substitute teacher

special education paraprofessional

elementary school teacher

paraprofessional

teacher

National Heritage Academies

Although I love what NHA stands for and their training is pretty good. This particular NHA school does not treat their specials teachers with very much respect and view them as unimportant. They undermine the teachers in front of the kids and rarely support the teacher in their efforts. They praise the teachers abilities often but never mention anything about anything the specials teacher does, whether it be an art show, a music concert, planning of field day, not a single "good job" from admin staff. First half of the year you have a room but the second half of the year you are on a cart (art and music.) Nothing is consistent at Laurus. I have been to other NHA schools where everyone was on the same page, anyone had the authority to clip anyone up or down in the system and it sent a note home to each parent at the end of the day with the times the kids clipped down, who clipped them down and the reason. At Laurus everyone does their own thing and everyone has a different reward/punishment system, they have the computer system to do the same thing as all the other NHA schools but they don't use it and instead do everything the hard way. As a specials teacher you are also supposed to come up with your own reward and punishment and if you give a lunch detention as punishment you are expected to have the child sit with you during your short 20min prep that somehow you are supposed to plan for 9 classes in that short time. As a specials teacher you teach 9 different classes/grades a day with no break in between (not even 5 minutes,) this leaves no time for management or calling parents, or writing detentions when one class ends, the next begins. The things you have to have visible in your room is insane and with limited wall space your room is so cluttered with things that don't even really apply to you, however they are mandatory because it's NHA policy then you get marked down in your observation for your walls being cluttered even though it's all mandatory stuff, when you ask them how you can fix it so you don't get marked down next time they just say "you can't, there's nothing you can do." So now you have an evaluation that has a lower score for no apparent reason. If you had a problem in your class and have to ask for support from the Dean's the kids would say "go ahead and call the dean, they don't do anything anyways" the kids know they can run the school, they respect the Dean's but not the classroom teachers, also the specials teachers get treated worse than the classroom teachers do and admin let it happen. The admin team is very unsupportive and change their rules/policies/procedures often and forget to inform the specials teachers of the changes so of course you as the specials teacher get into trouble for not following the rules and procedures due to the fact you were unaware of the change. At other NHA schools if a child was misbehaving in your class you would just tell them to go to the Dean's office and the child would go and later get some kind of punishment for their behavior. At Laurus if a child is preventing you from teaching and you send them to the Dean's office they send them back and tell you to handle the situation yourself. There are so many fights at Laurus and the kids are allowed to threaten and bully the teachers with no consequence for their actions. I would not recommend you work at this school as a specials teacher they will ruin your career. I was here for several years and even though many Dean's came and went, the admin staff never got better, even when they got a new principal very little changed. I have worked at 4 NHA schools total and I can honestly say Laurus is the worst, they don't follow normal NHA guidelines and never seemed like an NHA school. I thought they treated art badly until I heard stories from the music and gym teacher, it was worse, luckily we had each other for support.

I have been working at one of their high schools for half a school year, I will list the pros and cons (with some grace).

Pros:
1. You get ok benefits and Ok pay
2. One or two people may be competent in district management, most school administration is incompetent, though. 
3. Students are nice. 

Cons:
1. Management at the district and school level - Payroll never responded to me as to why I did not receive a check 1 week after pay day.
- They will say curriculum and priority standards (school picked state standards) are all there for you and you don't need to reinvent the wheel, but the wheel is 1/3 of the way made. 
- School level management will micromanage you, and be very passive aggressive about it only via email.
- School level management will promise to support you or promise collaboration with other English teachers from different schools, but never follow through.  
- School level management will threaten to cut your pay if you want to take a day or two off of a co-teaching assignment.
- School level management will become very passive aggressive with you if you decide to take days off for your PTO and personal days. Want a mentor or coach? Nope you get bosses who demand excellence without supporting staff.
- School level management will come down on you if you do not follow the school rules (students cannot eat, or drink in class.)
- Staff who have worked here long term are favorited by the principal and vice-principals, who for 80% of the day stay in their offices. 
-  The pace is insane. Students can't finish a warm up in 5 minutes? Well, keep moving on..
- You will be given possibly 1 raise in a year, but your pay will be stagnant. In addition, if you are a new teacher and need to pay for external schooling for licensure, your boss will give you a raise just to cover part of that. 
- You will never be supported, called down for mentor meetings, or helped by administration, especially if they don't favor you based on bias (such as taking a mental health day/physically sick due to being overworked --and they don't care about you personally -- business is business mentality).
- You actually work 50-60 hours a week in the building, and they pay you for 40. If you try to leave early, you will be threatened .80 employment or to post your job. 50-60 does not include take home teacher work. 
- If you want to be creative or autonomous here, good luck. They will shoot it down with threats and then not help you pay for materials. 

Overall, terrible bureaucratic place to work. It seems organized and professional at first, especially if you are coming from a more toxic work environment. 

I have enjoyed working here but I will be happy to move on. This company has a wonderful aim to help students but they really shoot themselves in the foot while doing it. They don't value their employees that do all the grunt work. Pay is not fair at the Service Center or the schools. The work culture was great when I started but now it's entirely a blame-game and no department will take responsibility of their work and mistakes. We're trying to help children, not be children. Since the new CFO has started, raises only cover what they will charge you for benefits next year. There aren't many pats on the back for good work but there are plenty of pointing fingers if you accidentally miss something. 
However, I have enjoyed that I get to work from home once a week. They are lenient on letting you go to the doctor and make up the time. I knew one person who took nearly three months off without management noticing that she didn't have any more sick time or vacation time left. She didn't even get fired - crazy. The Service Center throws some pretty good parties and each department can go on outings (unless you're part of Accounting). 
Security is a top priority here, which I appreciate. Doors are locked and they run drills throughout the year. Medicine and bandages are provided in case you don't feel well or get hurt at work.
Benefits is a joke now - they barely have a tuition-reimbursement program. Maternity leave is what the state minimally allows. They won't listen to the idea of Paternity leave. Odd how you can work for an educational entity that cares so much for children, yet won't support their staff who are becoming mothers to those future children. Benefits is SO EXPENSIVE! A good majority of my paycheck goes into paying benefits and making sure I have an HSA ready for my bills. They hiked up the PPO in 2020 so high that no one could afford to be on it anymore and had to switch to the Savings Select. This of course has put a lot of us lower-tiered employees in massive amounts of medical debt. Dental and Vision are affordable. NHA barely puts any money into your HSA so you are on your own. 
Overall this is a nice place to work but I wouldn't settle down here. It's a nice springboard into the next job.

Title: A Fulfilling Journey at NHA: A Positive Review

I have had the privilege of being part of the NHA team and my experience has been nothing short of exceptional. From the moment I joined, I've been met with warmth, support, and opportunities for growth. Here are some aspects that make working at NHA such a rewarding experience:

1. **Inclusive Culture:** NHA fosters a culture of inclusivity and diversity. Every individual's voice is valued, regardless of their background or position within the company. This inclusive environment not only encourages collaboration but also enhances creativity and innovation.

2. **Strong Leadership:** The leadership team at NHA sets a remarkable example. Their vision, transparency, and commitment to employee development are truly inspiring. They provide clear direction while also empowering employees to take initiative and contribute meaningfully to the company's success.

3. **Opportunities for Growth:** NHA believes in investing in its employees' growth and development. Whether it's through mentorship programs, training sessions, or challenging projects, there are ample opportunities to learn and advance professionally. I've personally benefited from these opportunities and have seen significant growth in my skills and career trajectory.

4. **Work-Life Balance:** NHA understands the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. They offer flexible work arrangements, supportive policies, and initiatives aimed at promoting employee well-being. This balance allows me to excel in my role while also prioritizing my personal life and interests.

5. **Impactful Work:** One of the most rewarding aspects of working at NHA is knowing that my contributions make a difference. Whether it's developing innovative solutions, serving our customers, or supporting meaningful causes, I feel a sense of purpose in the work that I do. This sense of purpose drives me to continually strive for excellence and deliver my best work.

Overall, my experience at NHA has been incredibly positive. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a dynamic and supportive team. I look forward to continuing my journey with NHA and contributing to its ongoing success. If you're looking for a company where you can grow, make an impact, and be part of a thriving community, I highly recommend considering NHA

Working for this company was a frustrating experience overall. While there were dedicated employees and educators who genuinely cared about students, the organization often seemed more focused on compliance, testing, and performance metrics than on creating a positive environment for students and staff.

Micromanagement was a significant issue. Employees were expected to follow rigid directives and were often closely monitored, creating an environment that felt more focused on compliance than professional growth. Staff were given little autonomy, and unrealistic expectations frequently made it difficult to perform their jobs effectively. Rather than feeling trusted as professionals, many employees felt scrutinized and undervalued.

Communication from leadership was often inconsistent, and decisions made at higher levels frequently appeared disconnected from the day-to-day realities within schools. There was a strong emphasis on testing, data, and performance goals, sometimes at the expense of meaningful learning. At times, it felt as though test scores were valued more than ensuring students developed the foundational skills they needed to succeed, particularly in reading.

Staff morale was negatively impacted by the constant pressure, excessive oversight, and lack of meaningful support. Employee concerns were not always addressed effectively, and turnover appeared to be common. Although there were hardworking individuals throughout the organization, the overall culture often made it difficult to feel valued or respected.

The most rewarding part of the job was working with students and witnessing their growth and success. Unfortunately, those positive experiences were often overshadowed by micromanagement, unrealistic expectations, and a corporate culture that seemed more focused on numbers than people.



I was so excited to begin working at this school, it was my first teaching job after graduating school. As the school year began, I can see why they needed to replace 2 out of the 3 third grade teachers from the previous year. They expect way too much out of the teachers and students. The teachers are expected to make any calls home to parents during the day; if a student is sick or hurt, if they forgot anything, if they are out of dress code, etc. The day starts at 8AM and between starting at 10:30AM you are expected to have a moral focus lesson, read aloud, shared reading, writing, grammar, bathroom break and snack, and then a math workshop with a minimum of 2 rotations. The students only get one 15-minute recess break and only 20 minutes for lunch, which includes them waiting in line for lunch. There is no creativity or fun within the painfully long scripted lessons. If your students need a lesson repeated because of confusion there is no time to go back and reteach because you are on a tight schedule. I know student behaviors are crazy everywhere, but I am at a loss with it here. They have a behavior system that is supposed to be used, but it does not work because the students do not care about it. I am told to use positive behavior sticker charts if the regular system is not working. I love my fellow teachers. I have an incredibly helpful and supportive team, but I am beyond stressed and tired.

I currently hold two positions at Walker Charter Academy, an NHA school. 
The recess aide position is approximately 2 hours/day, M-F. As a recess aide, I am monitoring recess time indoor or outside and supervising classrooms during lunch time. 
The test proctor position is 3 times per school year (fall, winter, and spring) and the hours vary from 3/day to 8/day depending on the season and how many proctors are working. As a proctor, I administer 2 different tests (NWEA and MSTEP) to all grades. This position can be very hectic and stressful if everything doesn't work as expected. We are often running from one class to the next with very little wiggle room because the tests must be done within a certain window of time. 
In both positions, I have learned more about how to work with coworkers with whom I do not share the same philosophy about children and working with children.
The management for both positions is excellent. Flexible and fair.
The culture of our work environment for both positions is generally positive and supportive. 
The hardest part of the job is knowing when to ask for help with certain situations with children and when to handle it yourself. Being flexible, yet keeping the rules the same for all is also challenging.
The best thing about this job is working with kids! It is so rewarding to help and laugh and smile with kids every day!

My coworkers and students were the BEST part of my job. I was also given a generous raise for my performance. Unfortunately, it did not make up for the fact that this place was the most toxic school environment I’ve ever worked in after almost a decade in education due to poor leadership and unrealistic expectations. This school has horrible leadership, minimal resources/support to help with challenging student behaviors and a developmentally inappropriate curriculum for a low income population. Teachers, steer clear of this place. You will quickly become burnt out, discouraged and overworked. Teachers are micromanaged by admin and are not treated like professional adults. Teachers are told that their feedback matters, but their needs are usually not met and their input is rarely valued. Teachers who have had the courage to speak up and try to advocate for what’s right are usually silenced and pushed out. Admin does not allow differing views or opinions from their own. This place sucked the love of teaching out of me and almost made me leave the profession all together. 

I was treated horribly by the administration. I got in trouble for pulling my caseload of students on IEPS out of the classroom to work on their goals then I would get in trouble and was told I was a distraction in the classroom. This environment was always danged if you do danged if you don't. 

I had just finished my Master's program and teachers treated me like I was their assistant. 

The administration wanted me to do things that were against IDEA and other areas of compliance. 

The students all worked well with me, yet a dean told me I was not a good role-model. The students could sense this person did not like me, which is very unprofessional to me. 

Lastly, teachers here did not all have teaching licenses. I found that upsetting as I had worked so hard to complete my degree and get my actual license.

Too many other things to list. Plain and simple if you want to have a personal life and not be shamed for it don't work here. I was told I was not a team player because our work day was 7:30-4 and I often left at 4. We had staff meeting that would be an hour long every monday and IEP meetings had to take place after school. Some meetings took more than an hour. I came in over the holiday break 3 times and worked from home to be in a more positive environment than the janitors closet they put me for a classroom.

In the academic industry, there's no such animal as a "perfect environment", but my tenure has been exceptional so far. Simply put: we work hard, and play hard, as there are more than enough opportunities for new and veteran educators to grow their skill set in a reasonable amount of time. 

In my first year, I was fortunate enough to participate in the Leadership Academy; I realize that I still had some personal deficiencies in the classroom that I wanted to improve as I transitioned back into the general middle school classroom from teaching previously at an alternative high school. The expectations are high at NHA, and anyone who's serious about the service that comes with teaching will appreciate the manner in which leadership accommodates them professionally. 

To be honest, I'd recommend any of the NHA schools, as they have a system that works in the charter school environment.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Substitute teacher 176 salaries reported	$144 per day
Special education paraprofessional 49 salaries reported	$17.65 per hour
Elementary school teacher 47 salaries reported	$65,895 per year
Paraprofessional 30 salaries reported	$18.09 per hour
Teacher 7 salaries reported	$61,480 per year

Working at National Heritage Academies: Company Overview and Reviews

National Heritage Academies

National Heritage Academies Ratings

Popular jobs at National Heritage Academies

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected