Does anyone have any feedback on Achievement 1st Schools

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Connecticut Teachers Chatboard

Does anyone have any feedback on Achievement 1st Schools

by CT teacher

Sep 25, 2008

Hi. I am wondering if anyone has any knowledge -- firsthand or hearsay from someone who knows someone who works/ has worked at one of these schools -- about the Achievement 1st schools in NY and CT.

I would appreciate hearing any feedback anyone can give me. I have checked out their web site, but I really would like to know what the real deal is with them.

Thank you!

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Teacher Hi I have phone interviewed with them more than once, they seem to be big on that. I found this odd because how can you truly tell what a person is like?? Anyways, the way they made it sound (not literally of course but this is what they were strongly hinting at) is that the children are not well behaved and there is even teacher turnover mid year....See More

Oct 5, 2008

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OP on Achievement 1st What timing. I actually had a phone interview myself today. I thought that very strange myself. We'll see what happens. But I have had a couple of really bad experiences in urban charter schools, so I am very leery of them. I did not come out and ask what happened to the person I would be replacing. I wish I had had the guts. I realized they have 2...See MoreWhat timing. I actually had a phone interview myself today. I thought that very strange myself. We'll see what happens. But I have had a couple of really bad experiences in urban charter schools, so I am very leery of them. I did not come out and ask what happened to the person I would be replacing. I wish I had had the guts. I realized they have 2 openings now, in the same school, in the 4th week of school. NOT a good sign.

Thanks for the input! I was wondering why they have so many different people listed as contacts. The woman I spoke with sounded very young on the phone. I also had an email correspondence going with someone before these openings came up; I had sent in my resume and that person had expressed interest in meeting with me "over coffee" (I thought that a bit odd for school personnel....) and allowing me to come observe. I sent 2 emails in reply to her request and never heard back from her. Considering they had 2 positions open up right afterwards, one of which I am qualified for, I thought it to be very puzzling that she did not follow up with me.

I found out they have an open house in the fall, and I really want to go observe if I still do not have a job, just to satisfy my curiosity.

Also, if they have run as tight a ship as they say they do, concerning the very strict discipline they tout, I wonder why they have such a high turnover? I dunno; I am not afraid of hard work but a 9 hour day (and she also stated that the teachers "can" leave at 4, but most do not.... meaning if you do who knows how you will be perceived) and one prep period sounds to me like an exhausting schedule. Considering the amount of prep time I know will have to put in on my own time, I just don't know.

And I forgot to inquire more about their "summer academy". Do you know if they only give two weeks off the entire summer?

I hope you post again. I am so glad to see someone finally responded to my question. Still curious to know the real scoop on them. Seeing as my urban teaching experience is limited to subbing in two "mixed" districts, and I most recently taught private, I will be really surprised if I got a call back. But you never know

Do you have a full time job? I am getting pretty frustrated myself.

Take care!

CT teach (the OP)

On 10/05/08, Teacher wrote: > Hi I have phone interviewed with them more than once, they > seem to be big on that. I found this odd because how can > you truly tell what a person is like?? Anyways, the way > they made it sound (not literally of course but this is what > they were strongly hinting at) is that the children are not > well behaved and there is even teacher turnover mid year. > The days are longer and you have to work during the month of > July. Pay scale is same as public, maybe a very slight bit > higher due to the more time put in. Had a very long phone > interview, and was excited for the possibility, didn't get > it even with prior experience in a danerous urban district-- > now see it as probably a blessing in disguise with the > turnover they seem to have!!! Also, they hire "teacher > recruiters" (not principals) to find people (initially) to > work for them. I saw an ad to be a recruiter for them, > qualifications aren't all that high considering they are > helping to judge others who may very well have more > experience/better qualifications than the recruiter does. > Oh well. Back to the drawing board. > > > On 9/25/08, CT teacher wrote: >> Hi. I am wondering if anyone has any knowledge -- firsthand >> or hearsay from someone who knows someone who works/ has >> worked at one of these schools -- about the Achievement 1st >> schools in NY and CT. >> >> I would appreciate hearing any feedback anyone can give me. >> I have checked out their web site, but I really would like >> to know what the real deal is with them. >> >> Thank you!

Oct 6, 2008

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urban teacher On 10/06/08, OP on Achievement 1st wrote: > What timing. I actually had a phone interview myself today. I > thought that very strange myself. We'll see what happens. But I > have had a couple of really bad experiences in urban charter > schools, so I am very leery of them. I did not come out and ask > what happened to the person I wo...See MoreOn 10/06/08, OP on Achievement 1st wrote: > What timing. I actually had a phone interview myself today. I > thought that very strange myself. We'll see what happens. But I > have had a couple of really bad experiences in urban charter > schools, so I am very leery of them. I did not come out and ask > what happened to the person I would be replacing. I wish I had > had the guts. I realized they have 2 openings now, in the same > school, in the 4th week of school. NOT a good sign. > > Thanks for the input! I was wondering why they have so many > different people listed as contacts. The woman I spoke with > sounded very young on the phone. I also had an email > correspondence going with someone before these openings came up; > I had sent in my resume and that person had expressed interest in > meeting with me "over coffee" (I thought that a bit odd for > school personnel....) and allowing me to come observe. I sent 2 > emails in reply to her request and never heard back from her. > Considering they had 2 positions open up right afterwards, one of > which I am qualified for, I thought it to be very puzzling that > she did not follow up with me. > > I found out they have an open house in the fall, and I really > want to go observe if I still do not have a job, just to satisfy > my curiosity. > > Also, if they have run as tight a ship as they say they do, > concerning the very strict discipline they tout, I wonder why > they have such a high turnover? I dunno; I am not afraid of hard > work but a 9 hour day (and she also stated that the teachers > "can" leave at 4, but most do not.... meaning if you do who knows > how you will be perceived) and one prep period sounds to me like > an exhausting schedule. Considering the amount of prep time I > know will have to put in on my own time, I just don't know. > > And I forgot to inquire more about their "summer academy". Do you > know if they only give two weeks off the entire summer? > > I hope you post again. I am so glad to see someone finally > responded to my question. Still curious to know the real scoop on > them. Seeing as my urban teaching experience is limited to > subbing in two "mixed" districts, and I most recently taught > private, I will be really surprised if I got a call back. But you > never know > > Do you have a full time job? I am getting pretty frustrated myself. > > Take care! > > CT teach (the OP) > > > On 10/05/08, Teacher wrote: >> Hi I have phone interviewed with them more than once, they >> seem to be big on that. I found this odd because how can >> you truly tell what a person is like?? Anyways, the way >> they made it sound (not literally of course but this is what >> they were strongly hinting at) is that the children are not >> well behaved and there is even teacher turnover mid year. >> The days are longer and you have to work during the month of >> July. Pay scale is same as public, maybe a very slight bit >> higher due to the more time put in. Had a very long phone >> interview, and was excited for the possibility, didn't get >> it even with prior experience in a danerous urban district-- >> now see it as probably a blessing in disguise with the >> turnover they seem to have!!! Also, they hire "teacher >> recruiters" (not principals) to find people (initially) to >> work for them. I saw an ad to be a recruiter for them, >> qualifications aren't all that high considering they are >> helping to judge others who may very well have more >> experience/better qualifications than the recruiter does. >> Oh well. Back to the drawing board. >> >> >> On 9/25/08, CT teacher wrote: >>> Hi. I am wondering if anyone has any knowledge -- firsthand >>> or hearsay from someone who knows someone who works/ has >>> worked at one of these schools -- about the Achievement 1st >>> schools in NY and CT. >>> >>> I would appreciate hearing any feedback anyone can give me. >>> I have checked out their web site, but I really would like >>> to know what the real deal is with them. >>> >>> Thank you!

Oct 8, 2008

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Tom [link removed]

i placed a bit of a clip before I wrote this for those of you who are thinking about Achievement First. I had an interview and the person was rather snooty. They know if they want you off of the bat...I looked into AF and found that they go overboard as far as student discipline. You are expected to give detention without a...See More

May 6, 2012

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