An incredible opportunity to work with the brightest students and colleagues, and develop as a teacher
Pros
This is my third year as a literature teacher with Achievement First at University Prep in Bushwick, NY. I am writing this review because I had always been skeptical of charter schools: what I had read prior to interviewing at University Prep lead me to believe that they were overly punitive and test preppy, that they stifled student voice and did not respect student culture, and that they pushed out students who struggled most with behavior and in order to artificially inflate their numbers. While I cannot speak to charter schools as a whole, as self-evidently they are all different than each other, I am happy that I can report that University Prep is the only high school I have worked at that is truly getting it right. I will do my best here to explain why I think that is, and try to give you a sense of whether or not it is the right environment for you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ First and foremost, there is a unity of purpose between all of the teachers, administrators, and school support staff to create a student culture that has high expectations, is academically rigorous, and is joyful. As a result, I simply cannot imagine working in a more invigorating and inspiring environment. The kids are ridiculously happy and kind for high school students; obviously there is some grumpiness, attitude, and apathy, but it is bizarrely low for this age. The kids' great attitude is complimented by an absurd work ethic. These two things working together make my job as an English teacher so much fun every day. Right now I'm coming off an incredible seminar conversation where my students debated what Arundhati Roy's imagery, figurative language, and diction implied about her views on incest (if you haven't read God of Small Things, it's more complicated than you might assume!) Secondly, you will be supported. There is a real sense of team, both in the school as a whole, but also among the content and grade teams. If I am struggling with how to teach a text, or some particularly skill, I can collaborate comfortably with the other English teachers. If I am struggling with a particular kid, say a kid who is consistently not completing their homework, I know I am not alone in that struggle. Every other teacher in my grade will be having conversations with them as well, calling parents and guardians, communicating with administrators, etc. You are never pushing a boulder uphill by yourself, there are always other people with a common goal actively working at it. Lastly, you will develop as a teacher. There are coaches and mentors here who really help. I have had two different coaches throughout my time here, both the principal and the head of the English department. They observed my classes, worked with me, talked things through with me, gave me a ton of feedback, and it has transformed my practice. I look back at what my teaching looked like when I first started working here (I thought I was pretty good) and it is just so different now. The kids are learning so much more, they are working so much harder, and there is so much more energy and joy.
Cons
Look, this job is not for everyone. You HAVE to want to grow and develop. If you are someone who is really set in their ways, who KNOWS that you know better than everyone else and that you have no room to improve, this is probably not the place for you. If you are someone who feels uncomfortable being observed, this is not the place for you. There will be people, other teachers, your coach, random administrators, deans, in and out of your room all the time. They will give you feedback. It is 100% not punitive, it is 100% just for the good of you and the kids, but there is no getting around the fact that for most people, myself included, being observed and getting feedback can be really stressful. I hate when I am teaching a class that isn't going well and someone comes in and watches it. This WILL happen. Soooo... you have to be someone who wants to improve more than you don't like the stress of being observed. Also, it's hard work, but that is just teaching.
