Pros
Many of the staff members are supportive and willing to help
Cons
Honestly, too many to list so I'll try my best to pick the top reasons why I left AF and why those seeking employment there should be cautious. AF is not a typical public school it's run like a corporation. I have no other charter school experience to compare it to but I have many years of teaching/working in public schools. If you have any experience working in any schools you are over qualified. AF is for the recently graduated, hungry, early twenty somethings who have little responsibilities at home. If you have a family, you are a single parent, taking care of an aging parent, participate in activities outside of work this is not the place for you. Work will be your life. Every minute of the day is scheduled for you and you have little autonomy over anything. Meetings are spent practicing lesson plans or going over a script. You will do this over and over again. You will feel like you never do anything well because of their glow/grow rule. No matter how well you've done you will be told you have areas that need growth. The administration has very little experience and again if you have any teaching experience you will likely have more than they do. The school uses a military style of discipline which is fine if parents are aware and are okay with it but parents are not allowed to go into the classrooms and see how their child is doing which means they don't get to see the treatment that is being taken place. Lastly, the majority of teachers do not have degrees in education so most have never gone through a formal teacher training program nor practicum. Those who do get their certification and leave. There is no union to represent you, no one to stick up for you and although, your co workers might agree no one is willing to speak up because they will be targeted.