- Many teachers are from Teach For America - which is not a bad organization - but UP uses these young teachers, works them hard, and churns them (often times before their TFA contract is up because its so unbearable)
- School Leaders create an environment of fear, retribution, and a toxic power dynamic between teachers and administrators
- Speaking up about anything, even if you are fearful of your own safety in the classroom is HIGHLY discouraged. It is clear that if you speak up or provide a dissenting view, you will become a target to be pushed out of the organization
- There are very questionable tactics by those in charge around the implementation of IEPs, and support for students with special needs and learning disabilities
- Classroom size in middle school is typically around 30-33 students in one room
- While teachers pay Boston Teacher Union dues, you are forced to sign over all of your union rights when you sign your UP Contract. You are not entitled to the basics covered in the union contract like your schedule and mandatory free periods, sick days, working hours, mandatory meeting times/dates (including returning to staff meetings in the first week of August each year).
- Taking any time off seems to be a huge issue due to the lack of adequate substitutes. Doesn't matter if you are sick, on maternity leave, on berevement leave, have a doctor's appointment - you will get push back from the administration about why you need to take the time off. As a young teacher, its difficult to cut through the intimidation of the administrators when trying to decide if I should go to the doctor for a sickness or not.
- I see that teachers typically do not stay year-to-year. Many leave after 1-2 years. Once some of the more experienced teachers get to 4-5 years of service at the school, they get pushed out one way or another.
- I wish that the culture wasn't so toxic because there are many caring, dedicated, smart, energetic educators here that are willing to work hard for their students and school - they just need to be supported instead of treated like children.
- I cannot recommend working here at this point. I am hopeful it will get better, but it's the complete opposite of how effective schools run.
- The physical safety of the teachers is not at priority for the managers or administrators. Desks, chairs and books are thrown at teachers on a regular basis and when a teacher seems to speak up about feeling unsafe in the room, it becomes a negative review on their annual professional assessments.
- Many teachers use their own money for their classrooms (no matter the school), but you will be asked to foot the bill for classroom incentives like pizza parties or ice cream parties (which leaders suggest as core classroom management strategies)
- The curriculum doesn't seem to have any space for creativity - you are asked to read off of a robotic script which makes lessons very boring. I don't see many students really engaging in the content with enthusiasm
