Elitist Managers Brewed a Toxic Culture - Professional Learning Specialist Curriculum Associates Employee Review

Before working at Curriculum Associates, I was an elementary teacher using i-Ready in my classroom for both reading and math. It was such an important resource to me... so much so that I actually remember Googling "how to work for i-Ready" because I wanted to learn more about the company behind it! That eventually led me to the EdTech Fellowship, which gave me the chance to see the corporate side of education after only really knowing the classroom side. I really enjoyed the fellowship and knew pretty quickly that I wanted to stay at CA if there was ever an opportunity. I’ve now been here for almost two years and have had the unique experience of being in the fellowship, a temporary role, and now a full-time role. I’ve truly had a great experience in each stage and have felt supported as I’ve continued to grow and learn. One thing I really appreciate about CA is how mission-aligned people are. As someone who has been both a teacher using the product and now an employee working behind the scenes, I can say that people here care about supporting teachers and students. That shared purpose makes the work feel meaningful and makes it easy to feel connected to the people around you!!

The transition from teaching into the corporate world can come with a learning curve (which I think the Ed Tech Fellowship really helped with!)

They are still hiring educator facing roles.

Over the past five years, I've witnessed significant changes in both leadership and company culture. When I joined, the organization was deeply focused on education, with students, teachers, and school leaders at the center of every decision. The former CEO often described the company's philosophy as "conscious capitalism," emphasizing both mission and business success. Unfortunately, that culture has shifted. The company increasingly resembles other large education publishers where growth and profitability appear to take precedence over people and educational outcomes. All current executives come from industries outside of education, and the difference in priorities is noticeable. One of the company's greatest strengths has always been its relationships with districts, educators, and school leaders. We built trust by investing additional time and support to ensure successful implementations, not simply product sales. Customers consistently appreciated that commitment. Recent decisions, however, have placed growing pressure on employee-facing teams. Per diem Education Consultants have experienced multiple rounds of compensation reductions over the years. After previous cuts and layoffs to non-educator facing roles, per diem consultants are now facing larger reductions that effectively decreases earnings by approximately 20% or more. At the same time, upper management continues to expand, and more work is being shifted to lower-cost teams overseas. The message many employees hear is: work harder, accept less compensation, and be grateful to still have a job. Morale has suffered as a result, and many talented employees are choosing to leave. Growth is important, but educational success is not measured solely by the number of schools or districts using a product. What matters most is the quality of implementation and the impact on educators and students. That focus once defined this company. Today, it feels increasingly lost.