ethics.

People have jumped ship at alarming rates to leave this environment in the elementary, middle, and high school. No full staff because they keep firing people and the staff that remain are usually young and inexperienced. You bring up a concern, it makes you a target. Ageism is practiced here which is wrong. No responses to school bullying. Severely micro-managed. You have lesson plans from HQ but you have to adapt and modify them and do an incredible amount of work that really could be solved by respecting the expertise of the staff to choose what is best for their students. Special Education issues to the point of the school not being in compliance. Higher salaries at first glance, but benefits and such take so much out. You have only 5 days of sick/personal days. After that there is nothing else and you basically are then working on an hourly wage. Opportunities given for leadership to people who do not deserve it based on qualifications and experience. You could be a department head as a first year teacher which is wrong. Leadership will not support you no matter what is said. HQ in NY are nonexistent on campus and it creates a lack of severe oversight. Do not work here at all. You will soon regret it unless you are ok with illegal practices and want to be a hero to save the black and brown kids which is also wrong.

Cons

The work is exhausting and mentally and emotionally taxing. Most teachers do not stay long because it is not sustainable work. Teachers burn out, and rightfully and fairly so.

Cons

Long Hours, Unexperienced Leadership, Low work/life balance

Cons

Long hours, plus an 40 extra hr requirement outside of workday.

Cons

The long hours lead to burn out pretty quickly.

Cons

Everything else. Racist, classist charter school obsessed with respectability politics, punishment, and subordination of students and staff of color. Leadership is awful. It's a traumatizing work environment and most staff leave within their first year.

Cons

Longer hours than DOE
Lack of transparency regarding evaluations. They were never particularly clear as to what system they use. in the DOE they used Danielsen Framework. I never received any rubric or guidance as to what they are looking for.
They have a "no excuses" policy regarding students. But in the end teachers will always get blamed if students are not performing well. So in reality administrators are making excuses for students.
You can be let go for any or no reason. My contract was not renewed because I did not build strong enough relationships with students. That is ridiculous because most kids did like me.
New teachers aren't treated the same as veteran teachers. Veterans usually have contracts renewed even though I have seen very negative interactions with students. New teachers are much more vulnerable.
They hold teachers accountable but not students.
Many teachers leave during the year. The CEO denies this but she is a delusional fool.
Students are tough to teach. They like to "test" new teachers.