Teaching Lab reviews

2.9

39% would recommend to a friend

(6 total reviews)

33% positive business outlook

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6 reviews

Reviews about "Diversity & Inclusion"

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1.0
Aug 20, 2024

Scam Lab

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The cons outweigh the pros, no matter the narratives they tell.

Cons

I am deeply concerned about the practices at Teaching Lab, particularly regarding its commitment to racial equity and justice. Despite the organization’s public-facing mission, there are alarming indications that Teaching Lab does not genuinely embrace antiracist principles and may, in fact, perpetuate harmful dynamics that protect white supremacy. The recent layoffs, in which 9 out of 13 employees dismissed without notice were people of color, and 7 of those were women of color, are particularly disturbing. This statistic is not just a number—it represents the lives and livelihoods of women who already face systemic barriers in the workplace. Many of these women are also mothers, adding another layer of vulnerability to their unjust treatment. The fact that these layoffs targeted women of color, particularly mothers, raises serious concerns about the organization's internal culture and its commitment to creating a truly inclusive environment. Adding to these concerns is the leadership of Teaching Lab. Sarah Johnson, HaMy Vu, Jessica Azani, and Andrea McDade are all key figures who must be held accountable for the organization’s direction. There are significant questions regarding their integrity and whether they truly champion the antiracist values that Teaching Lab claims to uphold. These leadership issues, coupled with financial mismanagement at the highest levels, suggest that the organization is more focused on maintaining power structures than fostering genuine equity and inclusion. The decision to offer only a four-week severance package, combined with an NDA clause, further indicates a lack of transparency and respect for the affected individuals. This approach appears to be more about protecting the organization’s image than addressing the needs of those who were let go, many of whom were already marginalized within the workplace. Funders should be particularly cautious before offering support to Teaching Lab. The discrepancies between the organization’s stated mission and its internal practices are too significant to ignore. It is crucial that those considering financial backing demand full accountability and transparency to ensure that their contributions do not support an organization that fails to prioritize racial justice in meaningful ways. In conclusion, Teaching Lab seems to fall woefully short of its professed commitments to equity and antiracism. The troubling treatment of women of color within the organization, combined with serious concerns about the leadership of Sarah Johnson, HaMy Vu, Jessica Azani, and Andrea McDade, as well as lack of financial integrity, should give serious pause to anyone considering involvement with or support for this organization.

1.0
Feb 12, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I have some wonderful colleagues who do seem to care however they are not in a position to make true change within this toxic environment.

Cons

The feedback from black women is crucial and must be taken seriously. Before considering joining the company, it's crucial to proceed with caution. Despite the company's claims of being anti-racist and valuing fairness and justice, it falls short of those ideals. C-Suite executives fail to communicate respectfully with staff, negatively impacting everyone's work experience. This lack of respect creates hesitancy among employees to speak up about issues or just to have a basic conversation that ties to their work due to fear of backlash. This raises the question: if this is how employees collectively feel, how does it disproportionately affect black women, and people of color? The company should prioritize learning how to respect employees before marketing the organization that is rooted in DEI and anti-racism efforts. True fairness in leadership goes beyond simply having a "diverse executive team"; it requires genuine understanding and care for all employees and ensuring your team is equipped with the right tools to effectively communicate and lead marginalized groups. Even with three women in executive positions, including two people of color, Teaching Lab still fails to prioritize its people. Rumors circulate about executives withholding crucial information from the CEO, which is concerning. As a CEO, being informed about the company's operations is vital for addressing issues proactively. This lack of transparency indicates deeper problems within the company and signals its decline. Management is ineffective. My Home manager is unsure of their responsibilities, leaving me to lead our weekly conversations. I'm hesitant to bring up issues with my manager due to interactions I've had and warnings from my teammates to stay away from HR. Moreover, there's a recurring theme suggesting that the HR mishandles investigations, potentially covering up problems from the CEO instead of resolving them. Last week, we received an update on a new policy, threatening disciplinary action for employees who didn't comply. What year is this? 1995? Any forward-thinking company would recognize that this use of terminology is outdated and doesn't bode well. Reviewing past experiences shared on Glassdoor and how Teaching Lab responds, it's evident that the company lacks accountability. I anticipate a defensive response to my review, as I've observed with others. So, to save the person who responds to Glassdoor some time, let me compile some of the previous replies from Teaching Lab: "Contrary to your perception, there is a widespread belief in the efficacy of this leadership structure and in personal agency at Teaching Lab: a recent Employee Engagement and Commitment survey found that 85% ............." "We know that the work of learning how to live these commitments is never-ending............." "Finally, our diverse team - including our CEO - are deeply, strategically, and practically committed to DEI........" "We invite you to explore the guiding principles and commitments to racial justice that shape our internal culture and external partnerships: www.teachinglab.org/equitycommitment..............." Do yourself a favor and don't respond to this review. Your responses are cringeworthy! More importantly, they confirm the toxic behavior providing current and previous employees on Glassdoor.

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Teaching Lab Response
2y
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. As you mentioned, information about Teaching Lab and our commitments to equity and leadership development are available in previous responses and through our company overview and website.
1.0
Oct 4, 2022

Just Say No

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The core team of educators are incredibly passionate and dedicated to improving the quality of education in America for children of color. They are interested and willing to discuss systems of oppression in education.

Cons

There are too many issues at Teaching Lab to document in this review and others have done a wonderful a job of summarizing the discrimination and poor treatment of women of color. I would include men of color as well! They are true, and I would not suggest any person of color join this company. Don’t let the diversity statement, the diverse leadership, or participation in restorative justice fool you. It’s toxic and deeply rooted in white supremacy culture. When I think about my short tenure at Teaching Lab, what makes me the most upset is how the senior leadership treated their team. I had unique access to all C-level employees and was consistently told how poor performing everyone was. Everyone was replaceable because it was easier to replace people than to train them. My decision to leave came after one particularly terrible conversation with a c-level leader who had been cruel, unreasonable, and unhelpful in the weeks leading up to my resignation. Mind you, I was about 90-days into my role and quickly feeling uneasy about one-on-one meetings with this leader. You never knew what mood they would be in and how they would judge your performance. Unpredictability in a manager is never good. When I tried to give this feedback in a compassionate and constructive manner, believing what I was told about an open culture of feedback and improvement, I was told it was me that was dismissive and underperforming. I filed my resignation the following morning. I told myself I would never be in another meeting with that leader, ever again. Upon sending the resignation I was told, “Well you have a lot of work to finish before your last day.” I, too, was replaceable! Did I do the work? Yes! Because I didn’t want to leave my team in a bind. The team I left at Teaching Lab was terrific and I still miss them. The mediocre money, the benefits, the working from home… none of it is worth that working environment. My advice: take another job.

avatar
Teaching Lab Response
3y
Thank you for sharing your perspective and acknowledging the passion and commitment of our team and our organizational commitments to educational equity and racial justice. At Teaching Lab, we value and strive to incorporate the perspectives and insights of our community members into the work we do in service of these commitments. We know that the work of learning how to live these commitments is never ending and yet we take seriously our responsibility to always be moving forward on our journey toward racial justice and liberation. At Teaching Lab, the next phase of this journey takes the shape of an organization-wide, community-driven racial justice initiative led by our People & Culture team. You can learn more about the principles and commitments to racial justice that guide our internal and external work here on our Teaching Lab website: www.teachinglab.org/equitycommitment.
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