paraprofessional

physical therapist

special education teacher

human resources generalist

preschool teacher

Celebrate the Children School

What is the best part of working at the company?
Relationship with students.   Chance to build meaningful relationship with co-workers.  

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
I worked at Celebrate the Children for less than a year. I initially joined with high expectations and a genuine desire to contribute in a meaningful way. However, within my first month, I realized the environment was not what I had anticipated.
The onboarding and training process was minimal and lacked hands-on preparation. Most of the initial days consisted of brief informational sessions with various departments, but there was little practical guidance for working in the classroom setting. This left staff underprepared for the realities of the role.
In practice, classrooms often felt understaffed and unsupported. Teachers were frequently pulled away for meetings or other responsibilities, which placed significant instructional responsibility on paraprofessionals. While paraprofessionals are an essential part of any educational team, the level of responsibility expected without sufficient training or support was challenging.
There also appeared to be a strong organizational focus on events, fundraising, and external visibility, sometimes at the expense of consistency within the classroom environment. As a result, day-to-day operations could feel unpredictable, and it was often unclear what to expect.
I believe the organization has the potential to be a strong and supportive environment, and I’ve heard that it has been in the past. However, my experience did not reflect that, and I would encourage prospective employees to ask detailed questions about training, classroom support, and daily expectations before accepting a position.

On a typical day at work I would work with my student following a schedule of classes assigned to the student while supporting the student's sensory needs, following his behavior protocol, and his related services schedule (physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy).

I learned the DIR (Developmental Individual Relationship) Floortime model. I also was trained in nonviolent crisis prevention. 

The management team supposedly prides themselves on how they support the staff. I feel management is not as supportive as they should be and lacks in following protocol when it comes to any minor issues in the classroom. recently, the school relocated from Dover and Wharton to Denville and it seems the management has been more concerned about the move than anything else. 

There was too much gossip and not enough support from the rest of the staff. There are too many cliques and if you are not part of a clique, the chances of being happy while employed here are slim.

The hardest part of the job is trying to work with your student and getting nothing but negative feedback while trying to do the best you can to help the student become more independent and excel in areas that are most difficult for the student to reach.

The most enjoyable part of the job is watching a student have a breakthrough in an area, whether it be socially, academically, or physically, that the student has never reached before.

I will say when I was offered the position - I was really excited about the opportunity. I was intrigued about the possibilities of helping these truly amazing kids in their day to day at CTC. I saw the reviews and kind of thought - is it really that bad ? The answer is yes. Being a paraprofessional in this place basically means - in the eyes of the “teachers” here -  your like chewing gum. Easily disposable and frankly if you’re reading this - don’t do it. One person says one thing - another person says something else. The minute you assert your voice - “teachers” here feel threatened. They shun you and try to make you feel uncomfortable and like you’re beneath them. Very much a clique atmosphere. It’s truly a shame because the kids are amazing. The staff mostly teachers stink. . Plain and simple. There are other places that pay a little more. But at CTC again - if you assert your voice ? You’re the problem !! I would highly advise NOT taking this job 

Working as a paraprofessional at Celebrate the Children has been a rewarding experience overall. This position is perfect for anyone passionate about working with students and dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children with special needs.

One of the highlights of this role is the extensive training provided. The organization ensures that staff are well-prepared and equipped to handle the challenges of the job. This commitment to professional development is a testament to the care and effort the team puts into their work.

While the job is incredibly fulfilling, it can be stressful at times – but that’s simply the nature of the profession. It requires patience, adaptability, and a genuine passion for helping children reach their potential.

Overall, Celebrate the Children offers a supportive and fun environment, making it a great place to work for anyone interested in the field of special education or seeking a meaningful career.



I have loved this job, when you join you feel like you join a family. The other paraprofessionals are wonderful and supportive of each other. However, administration seems to have no idea what paraprofessionals do and what they deal with on a daily basis. Often decisions are made with out their consideration or enough knowledge of the student they work with. The paras here care so deeply for the students and the students make coming to work each day worth it. It’s just unfortunate that it is not possible as a para to make a living, and are underpaid and under appreciated for all that they do. Overall it is worth it, solely based on the family you will gain and the students that you will fall in love with.

Working at CTC can be meaningful, but the role is far more demanding than the pay suggests. Paraprofessionals often take on multiple responsibilities with limited formal training.

In my experience, highly dedicated staff were frequently assigned the most challenging students, which can be difficult to sustain without strong support systems. Although the school identifies as non-behavioral, staff should be prepared for significant behavioral and sometimes physical incidents.

This role may be a good fit for someone seeking intensive experience, but additional training, support, and compensation would greatly improve staff sustainability.

Great opportunity for someone who is looking to make a difference in a child’s life and those who genuinely love working through all moments, both happy and challenging. That being said, it can be difficult to work on your own personal development if you’re placed with staff who decline to give you the opportunity to grow and succeed. This combined with the low pay can unfortunately make the job feel less desirable. What I will say is, when you do find your people who believe in you and value your contribution, you’ll genuinely love working at CTC regardless of your paycheck. 

Good company to work for. 

A typical day included floor time, reading, studying and ABA behavioral methods.

I learned about behavioral modification and how to engage the students who suffered from autism.

The teachers were very good and had a structured schedule so that the aides used their time effectively.

The other teacher aides were very caring and interested in learning to better the students.

The job had difficulties like unpredictable behavioral issues from the students. The job has safety risks like violent characteristics from some students, however the school trains the teachers and aides to prevent violent behavior and how to create a predictable environment.

The job was very rewarding.

Working at this school has been a genuinely rewarding experience, especially when  it comes to watching students grow, develop confidence, and achieve their goals. Being part of that journey is what makes the work meaningful and keeps me motivated every day. The sense of impact you can have on students’ lives is truly special.

That said, the compensation does not fully reflect the level of responsibility and effort required in this role. The workload can be demanding, and the expectations are high, so it would be fair for the pay to better align with those realities. Overall, while the experience is fulfilling on a personal level, improvements in compensation would make it a much more sustainable and balanced workplace.

I really wanted this job to work out.  While I got extensive training to start, I feel I learned more on the job what to do and what not to do. The classroom team I was a part of was incredible! I loved working with such a nice group of people. Every day we got to do something new, and we had some really awesome moments.

However, due to the disconnect between training and real classroom situations, I felt unprepared and at times at risk. Many of the teachers and paraprofessionals care immensely. Unfortunately, there is a disconnect in what the classroom needs are, and what is actually being provided in preparation for what you are expected to do.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Paraprofessional 3 salaries reported	$22.67 per hour
Physical therapist 2 salaries reported	$91,314 per year
Special education teacher 4 salaries reported	$83,544 per year
Human resources generalist 4 salaries reported	$55,000 per year
Preschool teacher 2 salaries reported	$83,544 per year

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