According to their own HR training, it is an hostile work environment - Visual Arts Teacher Idyllwild Arts Employee Review

1.0
21 Aug 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The students themselves are the brightest part of the experience. The natural setting is beautiful and inspiring. Some departments are filled with passionate and capable educators doing their best under difficult conditions.

Cons

Since it is not a good place to work, people quit all the time and that high staff turnover is met not with replacement, but with redistribution of duties to remaining staff, often without training or added compensation. Housing is "sold" as a benefit to the teachers, however it comes with a whole another job called Dorm Parenting. You are not paid for the time you dorm parent; since it is a demanding job, there are no consistent days off, and personal time is regularly interrupted by additional duties. Leadership is disengaged and largely remote, with little understanding of or any concern for the day-to-day realities of staff and faculty working on campus. Poor infrastructure maintenance, including persistent rodent and insect infestations, especially in student dorms. Small mountain town, no HR, no oversight of any school operational integrity. Quite sad. The organization suffers from nepotism and systemic disorganization, leading to inconsistent experiences across departments and frequent burnout. My direct supervisor lacked basic managerial competence, which resulted in miscommunication, frequent blame-shifting, and unsafe conditions for students.

Explore other reviews about Idyllwild Arts

5.0
25 July 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I worked here for the summer and would absolutely come back. I know a lot of the staff is different summer vs year-round, but everyone was amazing, 3 meals a day was great, dorm was fine, and the campus is beautiful. The pay was decent in my opinion. The dress code is not as strict as it sounds in the handbook also which is nice. Love the chill energy and atmosphere from everyone here. I also like how much safety they have around campus with the nurses, security, emergency response team, and the app with alerts.

Cons

- The vegan food would be absolutely amazing some days, very limited other days, and occasionally labeled with incorrect allergens. Be cautious and friendly and you will be fine, and really get treated with great meals every few days. - The dorm I stayed in shared thin doors with others and could hear every word, also ants all over mine which got annoying. - It is a twisty long road to get off the mountain, but there is plenty to do in the actual town of idyllwild, so its only bad if you want to go anywhere else and make the drive. - Like zero outdoor water fountains? Everything was indoors which can be locked up at times.

4.0
20 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Helpful staff who genuinely want to help

Cons

Not the best facilities or organization to find resources

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