Agency infighting, jockeying for power and politics harms the students' educational experience and social/emotional well-being. It also interferes with your ability to deliver content, teach effectively and manage behavior. This adds chronic stress to an already challenging job. It is a toxic work environment and do not expect support from human resources because they contribute greatly to the overall toxicity of school.
Nepotism and favoritism run rampant.
Green Chimneys does not understand the job of teachers or what we go. They do not understand education nor our training and experience. Teachers get the same hours and year long work schedule, as all 12-months employees no matter what the other full time 12-month employees job entails. (Although other employees to get lunch breaks.) Expect to work long hours, year round, with nothing being contributed to NYSTERS, and at a much lower pay rate than teachers in a public school. Do not expect a prep period, a lunch period or any other break in your 8 hour day. You are considered a teacher, a lunch monitor, a nurse because sick children will be sent back to your classroom, a behavior specialist and a babysitter. We are not on a step-system so do not expect a yearly pay increase. Raises are given if the school is able to fund them, which is rare, and they must be given to all employees no matter the position. Again, the lack of a step-system for teachers shows how teachers are viewed. There is no union or ability to join Brewster School District's union.
You will also need to get used to seeing children mistreated by staff that is allegedly there to support you in managing behavior but use their power and ability to restrain children as an excuse to put their hands on the children to make them submit before attempting any other solution.
This is a place where children and teachers come last, in spite of the fact that it is the school that generates the funds to keep Green Chimneys in business. Green Chimneys values administrators, human resources, and every other department over the education of the children and the school in every instance.
