Pay, while higher than at a part-time retail/restaurant job, is low for the demands of this job. We are all way over-qualified (bachelor's of master's degrees) to be paid this little for a job this involved. Parents pay about $125/hr and yet those of us actually doing the work of teaching their children make $17/hr. (As a side note, because the cost to parents is so high, we mostly see a very specific kind of family. The company makes it seem as though scholarship students and special contract projects are a priority, but they aren't. The programs do amazing work but only for those who can afford it.) You will be paid the exact same as the other clinicians regardless of how much better you may be at the work. Some students have severe behavior problems and we are given little training or support to deal with it. If you are actually good at the job, you will always be scheduled with the most difficult (sometimes actively mean or violent) students, making you hate your job. Oh, and there's absolutely no accountability from management for the VERY frequent sexual harassment problems (inappropriate touching, etc.) from students.
Management is completely clueless. All hiring above the clinician level is from within and as a result, no one has any real management experience. The center is completely disorganized in terms of who is responsible for what or who you should speak to about problems. Much of the "team building" and feedback structures treat employees like they are children. Despite an appearance of caring and respect, management does not follow through on keeping clinicians feeling safe and valued. There's also not much room to move up. People only get promoted or get (very minimal raises) if they blatantly tell management that they are going to quit. Turn-over rate is high and management uses promotion to keep people from leaving so we're not (even more) understaffed.
Scheduling here is as bad as a retail job. Despite part-time pay (and part-time status, meaning no benefits) you are expected to be constantly available. 30-40 hour weeks are common, but cannot be relied upon. Hours drop off dramatically at the end of summer. You go from consistent 40 hour weeks to 5-10 hours per week very suddenly. Any time requested off is met with resistance and passive-aggressive pressure regardless of your reasons. And if you don't give a reason, you will be pressured into giving one. You are not allowed to take any days off in the summer. You will also be pressured into working additional hours on short notice. Schedules change multiple times per day and they reserve the right to schedule you based on "business needs" rather than your actual availability. Schedules are not available online and are only posted on the preceding Friday. There is absolutely NO WAY to schedule or plan your life around this job and forget even trying to get a second job or have time to apply/interview for anything else.