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Rocketship Public Schools

Engaged Employer

Performative Coaching Culture + No Work-Life Balance - Assistant Principal Rocketship Public Schools Employee Review

2.0
Jan 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-The admin and teachers are deeply, deeply committed to educational equity, culturally responsive pedagogy, and closing the achievement gap. But at what cost? -Rocketship is a perfect fit for a novice teacher who wants to dive headfirst into the profession and live, eat, breathe education. -Rocketship supports vertical growth and career progression.

Cons

There are many cons, but I'll just keep it to 3. -It was explicitly stated that you are "judged by what time you leave work." Work-life balance is discouraged. However, for many employees, Rocketship blends into their social life, so they view hanging out at work as "fun" and judge those who want to go home and have some space. -Admin places absolutely unrealistic expectations placed upon teachers, far beyond any other charter I've worked at. As an admin, I felt uncomfortable enforcing protocols and assigning work that I wouldn't want to do as a teacher. It felt hypocritical. Teachers are expected to be on campus 10+ hours a day on average and do additional work planning and grading at home. Admin are expected to help teachers pilot unattainable curricula while charter leaders, disconnected from teachers' day to day reality, provide little guidance or support. -The coaching culture is highly performative and distracts students from learning. Five or more admin or leaders hang out in a classroom at a time, coaching each other with exaggerated hand gestures and facial expressions, trying to impress their superiors, while teachers are struggling to maintain focus and deliver their lesson. It was a circus that felt misaligned with my values.

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Rocketship Public Schools Response
3mo
Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective. We appreciate your recognition of our educators’ deep commitment to equity and student achievement. We also take concerns around workload, leadership expectations, and coaching culture seriously. Our intention is for coaching and collaboration to be purposeful and student-centered, while ensuring leaders and teachers feel supported and able to maintain sustainable boundaries. We are continually reflecting on feedback and evolving our systems to better balance high expectations with educator wellbeing. We appreciate your time with Rocketship and wish you the best in your continued leadership journey.

Explore other reviews about Rocketship Public Schools

5.0
Mar 31, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Everyone is super committed to the kids and families, it is nice to all be on the same team working hard, school leaders working hard to coach and invested in my development, amazing kids and families, good compensation and benefits especially compared to local districts and much better career opportunities

Cons

Hard work, so learning how to manage time and expectations is critical

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Rocketship Public Schools Response
6mo
Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s wonderful to hear how deeply aligned your teammates, school leaders, and development opportunities have felt with your commitment to students and families. We’re glad that Rocketship’s coaching, professional development, and career pathways have played a meaningful role in your growth. We recognize that the work can be challenging, and learning to balance expectations is an important part of the journey. We remain focused on strengthening the systems and supports that help educators thrive while continuing to deliver excellent outcomes for students. We appreciate your reflection and the impact you make every day, your dedication truly helps shape our school community.
4.0
May 29, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Organizing is some of the most meaningful work I've had the opportunity to do. The role allows you to build genuine relationships, empower community members to find their voice, and contribute to efforts that create lasting change. Every day presents opportunities to learn, grow, and develop skills in leadership, outreach, campaign strategy, public speaking, and project management. The work is deeply rewarding because you can see the direct impact of your efforts on people's lives and communities.

Cons

Work-life balance can be difficult to maintain. The role often requires evening and weekend work to accommodate meetings, events, and community engagement activities. During busy campaign periods or major initiatives, workloads can become demanding, making it challenging to disconnect outside of regular working hours. The emotional investment required for organizing work can also contribute to burnout if adequate support and boundaries are not in place.

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