Pros
The one bright spot is the community of parents and students. Most parents are supportive and appreciative, and many of the children are a true joy to teach. However, you will still encounter many parents that have the “not my child” mentality and will fail to understand why their child received the referral or is not getting a higher grade; But that’s at any school. If you are a caring and committed educator, you may find meaning in your interactions with students. Unfortunately, that positive aspect is heavily overshadowed by a toxic work environment.
Cons
After working at Valor Education I am compelled to share an honest account to help those considering a position there. This review is not written out of emotion, but rather a sense of responsibility to warn others based on clear patterns and personal experience. *Staff Turnover and Culture* In less than 9 months, 13 faculty members either resigned or were dismissed. Turnover at this rate reflects a deeper systemic issue. Cowan was too quick to dismiss many, yet protected the worst teachers employed. Staff members are frequently let go for not conforming to an idealized mold that is neither well-defined nor attainable. Though the organization claims to provide coaching and support, this is not the reality. Initial training is offered, but there is little to no follow-up, mentorship, or professional development. *Inconsistent Standards and Questionable Practices* One of the most troubling inconsistencies was the dismissal of hard-working and honest educators, while another coach with a well-documented history of verbal and physical misconduct (including over 10 parent complaints) was retained. In another case, a well-liked coach was terminated and used as a scapegoat for an administrative failure involving background checks—duties that should not have fallen under his purview. Another Coach was hired without leadership calling his previous employers and he turned out to be a pervert; they put the children at risk by not conducting thorough checks beforehand. They didn’t even ask for my references, nor did they call any of my previous employers before hiring me, and I thought that was very strange and concerning. Hiring practices raise serious ethical concerns. Two Individuals with no teaching certification or college degree had been promoted to teaching roles, which is both illegal and deeply irresponsible. Favoritism is rampant, and many leadership decisions seem arbitrary or based on internal alliances rather than merit or qualifications. *Workload and Working Conditions* If you teach K-5 specials (such as PE, art, Latin, or music), be aware that you will not have a dedicated classroom. You’ll be pushing a cart between rooms, unlike upper school teachers who are granted their own spaces—highlighting a clear bias in favor of upper school staff. PE instruction is particularly challenging, with coaches rotating between multiple locations, including classrooms where students must remain silent, even during physical activity. *Culture of Distrust and Unprofessional Behavior* There is a notable lack of collegial respect. Teachers often report others to leadership over trivial or misinterpreted incidents rather than seeking direct communication. In all my years in professional careers I’ve never experienced such frequent and unfounded accusations or felt so misunderstood. The workplace atmosphere is marked by high stress, poor communication, and a lack of basic professionalism from some staff. *Pay and Expectations* Compensation starts around $40–45k annually for first-year teachers, yet the hours and workload far exceed typical expectations. Teachers are often asked to work events with little notice and must endure harsh conditions during daily carline duties, which lack a fair rotation system.
