Pros
Great teachers and curriculum.
Cons
There is too much work accompanied by low pay and ridiculously long hours. There is no balance of life and work if the work is to be accomplished. There are more clerical duties as compared to teaching and helping students and their families. The level of technical knowledge required to manage the classroom and troubleshoot computer issues at the same time as teaching is a sad state of affairs. Compiling and recording an unimaginable about of data with a large class size was certainly not in the interview or a sound teaching idea in general. The interview questions of whether I could send and receive emails did not prepare me for the amount of real computer skills required, although I had more than that to offer. The on-boarding was left to my own wits, K12 supplied training, that I will mention soon, and another mentor fellow teacher that was already swamped with their own mountain of work. The K12 training was supplied, but the first sessions were offered when we had no idea what they were talking about because of computer issues or a true idea of how this system would work because lack of experience in that environment. The teaching skills from the brick and mortar classroom to an online classroom do not transfer in the beginning days until that experience can be achieved by trial and error. Training was offered at the same time we were to meet with families to set up schedules of conferences. It was the most anxiety producing time of my life and I am a seasoned and good teacher. When the time came to actually meet the students and families in the BBC it was trial by error or success. It was like being thrown in at the deep end of the pool and being expected to swim or drown. When I did mention the lack of training and on-boarding I was told by other faculty that this is how it is and your experience is no different or to be regarded as it will not change. In other words, suck it up and just do it because there is no help in sight. They are right. There is no help, just more work. If you go too far to the top to complain the vindictive spirit of the head administrator can sting. If there is too much talk of wanting to have it change you might not be looked on as a team player because, "we are teachers and we do it for the kids". Since when is wanting a good work environment not good for the kids? The management right above me is stretched to the limit and although they are sympathetic and kind, could not change anything about my experience. If they could they would have. They have no real power. They are caught between their corporate pressure to produce data and gaining more students than caring for the making of life long learners and teachers who are overworked and underpaid. The head of the school is only interested in data and numbers and how many students are retained. They are not interested in meeting new faculty or going out of their way to assist them. I don't feel that they think that is their job. Their job is data. Data to them is more important than people. The employee handbook does not match the provided contract or what is agreed upon in the interview. This virtual school as a part of a state public school does not match the same calendar time required and is far off that pay scale. They have taken away the internet stipend given to the teachers to work from home. Yes, we get a paycheck and healthcare benefit, but taking in account the experience and the education that these wonderful teachers bring to their job, it is a poor way to be treated.
