Breaking up with a bad boyfriend - Fusion Academy - English Teacher Fusion Academy Employee Review

1.0
Jan 24, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Variety of classes to teach and fancy snacks in the break room.

Cons

Leaving Fusion Academy is like breaking up with a bad boyfriend. You cling to the hope of what it could be and stay, only to find yourself in an endless toxic relationship. For starters, there are so many office politics here you could throw a town hall meeting for all the teachers campaigning for an administration position (the pay for admin staff is at least double). You're not allowed to give students a low or flunking grade for fear of their parents pulling them of out of school (causing them to lose money). The lack of concern for the students' education is appalling. I was told, for example, to stop teaching a 17-year-old how to hand-write since he could barely scratch out his own name. He was a poorly educated homeschool kid and it was his first time in high school. They thought it was pointless to teach him handwriting since all the curriculum (that was graded) was online. They do NOT care about the students. It's a very New Age-atmosphere corporation that quite likes money and actually requires a yoga class to graduate high school (part of their "wellness class"). They promised me full time hours in my interview as well, but I never worked over 30. You're also only paid 5 for minutes of planning time per hour-long class even though each class is meant to be specifically tailored customized for the student. Ultimately, you'll be working about 20 unpaid hours per week to plan 30 separate one-on-one classes. he burnout rate is fast and the turnover is high. Don't believe their promises - they are after the money and the parents' support, and anyone or anything who gets in the way is quickly silenced or squashed.

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Fusion Academy Response
1y
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. We are genuinely saddened to hear that your experience at Fusion Academy did not align with the values and intentions we strive to uphold. Our goal has always been to create a supportive, enriching environment where both our students and teachers can thrive. We deeply regret that you felt disconnected from that experience. At Fusion Academy, we place a strong emphasis on fostering a positive and inclusive atmosphere where every individual’s needs are met, whether that’s in terms of personal growth, academic achievement, or emotional well-being. We understand that the challenges you’ve mentioned, particularly around workload and teacher compensation, are critical aspects that need continuous attention, and we are committed to improving those areas for our team. It is also disheartening to hear that you felt our focus on student well-being and holistic education detracted from the core academic goals. We aim to balance both academic rigor and the development of skills that prepare students for success beyond the classroom. In fact, we take this commitment so seriously that we are fully accredited across the nation. However, it’s clear that in your experience, this balance was not achieved, and we take that seriously. We will continue working on aligning our curriculum and approaches to meet both the academic and personal needs of our students while ensuring our teachers are fully supported in this process. Your feedback regarding planning time and compensation is also invaluable. We recognize that the time and energy you put into your work deserves to be reflected in fair compensation and manageable workloads, and we are constantly working to improve these aspects of our work environment and the communication of these expectations. Our Education Department has developed numerous resources for teachers to maximize the ten minutes of paid planning time per course taught. I would love to personally chat and connect with you to learn more about your experience; I can be reached at kstorey@fusionacademy.com. Again, we are truly sorry that your experience did not reflect the supportive and fulfilling environment we aim to provide. We are grateful for your feedback and wish you the best moving forward.

Explore other reviews about Fusion Academy

5.0
May 7, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Work culture, amazing parents and students, opportunities for growth, location. Close to I95 and the Tri-rail station

Cons

The pay could be better considering the cost of living, tuition cost, and location. I also would love to see more funds invested into the Homework Cafe.

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Fusion Academy Response
1w
Thank you for sharing your experience and for the commitment you've shown over the past several years. It’s wonderful to hear that the culture, relationships with students and families, and opportunities for growth have made your time at Fusion meaningful. Team members like you help create the supportive, student-centered environment that is so important to our mission. I also appreciate your thoughtful feedback regarding compensation and resources for the Homework Cafe. We understand that cost-of-living considerations and the resources available to support students are important factors in the employee and student experience. Your perspective helps us better understand where investments can have the greatest impact, both for our educators and the students who rely on these programs. Thank you again for your honesty and for all that you do to support our students each day. We’re grateful for your contributions and for the care you bring to the Fusion community.
2.0
May 30, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Fun culture, lots of lunches and/or snacks provided. Staff works with you to help you get more hours, for example, since your bills won't stop during the summer...

Cons

There are a lot, honestly. In a nutshell, you are expected to work as a full-time teacher, except you are paid as part-time or three-quarter-time. Not given enough planning time, which means that if you want to present a decent lesson and cohesive curriculum to your students, you will work for free: darned if you do, and darned if you don't. It seems like a good concept on paper, but apparently, it's hard to make their model work. Quality teachers want reliable income, but since Fusion (for whatever reason) can't pay decently, the good ones run as soon as they get something better.

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