Better than some Philly schools, but same issues - Art Teacher Mastery Schools Employee Review

2.0
Jul 18, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The onboarding process was thorough.

Cons

The job posting listed that it was for upper school, meaning high school age students. I only applied because I am a high school teacher. After applying and being offered an interview I was finally told that they were actually 5th graders. In addition to them being 4 YEARS YOUNGER than the school told me, these students were more like second graders based on their physical ability and language skills. When talking about the rainbow, more students misspelled the word "blue" than students got it right. In addition to all of the common behavioral issues we've been having since COVID, The administration has kept a revolving door of teaching staff and no attempt at explaining to students what's going on. I only managed to last 2 weeks at this school, after 3 successful years in the school district. Mastery Deans would have to be in my class often to support all 35 high-need children. When you apply you don't always know which location the role is posted for. The campus I was at (like most schools in the United States) is not handicap accessible, another aspect of the job which the school lied to me about. I was told that I would not have to go up and down stairs constantly, having disclosed my knee issues during my interview. And of course on day one they had me transitioning students between floors - The exact opposite of what we discussed days prior. The closest bathroom was either one floor up or one floor down and my key didn't work for one of them. Teachers were are hanging on by a thread and students are running wild. I'm so glad I quit after only 2 weeks. The job they posted isn't the job I got. Not even close.

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Mastery Schools Response
2y
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback - we appreciate it. We are saddened to learn about your dissatisfaction with working at Mastery. We'd love to talk more about your specific experience, so we continue to make improvements for our staff members while being dedicated to our mission. Please contact recruitment@masterycharter.org to further discuss.

Explore other reviews about Mastery Schools

5.0
Jul 9, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Mastery is a great place to work. There hasn't been an adult I've encountered who didn't believe in the mission and wasn't wholeheartedly committed to doing right and well by students and their families. The Mastery team believes in working for ALL students and not leaving any student behind. The team is committed to its values, and I'm excited to be part of such an incredible group of mission-aligned people.

Cons

The evaluation system and process for the NST staff are antiquated and not relevant to the people doing the work. It is time for a change.

5.0
Feb 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I have worked in several districts, and this has been my favorite so far under the current administration. I feel supported, and more importantly, I feel that teacher feedback is actually heard. Leadership regularly asks for input and you can see real efforts to improve based on what staff say. They model many of the same expectations they set for teachers. The job is demanding, but the support makes the workload manageable. I never feel like I am handling challenges alone. There is also a genuine effort to bring some joy and humor into the school day, which matters more than people realize during a busy year. The staff culture is another strength — colleagues are collaborative, approachable, and easy to get along with.

Cons

At times there can be a disconnect between building-level needs and expectations from central administration. Communication is improving, but sometimes you have to ask questions in order to fully understand procedures, and information is not always located in one clear place. That said, I have seen noticeable improvement over the years, and leadership does appear to be working toward better clarity and consistency.

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Mastery Schools Response
2mo
Thank you for sharing your experience. We truly appreciate the perspective you provided and are glad to hear that you feel supported by our leadership team and colleagues. We're especially grateful to hear that you feel teacher feedback is heard and reflected in ongoing improvements. Creating a collaborative environment where staff feel supported and valued is important to us, particularly given the demanding nature of the work. We also appreciate your honest feedback regarding communication and access to information across teams. We recognize the importance of clear, consistent communication between NST & schools and are continuously working to streamline processes and improve accessibility for staff. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your experience further, please feel free to reach out to us at recruitment@masterycharter.org.
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