Manus Academy Reviews

If you have a struggling student with any type of barrier, this is the school for you! I left the public school system to work here and have not had the first regret. When my former co-workers ask me if I like my job, because it is a different type of program/teaching than a traditional school, my husband jumps right in and talks about how our quality of life has improved. I have my evenings and weekends to myself and family, rather than spending time creating lesson plans, grading homework and having to do all the things sent down from Raleigh, the local school district and a school’s administration. The administration and owner let you know what to expect before you are hired because you spend some time in the classroom in order to get a good indication of how the program works and you get great training to prepare you for teaching the curriculum. I have been so impressed with the fact that the owner has created all the curriculum and I get everything, including answer keys, to use while teaching the students for every subject. I have created about 4 applied learning projects for the entire year and have not had to buy the first thing or spend a dime out of my pocket. There are special events every Friday to involve all the teachers and students. This is truly a unique school for teachers and students because it isn’t rushed, it isn’t all academics, but it is mastery, the way school used to be taught. There is applied learning and social skills incorporated for students to learn how to manage many different types of physical and emotional barriers that might preclude them from thriving in a public school EC program. The administration at the school has been very supportive and worked with me when I unexpectedly needed some personal time off during the school year. Are the benefits as good as the state? No, of course not, this is a small independent business; however, you get sick days, personal days and summers, holidays, etc. off and you aren’t spending this time preparing plans for the next day, week or year. I am so glad I found this school, I have recommended it to numerous people, to both work and send their children, and if I had a child with special education needs, this is where I would want them, not public school. The students are so sweet and the parents are very supportive and appreciative of all the work we do to help their children thrive. This is truly a unique environment and I am very glad I found a place where the students are truly cared for and the staff really helps each other out.

From the moment I walked into this school, more than 10 years ago, I knew this was the place I wanted to be. The work can be challenging, but it’s also highly rewarding. This organization is focused on one thing, the student. It’s important to make each student feel safe, successful and cared for. This school is not about the adults who work here; it’s all about the students who learn here. Each student’s program is highly individualized. Which means the classroom teacher needs to know each student’s learning objectives, strengths, barriers and motivational factors. This is why the classroom sizes are kept small; the student-teacher ratio is 6-to-1. The small setting ensures students are not lost in a crowd or forgotten because they are quiet or shy. Keeping students safe via adult supervision is important to the learning process. Attentive supervision helps students feel safe and provides opportunities for teachers to coach students in social situations. The organization of classrooms, storage areas and other work spaces are designed to maximize instructional time and the time spent interacting with students. Classrooms are designed to ensure any staff member can substitute for a teacher and not waste time looking for materials and lesson plans. Teamwork is essential to our success. No teacher is an island. We accomplish great work here because we work together as a team to ensure our students are successful.