special education teacher

teacher's aide

teaching assistant

early childhood teacher

speech therapist

Alternatives for Children

I worked briefly at this school as a substitute aide while I am currently in college studying education. I accepted the position hoping to gain experience working with young children with special needs. Unfortunately, my experience was very difficult due to a lack of training, organization, and support for new staff.

Before starting, there were a few online training modules recommended, but they did not explain how the day-to-day classroom environment works. When I arrived for my first shift, I was not given a tour of the building, introduced to staff, or shown classroom procedures. I was told to arrive shortly before the school day started (8:45), but schedules were not posted until the children had already arrived. This meant I walked into a classroom full of students unpacking without having an opportunity to introduce myself or receive guidance from the teacher.

As a substitute aide, I was also moved between many classrooms very quickly. In my short time there I was placed in numerous different rooms, which made it extremely difficult to learn routines, understand student needs, or provide consistent support to the teachers. There is simply no way to actually gain connections with any student. 

I made it clear from the beginning that I was new to this environment and eager to learn. I asked questions and tried to help wherever I could. However, many staff members seemed frustrated by my lack of experience rather than willing to guide a new employee. Several times I was corrected harshly or spoken to in a way that felt discouraging rather than instructional. As someone entering the field of education, I was hoping for mentorship and constructive feedback, but that was not my experience. I feel very discouraged due to the rudeness from the teachers in this building. I was yelled at multiple times, while children were in the classroom. 

The classroom environments were also very high stress. I understand that working with young children with special needs can be extremely demanding, and many of the teachers appeared overworked. However, new aides need guidance in order to effectively support both the teachers and the students. I made it very clear to the teachers that I am here to help and always started with “Please let me know what I can do to help you.” When I tried to help, the teacher would get harsh and speak to me like one of the children. 

This job could be a valuable learning opportunity if stronger onboarding and staff support were in place. Based on my experience, I would advise future employees—especially those new to special education—to ask detailed questions about training, classroom expectations, and mentorship before accepting a position. These teachers seem very stressed and overworked, however they do not like when they get help. The best part about this job is the children. I’m sad to say that the staff members and management ruined this for me, discouraged me, and lessened all my confidence becoming a teacher in the future. 

Working here is, frankly, a mess. The organization consistently prioritizes profit over both employees and students, and it shows in every layer of operation. Chronic understaffing, lack of resources, and delayed accommodations create an environment that is overwhelming, overstimulating, and deeply unsupported.

Support is often promised but rarely delivered in a timely or meaningful way. Accommodations are dragged out, staffing shortages are normalized, and the burden is placed squarely on teachers to “make it work” regardless of capacity or safety. A direct quote from leadership when concerns were raised about lack of support was, “I’m not going to just throw bodies at the problem.” That mindset sums up the culture perfectly.

If mistakes happen, often due to being spread far too thin, employees are reprimanded and may even be terminated, despite the systemic failures that caused the issue in the first place. Accountability flows downward, never upward.

That said, the staff at certain locations are genuinely wonderful. The on-site admin works hard to advocate for their teams and provide support where they can. Unfortunately, their efforts are undermined by higher-ups who are disconnected, unresponsive, and unwilling to invest in the resources actually needed to keep both staff and students safe.

I would not be surprised if a student is eventually hurt due to the amount of pressure and responsibility placed on teachers without adequate support. If you are considering applying here, go in with your eyes wide open. If you’re looking for a supportive, ethical, and well-resourced work environment, this is not it.

I worked as a 1:1 aide for over a year and quickly understood why my specific job title had such frequent replacements. It is an exhausting, physically tolling job with no substantial training. What trainings we *are* required to complete prior to starting and need to maintain throughout our employment have very little bearing on the reality of our jobs responsibilities. A 1:1 will *usually* be paired with a child who has some behavioral problems  which will demand constant supervision and often times, physical exertion to "restrain" the child should they act out or become physical. Expect to possibly be paired with a child who may bite, pinch, kick, or attack in any other imaginable way.  Your breaks are also limited to 15 minutes which flies by in the midst of your chaotic work day. While several of the kids themselves can be very pleasant, and many of the teachers and therapists are very friendly; management is poor. There have been several disgruntled long-standing employees who have resigned/quit because of mistreatment. Additionally, the actual assignment of 1:1 aides to a child is a very slow process at AFC, for whatever reason so most of the time, you're dealing with a classroom situation where there are other children who NEED a 1:1 because of behavioral issues, but don't have one, and so the adults (Teacher, TA, 1:1) are stretched thin trying to handle the chaos in their room while also carrying out a productive learning experience. More support is needed from room to room, and everyone knows that but very little is done to actually rectify this problem. 

Terrible. Terrible. We are always severely understaffed and even then people are always constantly calling out because of how terrible it is to work there. The morals of the school are just downright ridiculous. They care more about the money and less about the kids. The classrooms are always out of ratio which is against the law. There are violent children who need more help than the school can offer if they refuse to carry out those wishes even if it’s in the best interest of the child. There honestly should really be an investigation into the school because there are things happening that should not be. I also feel like the hiring process should be a little more rigorous. I mean we’re working with children and not only that we’re working with children on the spectrum. There’s a few people working there that are quite questionable in personality. Management is terrible and they expect to work you to death. I have been injured many times on the job and have just been told “try not to do that again“. But on the flipside I’m also told to make sure I keep the children safe and in doing so I put myself at risk. They put you in an unsafe situations with minimal trainings which puts you AND the children at risk. I love the kids and I love this field of work the school is just terrible. Get out get out get out get out. And do not send your kids here. 

Management constantly picked favorites, if you were on their good side you could get away with anything, if you were on their bad side everything you did was wrong. Got hired as a 1:1 after I applied for a TA position and was told that the first TA position that opened I would get. School year came and went and they hired multiple new TAs without ever offering me a TA position, said I was so good with my 1:1 that they wanted to keep me with them till end of the school year, was told I’d be a TA after, school year and summer sessions ended and on the last day of school they told me I was a 1:1 for the next school year. Was also told that since my NON VERBAL 1:1 was not “too big of an issue” that I needed to help my TA and teacher more, ended up having to do TA duties on a 1:1 salary and got in trouble if I was just doing my 1:1 responsibilities, even though that was my job. Upper management continually gossiped with other teachers and TAs about other workers, it all made for a very uncomfortable working environment with no real room for growth.

These people have no proper trainings in place. They make you do hours of certifications/trainings unpaid and at home. The staff talk badly about eachother and the administration all day long, very fake environment. They talk badly about children they don’t like. They are very slow to incorporate change and mindful practices in their classroom and even ignore aspects of training that they claim to follow. The occupational therapy and speech staff are very nice but seem ill equipped. I wish parents visited the school more to see how it’s actually run. The bathrooms were always dirty (even the staff ones). And every room is disorganized. They have a break room but you have to pay for the cheap coffee. The administration seems unapproachable and they also admit they’re not good with kids. The behavioral therapists are sometimes closed off and are honestly not very helpful. 

For several years I worked at the East Setauket location and then transferred to the Southampton location. 
The East Setauket location is much larger and has the main office on site. I felt a real sense of community working here amongst the staff and we truly worked as a team to support one another to best serve and support the children. Working with the children is both challenging and rewarding. The best part is witnessing their progress throughout your time with them as they achieve their goals.  Its so heartwarming and special. 
The Southampton site is smaller and has less staff. The traffic can be tough especially in the summer months. However, because its a smaller site you truly get to know ALL of the children which is such a nice perk. 
I know a lot has changed since I left but I really do think AFC is a great organization to work for and does great things for the children it serves. 

Alternatives for children is a wonderful preschool for children with developmental needs. It's a warm and caring environment for our students families. There are lots of support groups offered to our students families throughout the month.   In my experience at Alternatives For Children, the student's team of providers work well with one another and always have the student's best interest at heart. The preschool and daycare directors walk around the school throughout the day making sure classrooms are running smoothly.  Administration is available to speak with and their doors are always open.  I always feel well supported and comfortable when speaking to administration if necessary.

Don't apply if you do not have a desire to make a difference in the life of a child with a disability.  This is a preschool that serves both children with and without disabilities.  Days can be challenging but SO rewarding if your intent is to make that difference in a childs life.  Co-workers are supportive, team players and very welcoming.  Communication from upper management down needs improvement, as well as, coverage for staff.  Training for new hires is greatly needed to improve to ensure their understanding of their role, what the position entails and best practices in providing positive behavior supports to all the children.

Worked as licensed professional here and although i was mostly autonomous if i raised a question regarding my job, or its requirements there were never any clear answers from management. Saw MANY good people leave for reasons including distrust low pay and hostility in women. All human relationships including working ones should be built on honesty, trust and respect and you wont find it here not even in their lead social worker.  Keep scrolling unless youre pinocchio.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Special education teacher 22 salaries reported	$59,885 per year
Teacher's aide 31 salaries reported	$20.89 per hour
Teaching assistant 13 salaries reported	$24.80 per hour
Early childhood teacher 7 salaries reported	$58,364 per year
Speech therapist 9 salaries reported	$71,157 per year

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