Shockingly Abysmal - Tutor KIPP SoCal Public Schools Employee Review

I'm going to write my complaints by subject here: 1. STAFF TRAINING We were all severely undertrained, and brought into an incredibly understaffed environment. I had several breakdowns because of this, and my coworkers who were new experienced similar incidents. Program leaders and other tutors who had been there the year prior kept using terms we did not understand, and would get frustrated with us despite knowing we were not given proper training. I had to constantly guess where I had to go, what I would be doing, who were my students, etc., while there. 2. STUDENT DISCIPLINE Little to no discipline. Program leaders had to constantly step in to help tutors since students did not respect us. When I would give students serious talks, it was regarded as "too harsh", despite it being obvious students needed it. These kids were smearing poop on the walls, throwing milk on the mirrors, and sticking pads onto the bathroom doors! We had an outbreak of covid AND throat infections from kids playing with their poop and being generally unsanitary. Tutors constantly had to give talks about being grateful, how to behave, and cleaning after themselves with nothing to show for it. 3. MISLEADING JOB DESCRIPTION I was told I'd be teaching "career" and "college" skills students would use for life. This was not the case. I ended up having to come up with last minute crafts for weeks on end. Out of desperation, I began printing coloring sheets just to have the kids be able to pass the time since our program hours would double at random. How are students supposed to learn life long skills when the tutors have no time to prepare a meaningful activity? What are they learning from watching movies or running around outside when tutors can't come up with something in time or enough activities to fill up all of our time? What are they learning from spacing out for the entirety of study hall and "enrichment" because tutors are busy running around trying to entertain the others? 4. PROGRAM LEADER COMPASSION The program leaders boasted they cared alot about mental health for us and the students... which was a lie. Ironic since the program leader for this location described herself as someone who "hates liars". When I had my first breakdown, they seemed to care. But did not change the way they were running the program or give me proper training before program hours to prevent this from happening again. I did my best to work with students under pressure, and I did struggle quite a bit. I felt like whenever I ran into an incident, I was left to resolve it by myself. The program leaders were always "too busy" to step in and help. I was able to handle most by myself, but it was incredibly stressful. Again, with no real structure, kids lash out! And they lashed out at me and the others quite a bit when bored. The program leaders did not seem to care and did not do anything to rectify this. 5. LACK OF COMMUNICATION Don't expect any quick responses. Program leaders are always running around, nowhere to be found. Walkie talkie and is useless; only half the time I'd get a response. I'd constantly would have to repeat questions over text or walkie talkie to get an answer in less than 10 minutes. When working with kids, 10 minutes is a VERY long time. Program leaders would also randomly mention incredibly important issues/events/key reminders when not all staff is present in the room. They would sometimes text it to a groupchat, and those who did not constantly check their texts would be left in the dark. Meetings were missed because of this. They started using the whiteboard, but did not write everything down there either. When our hours randomly doubled or changed, we would be told the day of, the day before, or the Friday right before. Never a full week, never through a proper email or text. 6. CLASS EXPECTATIONS Program leaders would constantly chastise new tutors for not meeting "expectations", while also handing students to us to show us how to follow program procedures... We were given some instructions, and others were left out. I'd ask what we'd need to bring, and then would get chastised later for not bringing enough. Everything would be mentioned last minute and then tutors would be blamed for not knowing every detail they need to bring and do. 7. LGBTQ+ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Although most of the staff were very welcoming to queer tutors, I was constantly misgendered every day I worked there. I constantly had to confront staff to respect who I am. They emphasized respect, but there is little to none to be found here. The students were better with my pronouns than the staff!