Very Happy I made the career change - Area Manager Right At School Employee Review

5.0
May 9, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

About a year ago I made a change in careers. I was working in special education part time and running a district after school program also part time. Right At School came to the district as the new after school program for the 2015-16 school year. I was hired for program manager and later offered the area manager position. I accepted and until recently had not looked back. Last week I compared my happiness and satisfaction level to a year ago. I am beyond words happier and more satisfied than I was last year. I love the staff I have hired, the co-workers across the country and the constant support of the main office in Evanston. This company wants us to succeed, to become better and offers us the resources to do it!

Cons

The only downside I have come across is the cost of benefits. I do know that this company will improve though. During initial expansion it is hard for all areas to catch up!

Explore other reviews about Right At School

5.0
Jun 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Flexible schedule and clear training provided prior to start date.

Cons

Occasionally, minor communication errors would occur.

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Right At School Response
3w
Hello, this is Michelle from Right at School. Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re really glad to hear that the scheduling flexibility and training have been positives for you. Helping our team members feel confident and supported from day one is something we work hard to achieve. We also really appreciate your feedback regarding communication. Even small communication gaps can make a difference and we are always looking for ways to improve how we support our teams. If you ever have additional feedback to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at michelle.keene@rightatschool.com. Thank you!
1.0
Jul 17, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

* Opportunity to gain early childhood education experience.

Cons

* Poor hours with little flexibility. * Extremely high turnover due to inadequate training and lack of support. * Toxic, cliquey work environment. * Program managers and some shift leads were unsupportive and often made staff feel suffocated. * Educators received little meaningful support while being expected to manage chaotic programs. * Inconsistent quality of coworkers; some displayed unprofessional behavior around children. * Upper management was dishonest or unclear about payroll, expectations, and available support. * Low staff morale negatively affected parents’ perception of the company. * Frequent micromanagement instead of coaching or mentorship. * Communication from some managers was often condescending, aggressive, or focused only on mistakes. * Management rarely checked in to offer help, instead focusing on criticism. * Some leadership styles escalated children’s emotional situations rather than de-escalating them. * Certain managers appeared quick to assume children were acting maliciously instead of understanding the situation. * Overall culture left staff feeling undervalued, uncomfortable, and unsupported. * Lack of investment in employee development and long-term success. * Poor leadership contributed to burnout and made retention difficult. * There was an employee with a dangerous criminal record that went unnoticed by management for some time.

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