preschool teacher

teacher

assistant teacher

lead teacher

Lightbridge Academy

I truly loved the idea of this center, the families and kids are great. Staff for the most part is good, there is little daily interaction between staff outside of the classroom for the infant teachers,  so it is hard to build those working relationships with other teachers. Most of the teachers who work here genuinely love their jobs, and the children they work with daily.  Many of the teachers are so kind, warm and welcoming, you can tell they love what they do. Then there are some who shouldn't be there at all. They don't enjoy their job, make it very apparent daily, shouldn't be working with kids, but even if management is told, something bad is probably going to happen before they do something about it.  

 Management and up, is what it is. They will say they care but in all honesty they don't.  There is a lot of favoritism, and it' s obvious. When concerns are presented by employees, there is no action to resolve any issues.  If  there are issues between employees that are brought to their attention there will be nothing done about it, they will just sweep it under the rug and wait for it to go away.  For some reason certain employees are allowed to treat others with no respect, and it is dismissed,  or their response is,  " yeah we know. We are trying to figure something out." But there is nothing done, it's just swept under the rug.  Employees who show up everyday, never call out, go the extra mile to help out when needed do not get acknowledgement or recognition for their work ethic.  Instead the ones who show up and do the bare minimum do. If there are any issues with employees not following rules,  for example, dress code, showing up late, taking longer breaks, calling out multiple times in a week. Blanket statements are put out to everyone and the individuals  are never addressed one on one, corrections are not made and the issues will continue to happen. 
So the school and program  are pretty decent, management is not the best at all and are not supportive of their staff. They are there to run the show, employees show up as the worker bees and that's about it. Little to no room for advancement within a center, and if something does come available, it will be filled based on who management likes verses who is most qualified for the position. 

Administration consists of women in their mid-twenties. All of which display blatant favoritism and in turn disinterest to employees as they choose. The nature of the whole staff is catty. Displeasure with administrators bleed into displeasure between staff members. There are multiple employees who have been the of complaints from many parents who have unenrolled their children, but said employees are close to administrators and thus scarcely reprimanded. Administration blames it’s educators for the school’s continuously dwindling number of students but refuses to punish or terminate the educator’s who are at fault. It is a vicious and continuous cycle that is to the detriment of our school and leaves job security lacking. Just recently on account of unenrollments a small host of staff have been effectively laid off merely a month after administration celebrated its success in acquiring a “full staff.” Parents as well are frustrated on account of administrators and their lack of communication to teachers and parents alike. Our staff of educators lack in certain areas, but we are ever changing and looking to administrators for guidance, that of which is met with disdain and disinterest. We are an expensive school, which is the reason many parents have given when pulling their students, but we have the staff to make this school a place worthy of its price tag. It is administration who have yet to step up and prove that to parents. It is also worth noting that teachers are often forced to work off the clock in order to meet standards set by administration and corporate. This is ultimately because admin does not and has never allowed its teachers time during the day to meet these standards and failing to do so could result in unjust termination. 

The management was very sweet and the teachers were skilled. Only issue is that children would be left out of ratio or just at ratio when that is not enough. 2 people is not enough for 12/14 kids between ages 2-5. All of these children of this age walk in any direction they like and need constant supervision. Teaching children is nearly impossible and then the children feed off of the lack of control. An extra teacher would give the parents paying for this care the experience they are paying for. 

You buy materials for the activities with your own money to keep the children busy and meeting goals, aren’t given time you’re compensated for to plan, can’t teach each child according to their needs and likes because we are understaffed. 

My favourite part is being with the children and taking care of them. I wish I was empowered and taken seriously because I felt like this was made for me as a career but teaching is really hard as a career. You’re given too many children, not enough materials and have to work off of sheer will power and the incentive is that you love children when it’s really about the fact that people are paying for a service and we’re lying about what they get because we need more support that is just practical and not about having a whimsical culture but real help. 

Businesses like this should try to set themselves apart from the public education experience many children have and don’t strive in. 
I will praise the level of sanitation, cleanliness and professionalism here. I did work during the pandemic and this likely affected staff availabilities. These are issues with the education system, not just Lightbridge. 

Lightbridge Academy ( and I will not name which NJ location ) is not inherently a bad place to work if you are someone who can deal with ever changing expectations, high turnover rates, and long unexpected hours with relatively low pay in comparison to hours worked( at least in administrative positions). Overall I had good, quality and even fun relationships with the majority of teachers, assistants and other staff members which at least made coming to work somewhat enjoyable. Our regional manager was a fantastic, lovely woman and was extremely supportive. However, due to the low pay for teachers and consistent call outs there was an extremely high turnover rate which made navigating the day to day extremely stressful. On top of that, I personally found the owners of this particular center to be unsupportive and genuinely do not believe they cared for the staff nor children and only cared about how much money they could bring in based upon false promises to families. 
Due to the ever consistent call outs of both teachers and administrators, my supposed 8-9 hour work day would more often than not turn into a 10-12 hour workday with no lunch and I found myself consistently running around every day. After 6 months I felt complete burnout and rarely had time to spend with my family. 

Again- if you are someone who can deal with and accommodate long work hours and a consistent changing environment then this may be an ideal place for your career as most of the actual women you work with and children/families you serve are great. To some it may be extremely rewarding, for me- it was not.  

What is the best part of working at the company?
The best part of Lightbridge is hands-down the bosses. Not only are they incredibly supportive, dedicated, and caring, but they go above and beyond in helping with flexing schedules, assisting with curriculum, or aiding in challenging behaviors. Plus, there’s never any shortage in treats brought in to help brighten the day.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
As with any daycare, the call-offs can be challenging. For the most part, it’s fine and staff can be shuffled around. But every so often, children have to be moved to accommodate ratio. But the bosses do a great job of communicating these adjustments to staff as soon as they have a plan.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment for the most part is upstanding, structured, and pleasant. Staff work together to communicate needs and help each other out should the need arise. Gossip does float around from time to time, but nothing more than the norm of any office or school. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day is walking in and saying my good mornings to parents and colleagues. Walk my class over to open my room. Serve stack, lead circle time, followed by centers. Play outside, eat lunch, then tuck the kids in for nap. Wake up, go back outside, come in, eat snack, then go home for the day. The days are packed full of opportunities to educate the students, and no days are ever the same. The day does go by super fast, and before you know it, you’re headed home.

I have been in the early education field for more than 20 years. Working with young children and their families is my passion!  I have found a partner in that passion at Lightbridge Academy of Virginia Beach and the corporation as a whole.  From the president and CEO, to the owners of the Virginia Beach franchise where I work, to the team of teachers I work with, they all approach this field as more than just a job. We are working together to enrich the lives of the children and families we serve everyday. As an assistant director, working very closely with the owners, we strive to create a fun, caring, supportive, and family-oriented work environment. We are always in the classrooms helping out in any way we can, supporting our teachers and building relationships with the children. Not because we have to, but because we want to be involved with our children and support our staff.  No one is above changing a diaper, dancing to entertain a group of children, serving meals, taking out trash, etc. We ALL pitch in to help and that’s why we are a work family!  The owners are down-to-earth and very approachable. They care about their staff and want to help them grow and succeed. I started out as an assistant director 6 months ago and I am now the director. I knew when I joined the Lightbridge team that there would be room to grow and advance and that’s a wonderful feeling!  If you are looking to work for a caring, positive dedicated team, Lightbridge Academy will not disappoint.

The hiring process includes CPR training and background checks which include fingerprints. Staff are hired before these requirements and working without the required training.  The work schedule is not enforced as to the hours of each day for the different classes. Inventory of classroom supplies are either limited or unavailable. The Director does not involve in daily activities or to observe each classroom periodically. The administration team stay in the main office most of the day and are unaware of any issues even with cameras in the office. The parents can see more of how the school is doing more so than the office. As a Director it is important to be involved and aware as well as knowledgeable with every aspect of a company.  This does not seem to matter in this situation. It is unfortunate being that the owners want to fulfill their dream but if they are not aware then I would be sad to see them fail because success will come with time and communication. No incentives are offered to new employees and this is the main reason staff members are leaving. There are many other private schools opening in this area and this particular one should stand out just as in the name. Shine that light before it slowly dims.




Lightbridge Academy is a fantastic company to work for if you are looking to have your love and passion for children, and customer service enhanced. 

Prior to working at Lightbridge, I worked at to other childcare centers, each very different from the next. It was at my time at Lightbridge Academy that I was truly shown professionalism and proper care for children. From my first day as a teacher, I was trained on proper classroom management and given the tools necessary to flourish professionally, making my lead teacher experience a positive one.

I spent 5 years in the classroom as a lead teacher and was quickly shown the opportunities in front of me to enhance my career path within the Lightbridge company. My administration team supported my yearning for more through training and continued guidance in making the switch from teacher to being a part of the administration team.

There were many things that drew me to the company and are the same reasons why I remain with the company to this day.

Those reasons being, room to grow, the family friendly atmosphere, and the administrative team, the health benefits for myself and my growing family, paid time off, and childcare discount. 

I am very happy to have a place to call work as well as home away from home! 

Lightbridge Academy has not only become my workplace but my family. Each individual I work with brings something new and exciting to the table. As a staff we all work well with each other. We are there to assist and jump in whenever needed. I would not hesitate to ask for help because I know it is always there. Throughout working here at Lightbridge Academy I have learned an ample amount in a short period of time. Through earning my P-3 teaching certification Lightbridge gave me the access I needed to children of multiple ages as well as the flexibility to continue my schooling and still be a part of their working family. The most difficult part of this job is leaving after my shift. These children have also become my family and I wake up ready to grow along side them and watch all of their successes at such a young age.  A typical day at Lightbridge Academy includes snack, circle time where students learn songs, calendar, days of the week and months etc. followed by circle time is group activities based around the weekly themes. The organizational aspect of the day is a necessity for staff and children and it also makes it easy for anyone to jump into any classroom. Overall, Lightbridge Academy has given me more opportunities and flexibility than any job I’ve ever had. The children and staff have become an essential aspect of my daily life all because of Lightbridge Academy.

Lightbridge Academy is a fantastic company to work for if you are looking to have your love and passion for children, and customer service enhanced. 

Prior to working at Lightbridge, I worked at two other childcare centers, each very different from the next. It was at my time at Lightbridge Academy that I was truly shown professionalism and proper care for children. From my first day as a teacher, I was trained on proper classroom management and given the tools necessary to flourish professionally, making my lead teacher experience a positive one.

I spent 5 years in the classroom as a lead teacher and was quickly shown the opportunities in front of me to enhance my career path within the Lightbridge company. My administration team and the home office supported my yearning for more through training and continued guidance in making the switch from teacher to being a part of the administration team.

There were many things that drew me to the company and are the same reasons why I remain with the company to this day.

Those reasons being, room to grow, the family friendly atmosphere, and the administrative team, the health benefits for myself and my growing family, paid time off, and the childcare discount. 

I am very happy to have a place to call work as well as home away from home!

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