Pros
At APA I had the pleasure of working with wonderful people who cared deeply about children, and I'm thankful that I got to know them and can call them friends today. They have all also left APA, seeking out other opportunities that allow them to make a positive impact on children while maintaining their personal health and sanity. As terrible as my time was there, I am thankful because I've learned so much about what NOT to do as a teacher, what does NOT work for schools, and how NOT to treat other people.
Cons
These statements will echo what previous reviewers have already stated, but it's worth repeating: - The absolute worst part of this job is the way you are expected to "educate" children. These kids were given little to no recess, no access to physical education, no opportunities to express any creativity (no art, no music, no creative assignments in class). They are treated like prisoners-in-training, being forced to sit silently in desks for hours on end, being punished for going to the bathroom, being subjected to ridiculous Pavlovian behavioral training, being made to silently march through the hallways in mock-militaristic efficiency. Compliance is celebrated over everything. This flat-out maltreatment of children is masked as closing the achievement gap, as preparing "scholars" for a college path. You can fill out worksheets and do cheers and give out cheap stickers all day long - that is not an education. If you want to be a teacher that pushes your students to be creative, to think critically, to work collaboratively, to develop their voices - LOOK ELSEWHERE. Do not fall for the bogus claims that you are helping to close the achievement gap. High test scores don't necessarily equate to a quality education. The children at this school deserve so much more. - As a teacher at this school, you are expected to sacrifice everything for your job, including your time, your health, your emotional health, and your relationships. If you question anything about the educational model or if you put any other priority before your job, you are humiliated and your integrity is questioned (often in front of the entire staff). If you don't show up to work with a smile on your face, the administration will question your dedication to "the cause." - In my time at APA, I worked 12-16 hour days, 7 days a week, working on creating materials for my students because there are NO curriculum materials available for you to use. When they say you get to take part in "curriculum design," what they really mean is that you have to spend countless hours creating "packets" of worksheets for your kids to fill out while you lecture. - They did not have substitute teachers available if you were sick or could not come into work, meaning that one of your colleagues would be forced to lose their planning periods to cover your class. We had so many teachers quit during the middle of the year, and they did not fill those positions; rather, the remaining staff was forced to cover those classes and work double the amount. - The language and jargon that you're forced to use prevents any real conversation from taking place. You are reprimanded for not "buying in" to the highly specific and carefully crafted language of the school. It's Orwellian. The saying that "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" speaks to the truth of Achievement Prep. The people who run this school and the people who work in the school all desperately want a better future for their students. This is not the way to do it. The kids in Ward 8 deserve more. APA robs these kids of their childhood and denies them opportunities to develop into independent, critical thinkers. I sincerely hope that this school is replaced with one that has more respect for children.