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Austin Centers for Exceptional Students

Engaged Employer

Concerns over leadership and behavior support practices persist - Special Education Teacher Austin Centers for Exceptional Students Employee Review

1.0
Apr 28, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

A nice campus located in a well-maintained neighborhood. You will have the opportunity to work alongside dedicated and committed people.

Cons

This school is currently working through a corrective action plan with the State of Colorado’s Department of Facility Schools. This is a serious situation and there has been a concerning lack of transparency with staff, including teachers and paraprofessionals, about what is driving the corrective action and what changes are being required. A major concern is that there does not appear to be a clear, consistent commitment to addressing student behavior needs through properly trained staff and evidence-based, humane behavior support practices. Several staff have raised concerns about whether current behavior support leadership has sufficient training in modern, ethical behavior intervention and de-escalation strategies. There are also ongoing questions from staff about whether behavior support practices being modeled and trained are consistently aligned with best practices and ethical standards. Some staff feel there is inconsistency between what is expected in practice and what is demonstrated by those in leadership or training roles, which creates confusion in implementation across the building. Additionally, there is concern that training and behavior support planning is not comprehensive or consistently applied. Instead, staff report that responses to student behavior can feel inconsistent or determined on a day-to-day basis rather than through a coordinated, structured system with clear expectations and supports. As the school moves through corrective action, there is a strong concern that the seriousness of this process is not being fully reflected in day-to-day operations or in how staff are being supported through training and guidance. Finally, staff compensation, benefits, and PTO are also being raised as concerns, particularly in relation to retention and the ability to attract and maintain highly qualified staff in a setting that requires specialized behavioral expertise. Overall, there is a clear need for stronger, more transparent leadership, improved training systems, and a consistent commitment to ethical, research-based behavior support practices that meet the higher standards expected in Colorado schools.

Explore other reviews about Austin Centers for Exceptional Students

5.0
Oct 30, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Working at ACES has been such a rewarding experience! The team truly cares about every student and creates an environment where both staff and students can thrive. I’ve grown so much professionally thanks to the support, training, and collaboration across departments. The leadership is approachable, the culture is positive, and every day feels meaningful knowing we’re making a real difference in students’ lives. I’m proud to be part of the ACES family!

Cons

I have yet to encounter a negative experience

1.0
Jan 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I love working with the students and the campus staff.

Cons

The administration is cold, heartless and unappreciative. They overwork you, micromanage and do not allow time off even if you have PTO. You are not allowed to take care of your own health or your children’s. They do not care about quality services (speech, OT, Counseling) and just care about money and getting every minute billed for, you will never be recognized for being a team player, putting in extra work, going above and beyond to help your students or co-workers. Instead, you will be put down, be given corrective actions, and have your job threatened.

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Austin Centers for Exceptional Students Response
3mo
This saddens me to read. I am deeply sorry that your experience at The ACES was not the compassionate, positive one that we try to cultivate. Our workplace is meant to be one of support so that we can be our best for the students we serve, and it sounds like we missed the mark. We are actually really proud to have many employees that have been with us for over 20 years and we are always working to reduce turnover by responding to feedback from our employee surveys and acting on suggestions put forth by our staff. The work you all do truly matters and we see how important the contributions of each person are to our team and our students. I would love to be able to chat in more detail regarding your experience so we can learn from it. I invite you to reach out to us if you would be willing to discuss further.
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