preschool teacher

program aide

assistant teacher

family advocate

education manager

Community Development Institute Head Start

Your first week at CDI Headstart in Wetumpka is generally positive. You might be overwhelmed by the scope of your job, but everyone treats you well and you are promised the support you need to do your job well. Your day consists of learning how to do all the things you need to do. There is little training. However, CDI will send someone to your office to provide adequate training. This makes you feel equipped and ready to tackle challenges.

After a week or two, you start to realize that something is very wrong with management. Managers argue out loud, constantly.  Your training has little to do with your actual, day-to-day work. You soon learn that just about everyone is going through the same thing. 

There are usually two types of communication in the office and between CDI headquarters and your office: poor communication and negative communication. Poor communication takes shape in the form of managers who have not been trained, or do not have the experience to communicate well. Negative communication is usually motivation or correction based on threats.

In general, management is extremely poor. In my case, CDI had taken over the program after the Office of Headstart in Washing DC canceled funding. This move was based on evidence that staff and management had not upheld basic Headstart standards. All staff and management were discharged. However, when I arrived, I soon learned that all members of the previous administration - those who had contributed to the program's funding being canceled - were now rehired. In fact, much of the staff (teachers, teacher assistants, etc) were also rehired. Most competent leaders would disagree with this strategy.

The worse part of my experience was the every-day culture. Because of the issues already mentioned above, company culture was very negative. Gossip was rampant. Conversations that took place in private, with the promise of discretion, were soon common knowledge. Managers and staff were demonized behind their back. Members of the management team used strategic gossip as a weapon. 

The hardest part of my job was trying to adapt to constantly and dramatically-changing expectations. Every employee should expect reasonable changes in policy and procedure with accompanying training. However, massive changes - with no training follow up - every 2 months breeds confusion and leads to total burn-out. 

This also led to massive and widespread turnover. I estimate that we lost 20-25 teachers, teacher's aids, custodians, etc in 1.5 years. 

This was especially hard for me since I supervised 10 employees. Imagine spending weeks training employees on a new set of policies and procedures, only to be told nearly everything will change. And imagine doing this 4 or 5 times in one year.

The thing I loved most about my job was the people I supervised. Together we formed a great team. We exceeded expectations and accomplished nearly all of our goals...despite the chaos around us. Also, I loved spending time with the students. Hanging out in the classrooms was a kind of therapy for me. 

In summary, don't waste your time with this agency. Things may appear okay at first. But after two months, you will be looking for another job. Just run.

Participate in grantee and delegate component pre-service training; Implement  curricula in the classroom;
Perform the functions of this position with a strong understanding of the Head Start Performance Standards and the component plans; and thorough knowledge and application of Developmentally Appropriate Practices;
Guide and facilitate activities of the children, including: daily activities, field trips, selecting and arranging equipment and materials in the classroom;
Cooperate with other staff and classroom groups to maintain the smooth functioning of the center, which at times may require changes to meet the needs of the children;
Maintain a comprehensive and ongoing portfolio assessment for each child, including weekly observations in each area, examples of the child's work, and a developmental assessment, completed as per  procedure;
Use home visits and parent conferences to discuss the child's individual development and progress, assist the parents in developing observational skills and solicit parent observations;
Eat with and assist children in development of social and self-help skills, and sound nutritional practices;
Meet bi-weekly with director and coordinators to exchange information pertinent to the identification and services of children with disabilities;
Meet with the mental health consultant monthly to discuss mental health needs of children;
Guide children's acquisition of social skills;
Attend staff training and meetings, and board and parent meetings as requested;
Works with Teachers, Teacher Assistant and volunteers to use and develop their skills and abilities in planning and carrying out classroom activities;
Maintain a safe and healthy classroom environment. Assure that classroom equipment, furniture, materials, and supplies are properly maintained and stored;
Use the playground as an extension of the classroom; assures that the playground is safe;

CDI Head Start is the worst company I've ever worked for. My local boss is amazing but every person from the corporate office is terrible to work with. No exaggerating I have to medicate my anxiety whenever I know they are coming to town. Our site manager is the most condescending woman I've ever spoken to. She only comes to town to berate our teachers and managers. Last time she was here I went home sick and cried from relief of not having to talk to her. I'm so afraid of applying for another job after this because of how worthless CDI has made me feel. It's not fair to anyone working that has to feel this way. We don't get trained on stuff until after it's too late and then get blamed and dressed down when we don't do something we don't know how to do.  Our local boss sends weekly apology emails trying to keep our spirits up but we can't help it because CDI is so rude. They even make fun of teachers low pay and stress right in front of them. At one site they went even let us use the bathrooms because they don't want to pay for it we have to wait in line for one stall over 30 staff it's disgusting the way we are treated. I used to love my job now I'm afraid every day I can't wait until we can be a local program again and never have to deal with someone bullying me again because that's what they are they think because they are better than us they can treat us like animals

CDI is an interim grant holder for Head Start programs that are at risk of closing down. In my experience, this creates a stressful work culture and unhealthy competition among staff because everyone is concerned about keeping their own jobs while adjusting to the different way CDI does things (new paperwork, new procedures, new attitudes). 

They move staff around as they see fit. Imagine establishing a good working relationship with your caseload and then getting reassigned without notice and having to start all over again. Some older workers stick around because they're near retirement and have been with Head Start for years ( CDI does not offer retirement benefits btw) but most newer staff don't stay more than a few months or a couple of years. It's a good crash course in teaching, case management, etc. but shouldn't be treated as much more than a learning opportunity.
 
Don't get too comfortable here.

I loved it. Everyday was filled with learning and inspiration for growth among the children as well as the administration.  It was organized and a great environment to work. I learned organization, how to work in diverse settings, and how to teach in a creative work environment, and  gained experience implementing parent involvement. 
The day always started with the checklist that included a check list to be in place before the students entered the classroom to ensure them a safe environment. A number log was always posted for a definite count of the students in attendance. Lesson Plans were accounted two weeks in advance.  They were checked and activities had to be in accordance with the curriculum and planned to make learning 'fun' and 'creative!  The 'Creative Curriculum' was the implemented curriculum.
Management exhibited open communication with regular teacher meetings and curriculum guidance.  The forum was fun and encouraging to aspire teachers to become the best they could be.

As the HR Manager, a typical day is filled with a lot of projects that need to be completed in a short period of time.  I love the fast pace and really enjoy showing off my skills in getting the job done.  Even though we have a small HR staff, I love that fact that I'm always working as an generalist because it keeps me sharp in all the areas of human resources.  One of the biggest things I learned in this position is that I can handle any thing that comes my way and meet any deadline regardless of unforeseen things that come up at the last minute. I loved the staff at CDI and made some new friends.  The hardest part of my job was working without the necessary tools to do the job well.  I learned to work smart and not hard.  Working hard is good but working smart is better because you can get a lot more done and in less time. Lastly, the most enjoyable part of my job was taking care of the management and staff needs.  I know I've made a lot of positive changes in our staff's lives and careers.  Helping people gives me great satisfaction.

cdi was a great company to work for, a place where you have the oppprtinity to grow. I learned to plan and develop age approrpriate activities for students,case mangement and family advocacy to families in the assign caseload by providing and linking famlies to comprehension services including home visits, socialization activities as well provide social services, referal and knowledge of various service resources in the community. Work in tandem with the rest of the parts of the system as an integrated team to support the goal of the program. My co-workers were awesome, we were team playes. When I could not help a family that needed met that was the hardest part of my job. Seeing a student progress was my greatest joy, seeing that child grow and develop was the maxium joy. A typical day was assisting that parent with the education of thier child.

Community Development Institute is the National Interim Contractor when local Head Start programs that have lost their previous grantee funding are waiting for a new grantee. They were very good in re-hiring employees from the previous grantee but the hardest part of the job was not knowing who the new grantee would be, when the change would occur and whether or not staff would be rehired by the new grantee. CDI provided lots of opportunities for training and technical assistance to the program.  They also had a tuition assistance program for staff. 

A typical day for management staff involved meetings, monitoring of activities to ensure compliance, follow up and reporting. Technical assistance through content area specialists was available in all areas.

Overworked, no help, no administrative assistant.
Very difficult keeping up with 3 centers without any help.
Our substitute teachers can only work 10 hours a week, When staff call in sick, and your subs. have already worked their 10 hours, you are in the classroom, too often, other duties  have to wait, leading to a very long day.

We were under under TNS but they lost the Head Start grant, CDI took over as interim grantee. Difficult to order anything, or getting things fixed. We went from salary to hourly pay. They often make mistakes with accrued SETO time.

I waited as long as I could for the program to get a new permanet grantee before looking for a new company but this is taking too long, and I drive too far, I am not willing to re-locate for this company.

Last summer we had to go on furlough for 1 month non pay.

What is the best part of working at the company?
During conflict Admin was very helpful and assisted. There is alot of support when needed. The only thing I found that I did not like with CDI is that there is too many rules and regulations that was almost impossible to abide by,

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Too many rules and regulations that were almost impossible to comply especially when short staffed.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
CDI Admin was approachable and actually listened when office staff would not. They were quick to problem solve.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
I was the lead classroom teacher and with 17 children it is a very busy classroom. Teaching curriculum, alot of paperwork, directing aides in the classroom, training and assisting new teachers

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Preschool teacher 8 salaries reported	$18.53 per hour
Program aide 3 salaries reported	$11.53 per hour
Assistant teacher 6 salaries reported	$15.57 per hour
Family advocate 2 salaries reported	$19.59 per hour
Education manager 1 salary reported	$4,640 per month

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