paraprofessional

special education teacher

elementary school teacher

teacher

security officer

Allentown School District

I managed a full daily schedule including planning and delivering instruction, monitoring performance, and adjusting strategies based on real-time feedback.  I coordinated with my team, communicated with educational team, and maintained an organized, productive environment while balancing multiple priorities and deadlines.  

During my tenure of teaching, I developed strong skills in leadership, communication, and data-driven decision making.  I learned to adapt quickly in dynamic environments, manage competing priorities, and tailor approaches to meet diverse needs.  I gained experience in problem-solving, conflict resolution, and performance improvement.  

I managed 20+ students by setting clear expectations, monitoring performance, and fostering accountability all while building rapport and community.  I led by example, provided feedback, and created a structured environment that supported both individual and team success.

The hardest part of my job was balancing multiple responsibilities simultaneously while ensuring each student received adequate attention and support.  It required strong time management, prioritization, and the ability to stay effective under pressure.

The most enjoyable part of my job was the rapport I built with my students and their families.  Along with seeing measurable growth and progress as a result of my efforts and building meaningful relationships with my team while helping others to achieve their goals.  I found fulfillment in my job creating an engaging and supportive environment that drove success.

I strongly advise against considering employment at the Allentown School District, particularly at Central Elementary. The AS classroom at this school caters to 9 students without adequate support staff, creating a challenging environment. The principal's management style is characterized by micromanagement, dishonesty, and the fabrication of accusations against employees deemed as threats rather than fostering a supportive work culture. The school premises suffer from cleanliness issues, with pervasive mouse infestations and droppings found in classrooms and on children's desks, indicating a lack of proper maintenance. The overall morale among staff is distressingly low, leading to instances where teachers are visibly upset, and the principal engages in damaging gossip about team members.

Additionally, the high turnover rate at Central Elementary is a significant concern. This turnover is not solely attributable to challenges with the students but is largely a result of problematic administration practices. For your well-being and professional growth, I urge you to seek opportunities elsewhere and avoid Central Elementary at all costs.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Working and helping the children. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The entire district is a mess. There isn't too much about working for this district that isn't stressful. They don't respect their support staff. They do whatever they want in each building. So there is no consistency for the students,staff or parents. Simply put, ASD tells you what the idea of working for their district is..... It's Another Stupid Decision.( And that's a running joke inside the district ASD=Another Stupid Decision bc that's all they do!)

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Craziness, children do what they want. The staff act like they are in high school. They stay in cliques and pick on each other! It's insane the amount of immaturity goes on by a bunch of adults. Most of whom are supposed to be professionals  The children are great to work with! 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Craziness! You never know what to expect and what they are going to ask of you for the day even though. You have a schedule.

I started out my job being grateful for work, for the position and to be able to work in an urban district where I made a difference each and every day.  I now find myself overworked, underpaid, and witnessing a serious decline in social behaviors of our youths.  The more outrageous, disrespectful and dangerous the student behaviors, the less support from parents and administration.  The Union and administration does not support its teachers.  This enables inappropriate student behaviors.  I am unable to report exactly what type of behaviors the students exhibit because it's 'inappropriate language' so what does that tell you about the students' behaviors themselves?   
If the parents of Allentown, PA, knew what really happened in our hallways, they would yank their children out of this public school without a backward glance. 

I got to experience and witness a lot of glorious moments with most of the ninth, tenth, eleven and twelve graders. The history that modifies with every group that walks in every school year leaving their essence as young teens however leave one step closer as a young adult. Interaction with the students with their livelihood somehow they change my day. Media might reflect on the negative events. Meanwhile they are taking the spotlight of events that could be brought to the light. The faculty play a big role in many of these students lives. The Administrators, faculty and staff challenge the students to work harder and reach their best performance as individuals. Like my administrator would say bleed royal blue and canary yellow, you have ALLEN PRIDE...

What is the best part of working at the company?
A great place for entry-level IT personnel to gain experience. Great co-workers and a constant supply of tasks to prevent boredom (Students always find new ways to break things).

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The summer reset. Ensuring all devices were prepared for the next school year was a bit of a crunch but doable.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
If you don't mind working around kids, Great. That challenge meant you were always running into a new and unique challenge when performing maintenance. It gives you plenty of experience replacing parts.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Checking emails and organizing work orders for the day. performing "triage" for issues that pop up and returning to your office to handle the tougher issues.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Most of my coworkers. The admin was nice, but their hands were tied by the district.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The behaviors were out of control. There was no desire or accountability toward the goal of an educated populace.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
There were many wonderful people working here. They are embattled and stressed by the lack of results from their efforts and zero support by the district.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
It was at least a 10 hour day start to finish. Prep time was often interrupted with phone calls to students' homes and write ups do to behavior concerns. I felt bad for students that were trying to do their best.

Welcome to a place where you work for peanuts and where the left hand doesn't know what the right hand has in it, this organization needs a lot of real management from the top two the bottom. Everything is being blamed on budget, try being fair to your workers and paying them a fair amount, I've worked there and if I could, I'd fire many of those lazy managers and staff that care about their title and how they dress and act, the ones that spend an hour with a group thinking of what to order for lunch but never get around to being productive. Do just enough to not get fired for the little pay you get. I feel really bad for the good kids and the wonderful teachers that pour their heart into their work. They deserve much more. 

The Allentown School District is a large urban school district with a diverse population.  The management of this type of population is challenging as well as rewarding.  Connecting with the students and faculty has been my greatest joy. While discipline, at times, is difficult, growth and understanding is also possible.  Support from co-workers is key in Education, not only in developing friendships, but comradery, as well. The most enjoyable part of being a teacher is when a student "gets" the concept and you see the light of understanding in their eyes.

What is the best part of working at the company?
This district has Dedicated Co-workers. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The district is Understaffed making it difficult to reach expected goals.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Work environment at the school level is supportive among colleagues. Some principals are wonderful, some are terrible.
Central admin mostly out of touch and not supportive.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Mostly every day is like being on a hamster wheel…exhausting and getting nowhere.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Paraprofessional 165 salaries reported	$19,122 per year
Special education teacher 4 salaries reported	$65,973 per year
Elementary school teacher 1 salary reported	$59,102 per year
Teacher 7 salaries reported	$65,815 per year
Security officer 45 salaries reported	$25,078 per year

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