Pros
The school has a major emphasis on collaboration, particularly within grade teams. As a new teacher, I felt extremely supported by the members of my team and learned a tremendous amount about writing curriculum and delivering instruction from them. Collaboration among teachers makes coming to work each day pleasant and also drives forward our planning, implementation, and reflection on curriculum. Particularly in the lower grades, no classroom or teacher is an "island," working alone. There is a very friendly culture among teachers/staff etc. and a feeling that we are all working together. There are many opportunities for growth and development, even for newer teachers, such as opportunities to lead your grade team or participate in the selection of new teachers. The student body is extremely diverse and many parents are very involved. The emphasis on music education is very unique, the music teachers are really phenomenal, and the concerts are a wonderful way to celebrate all that the students have learned. The administration seeks feedback and is interested in making changes for improvement.
Cons
VOICE has been a "growing" school, with a new grade added each year. This growth has been challenging with people taking on new roles, new curriculum being built each year, and shifts from less formal policies and procedures to more formalization. 8th grade was added in the 2015-2016 year, so some of the growing pains may subside in the coming years. Administration asks a lot from teachers, including writing curriculum, holding many team meetings, and following a lot of different policies and procedures. It can be hard to keep track of everything and it can sometimes feel overwhelming. While there is a lot of informal coaching and support within grade teams, some teachers express a desire for more formal coaching.