Pros
Curriculum is set up for you. It is high quality and research based. If it is followed...the kids benefit GREATLY. I actually worked with some AMAZING center directors, assistant directors, and teachers. Training curriculum is actually brilliant. If it is followed, staff will feel prepared. Teachers should spend AT LEAST the first 3 days not in ratio. They should have reviews at 30, 60, and 90 days with their center director. Experiences that I received at KCE (mainly due to my mentors) set me up for success in my current career. Constantly pushed to think outside of the box, to dig deep, to push back, to really challenge yourself to see things from others' perspectives. It's easy to move up. Mainly because of the high turn over/burn out rate. Paid CDA courses. If EA participant, paid AA as well. Medical was decent. 401K was decent. Childcare discount is impressive.
Cons
hmmm, well, cut labor..cut labor..cut labor.. to the point where I felt like I was being asked to sacrifice the quality of care. Center directors are pushed beyond limits. They are given tons of expectations but are not given the proper training and/or coaching. My DL was very good at telling me what I was doing wrong...I wished I had more follow up, more coaching. I was in my last center for 6 months and she did not step in my building ONCE. We were encouraged to sugar up our parents and teachers for engagement surveys instead of just taking the TRUE METRICS. I had to walk away from a job I loved because we were pressured to have ideal numbers that KCE no longer cared about the WHY. We need to have a consistently engaged center...not just good numbers because I fed them Olive Garden or dangled a gift card in front of them. Our kids need to have quality education, not just when RVPs, Jamie Thrush, Elanna, Wei-Lee, or Tom are coming into town. We need NAEYC abiding centers at all times, not just when re- accreditation is coming up. I just felt there was a lot of SHOW, not true to the cause. It broke my heart. Absolutely broke my heart. I believe they are reaping the "benefits" of that now. My old district has had a TON of CD turn over in just the last 7 months.