Uncommon Schools reviews

My position at Uncommon was my first full-time teaching job. As a first year teacher I was asked to teach 3 separate subjects, one of which I had no training in, to the largest and arguably most difficult class in the school. I've read other reviews in which people say that despite the overwhelming amount of work they always feel supported. This is true, but in my case the amount of work was SO overwhelming and unrealistic, (I was the only staff member teaching 3 separate subjects), especially for a first year teacher with little or no experience planning a curriculum or managing a classroom, that no amount of support could make up for the level of sleep deprivation, the fact that I never spent more than an hour a day with my husband, or the fact that in the time I worked there I didn't have a single day off, including weekends. I realize that my situation was slightly unique, but I am also aware that many of my coworkers felt the same amount of overwhelm, and in some cases downright desperation. I also found myself struggling with the disciplinary systems and the lack of free time for the students. I simply didn't think it was healthy. Children need recess, and kids who don't have the chance to run around and blow off steam become stir-crazy and make managing a classroom and building enthusiasm for subject matter exponentially harder for teachers.

Where to begin. They actually tried to incentivize people to write these for more money so we could start there. I should also probably start when the CEO went live multiple times to try and get teachers at a school dedicated to serve underserved POC to vote for Trump. Maybe the racism? In most settings outside of it, Uncommon is known to create shell-shocked teachers. I was attacked multiple times by students and admin did nothing and was later blamed. I received racist and hateful comments directed towards me by admin and no one did nothing either. I was chastised and bullied by admin on multiple occasions for teaching and pushing for curriculum changes due to racist practices also present. They constantly are not DESE compliant with regards to ESOL nor SPED students and for many schools there was no one who was a native Spanish speaker for the many Dominican and Puerto Rican families they serve. The system is punitive and students are traumatized early to stay in line. Teachers are denied comfortable footwear while being forced to stand the entire day. They will chastise you for language use and overwhelm you to feedback until you become traumatized by e-mails and other bullying tactics to maintain 'culture' while at the same time lowballing all POC staff with lower salaries than their white peers. Do not work here if you want a positive experience or wish to enjoy teaching.