Reading Partners reviews

Top-down, inflexible management. High, unrealistic enrollment quotas, lack of transparency, disorganization, lack of communication, nonexistent transparency— worst of all, “dumping” of work onto site coordinators. Managers are disengaged, executive leadership in Bay Area and Silicon Valley is severely lacking. Stark divide between different groups within staff— between managers and ACMs, between program staff and engagement staff. Mangers discuss work life balance, but in reality expect you to put in weekend hours—managers do not model professionalism. Decisions are not focused on what will actually help students, nor are they focused on what will help ACMS achieve site goals. Decisions are made for convenience of management only. Lack of support for ACMs yet management is also micromanaging and lacks trust—a lethal combination that causes indifference and burnout. These issues seem to be worsening each year. Administrators are picking up on these issues amongst others such as reliability of end of year data and school sites are dropping like flies. School staff take notice when site coordinator does not have manager support.

Disparate treatment based on employment status. For example, executives make really big bucks while program staff are paid peanuts. A program manager might make $45,000 to $50,000, and who can live on that in the San Francisco bay area? The biggest issue with RP is executive compensation, primarily the CEO. Glassdoor lists Michael Lombardo as CEO. I looked it up and he's the former CEO. He left over 2 years ago. The current CEO is Karine Appollon and she is not in touch with the students. She's on a different planet. She makes an obscene salary for a rather small not-for-profit (mid 6 figures), plus she gets to travel between her own home on the east coast and the HQ in Oakland, all on RP money. I question whether or not the donors know their money is spent on a free apartment with paid utilities for a highly compensated CEO. While she's eating at 5 star restaurants with paid for $100+ dinners and alcohol, the Americorps members who work with the students and manage the tutor schedule at the reading center is lucky if he can afford McDonalds. I've personally witnessed her very expensive dinners that she treated her guests on RP money. Add to that the organization lays off employees every year, reducing payroll and benefits expense, but costing those that are left many more working hours. In the meantime, the ones who really run things, the Americorps members, are working 10 hour days for a very small stipend payment. While that is all happening, the CEO is eating at expensive restaurants with free-flowing alchol and wearing Jimmy Choo.