special education teacher

teacher

instructional aide

school teacher

high school teacher

Ombudsman Educational Services

This job at Ombudsman was most unusual.  there were very few students so I could give a significant amount of attentions to the students, and provide extra help when needed.
     The physical setting was comfortable.  I had my own office in which I could see one or more students and run a group very comfortable.  Yet my room was very accessible to students who wanted to just drop in for a bit.
     Group meetings were held often.  Students were encouraged to form and maintain good relationships with their peers.  Any problems were taken seriously and they were helped to rectify them.   
     The staff was really very competent, bright and helpful when needed.  It was easy to team up to provide students with really balanced help.as needed.  
     The emphasis at the school was totally focused on interventions to help students learn what they needed academically, socially and emotionally.  We could easily see and track their progress.
      There was a strong emphasis and value to make and stay in contact with students parents.  The staff was very accessible to them.  They could easily meet the staff and watch their child's progress.
      April Reiss, LMSW

Ombudsman is full of surprises and each day is different! Students work on computers to complete coursework and also receive teacher-led instruction 5 days a week. Inaddition, students receive goals instruction ( counseling) inwhich they are encouraged to make honest,sometimes painfully so, answers, ones that will cause their minds to 'think' before acting. Staff is encouraged to engage professionally with students, watching for lines they must not cross. There is laughter and there's assertive re-direction! The job is difficult when the realization that a student was 'pushed through' various grade levels and not given proper instruction that will enable them to complete work requring basic skills happens, add to this students who should have an IEP and don't! The job is also difficult when it comes to salaries. I am making $10,000 less than what I was making working for an alternative program that closed.
The most enjoyable part of my job are my students and the 'stuff' they enter into the program with. I love seeing their faces when they know that they passed based on their effort and hardwork!

As an Educator, you will have many chances to help educate the at risk student population. You'll feel like you have an opportunity to do some really great things for your students. 

Though the very low pay and terrible compensation for your work will destroy your willingness to stick with this company in the long run. They are a great chance to learn and grow as a young educator, or a chance to pick up some hours as a retired educator, but you will not be able to make enough money to stay here for your career. 

We have teachers meeting their students at food banks because they can't afford to work at these jobs. Expecting a college educated adult to work for 30K per year is outrageous. 

If your business model relies on paying such low wages, you will not be successful in the long run. Teachers need to be paid enough to feel valued in the long term. 

This can be a great stopgap job for some, or great entry level opportunity, but it will not be the job you support yourself or a family.

Ombudsman is the single worst company I've ever had the displeasure of being employed at. The interview process is easy and HR will sell you a vision helping underprivileged students achieve success. It's all a lie.

The most egregious behavior I observed was almost exclusively from the staff. Swearing at and publicly berating children was the norm, even the principle participated in this public humiliation. The school was an absolute free-for-all. Since funding is based on attendance the administration didn't care what the students where doing as long as they attended. Texting? Sure. Students making-out? Perfectly okay. Not attending classes? As long as they're in the building. Plagarism? How else would assignments be completed?

Additionally the schools are converted office buildings where students are crammed as close as they can possible be. A full room of students will be the size of an average 1-car garage.

If you want to see the worst humanity has to offer because no one in their right mind would want to work there, go to Ombudsman.

A typical day at a Plus center is chaos. The director acted as though she was one of the students using horrible language and threats. Most of the rest of the staff followed the same behavior. The culture of the place was do whatever you want, come and go as you want but only if you are considered part of the "click". This was a highly toxic environment! The hardest part of the job was the lack of integrity and empathy of the director and staff. The only enjoyable part of the job was some students really wanted to learn. Otherwise, this was a holding place for a last attempt for Waukegan School District to possibly pass students along.

Pros:
The kids were awesome, and they made the work you do so rewarding. These kids come from a really rough path, but you truly can make a difference.

Cons
Principal was MIA majority of the year
Dean left halfway through
Interim principal really had no idea how to run the School, and Teachers had no support.
I was required to work full time hours, but considered a part time worker. No benefits, no holiday pay, not even health insurance. Plus I made 6,000 dollars less than the rest of the Teaching staff.
After insisting that they consider  me full time for next school year, I was fired at the end of the year.
Staff at the Chicago West center are very cliquey.
Staff definitely talk behind each other's backs.
As a new teacher I was supposed to have a mentor, and reviews to help me improve but this never happened.

This school is not a real school in Ohio.  It does not have a charter nor does it count towards STRS or years as a resident educator or with renewing a licence.  It is a education service building not a school.  I can't speak for all their centers but the Ohio center was out control in previous years and is lacking staff to run it or a competent administrator.  If you enjoy teaching your best bet is a smaller charter school where at least your years count.  This place is more about numbers than the children and is not a safe environment when the administrators talk about staff and students behind their back and hold your job as a threat over your head.

I would get there at about 7-8am and would start helping any teacher that needed it by making copies, grading work, fileing paperwork, and running errands. Once the students started to show up I would help/ tutor any student that needed me. I also assisted with behavior management. My boss and co workers were other teachers and I loved them all. The hardest part would be when the students wouldn't do there work and would start getting rowdy. I learned a few new computer programs working, mostly dealing with grading or the students work. My favorite part by far was helping the students.

Typical day included opening the center and getting ready for each day. Helping the students with their core subject areas. Conducting small group instruction. Was able to apply military experience in helping build strong team cohesion.  The hardest part of the job was learning to incorporate inclusion with all of the different learning levels of the students. The most enjoyable part of the job was the smaller teacher to student ratio which allowed more one on one attention to the students.

Ombudsman is less than a mediocre company to work for. I worked part time at two sites and wasn't given the complete training. I got written up for a transportation issue that I had no clue about the protocol. 
The pay was the same for ALL teachers at $17.00 an hour with never getting a raise. We had to clean the premises.  
The software platforms were adequate and students were the best part of the job. The administration was vituperative and unrewarding. Some staff didn't seem interested in being encouraging and empathetic.


Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Special education teacher 60 salaries reported	$65,800 per year
Teacher 43 salaries reported	$51,965 per year
Instructional aide 11 salaries reported	$19.86 per hour
School teacher 18 salaries reported	$53,750 per year
High school teacher 2 salaries reported	$55,000 per year

Working at Ombudsman Educational Services: Company Overview and Reviews

Ombudsman Educational Services

Ombudsman Educational Services Ratings

Popular jobs at Ombudsman Educational Services

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected