School Innovations & Achievement reviews

Where to begin with this one... First off, I want it to be known that I have NEVER written a review of anything in my entire life. I usually find it to be a waste of my time. However, with this company I find it completely necessary to warn any other innocent victims from joining such an oppressive organization. I think the best way for me to describe how this company operates is to analyze their Core Values & Beliefs because if you end up interviewing here or heaven forbid working here you will hear these DAY IN and DAY OUT. The funny part is these CV&B's as they like to call them are actually the complete opposite of how the organization actually operates. So without further adieu...here they are in all their glory... 1) We behave, decide and act based upon what is in the best interest of the Company – No Silos - what this means is that you better not EVER make any decision on your own without running it by each and every manager and especially the COO. Even decisions so little as sending an email need to be approved. And, if you don't run everything by these people you will be punished with a lecture about why you are not actually capable of thinking independently and how offensive it is that you would think so high of yourself to do so. 2) We take personal responsibility for our actions, decisions, behavior and work – No Victims - this one will come up a lot if you go against CV&B #1 and decide to have a mind of your own or actually try to get any work done around there. When you are being verbally abused for your actions they will remind you of this core value. Dont you dare try to defend yourself because hey - you aren't owning your so called mistake. 3) We like working here, if it’s not for you, that’s fine - Leave and find your happy place - The only people who like working there are the managers and the COO. The managers have all been there for 10+ years and have worked their way up by brown nosing and kissing the COO's rear. They know better than to bite the hand that feeds them so they will continue to be her puppets until they need to retire. 4) We work with a sense of urgency and energy – Not later, NOW - This is one of the most contradictory CV&B's in my opinion. Yes, they do want everything done yesterday so to speak, but the funny part is you actually cant get any work done without running it through the chain of command. So, if the COO is on vacation, or sick, or what have you...you cant actually do anything. So, you better hope to god that the project they might have you working on is done properly the first time around or else you'll never meet your deadlines because you're constantly waiting for approval. 5) We believe in high performance TEAMS – Not solo acts - This one is somewhat true. They do believe in teams, however, it's teams of only certain people. Again, the clique of managers and the COO MUST BE INVOLVED in every decision you make - big or small. That's the team they are referring to. 6) We are all about improvement and for that to occur feedback is essential – Embrace it - Feedback is absolutely what you will get while working here, but dont expect it to be positive. You will be constantly told what you're doing wrong, why you're not a good employee, and how they can coach you to do things the "SI&A way" to be a better human being. Trust me...you dont want to do anything the "SI&A way" because that simply means you're an abusive dictator on a power trip who stifles individual thinking and growth. 7) We consider it everyone’s job to CREATE OUR FUTURE – Think, ideas matter - Think - only if it's in line with the COO. The minute you voice an alternate opinion daggers will be shot at you through the eyes of her and her minions. You will know instantly that you suck. How dare you think you could POSSIBLY know something these clowns dont. Seriously, shame on you. 8) We are flexible, not afraid of change or challenge – It IS an attitude… - They believe in change alright. The product, messaging, and even your job will change without warning. Again, dont say anything. Just go with the flow. OR ELSE! I think this pretty much sums it up. I have to say, that even a year later since working here I am still suffering from a bit of PTSD. It will take some time to get over the abusive culture of that organization and to regain my confidence as an employee and human being. But, if this is something you're excited about, I say go for it. SI&A is only the right fit for puppets and maybe a trained monkey because I doubt the money would ever talk back or speak up.

I wish I could offer a 0 star or 1/8 the star for this company. They do NOT change internal problems, they SPIN them and brush them under the rug because that is quicker, disorganized, a 90's office mentality, an archaic casual dress policy, no clients ever come into office yet they have a "policy" of dressing up for each other. There are no sick days offered and workers will come to work sick in order to preserve their PTO. You will have to use PTO the day after Christmas even if it is a Friday. The upper level management will make many bad sales/ marketing decisions and laugh about them years later, as well as host meetings to talk about how that won't happen again. They also host meetings to talk about how they " fired people in the past" . Be careful as the company will lure you in with hr person bait and switch routine where, they will give you the tour of the complex to lure you in with false promises, talks of lavish company parties and more ( which will not occur) , they will say everyone laughs and loves working there ,that is not true. Coworkers dread their time there and spend time confused at the bad choices of the higher ups who handles sales. If sales are low ( which they constantly complain about on a daily and weekly basis to every department) for the company they will have long drawn out meetings which did not need to occur. There will be "meetings" about a meeting, then no follow up from the discussions at the long meetings. Their over sized department handling "marketing" has no knowledge of marketing products and spends budgets on printing out misprinted flyers and brochures of which no one reads and they fail to even attempt online marketing , not limited to errors and outdated information on their own website which no one can find because of faulty SEO. Upper level management at the company spend little or no time doing actual work . The company " preaches" organized uniform processes from the top down , yet there is no organization and a constant state of confusion of who is where and what team is doing what. In this company if you " go with the flow and smile" even if you know something is wrong simply laugh and don't say anything , you will be there for years. If you attempt to help and spot/bring up blatant comical flaws that would help in the long or short run in order to improve , you will have your head chewed off in a meeting, and when the upper level management doors close as well as the higher ups close their doors, you now your time is up.