preschool teacher

parent educator

school principal

bus driver

classroom assistant

Renewal Unlimited, Inc.

I really wanted this job to amount to something more than headaches and endless stress, but unfortunately, there are minimal pros at working at Renewal Unlimited. I was fortunate enough to have some of the best coworkers you could ask for which made the job semi-bearable.  Knowing that every single one of your coworkers also felt like they were on a sinking ship 5 days a week while working for this company was an oddly reassuring feeling. We were able to share many laughs in our tightly squeezed office space about our unmanageable caseloads and unrealistic work expectations set by the CEO.

The families that you work with are incredible. Their appreciation for the work I put into planning each visit and taking the time to genuinely get to know each family member ~almost~ made up for the once-in-a-blue-moon appreciation that we would receive from anyone in the administration office. This job provides you an opportunity to witness children reaching milestones first hand and to share the moment of pure bliss and joy with their parent(s).
 

I wish I knew where to start with the cons for Renewal Unlimited. Right off the bat, you should be aware that you will never, I repeat, never get a raise at this company. A full time parent educator works 40 hours a week. In theory, sounds like it would be enough time to not be up to your neck in paperwork and meeting deadlines. Instead, you will be handed an extensive caseload to manage and attempt to stay up to date with. It is likely that they will sell the position to someone applying as being “flexible”, however you are required to attend many all-day Friday trainings so your hours will need to be flexed earlier in the week, hence getting way behind on lesson planning and data entry. Overtime is not offered through this organization, so each week you will be faced with the battle of Who Will Suffer: The Families Because I Am Unprepared for Our Home Visit vs. Myself Because I Am Working Unpaid Hours To Meet The Job Requirements. 

The curriculum that you are required to use to conduct your visits is tolerable, however it does not line up whatsoever with the curriculum you are required to assess the children. The week long training for the curriculum used to plan your home visits is only offered a few times a year, so you will inevitably be training yourself to use the program and implement it each week. The mashup of these two curriculums sets you up for failure every week. When calculated out, it is physically impossible to meet the expectations set by the CEO when factoring in the length of your home visits, driving time, preparation time, and the other events that are mandatory for you  to attend. Trust me, I did the math.

I was told by someone in the administration building that “change only happens from the top here”. This company runs on a dictatorship ideology, which sounds a bit harsh, however I cannot think of a better adjective to describe an environment where a singular person holds the enormous amount of power and control pertaining to ever miniscule detail of this company. Your opinions will never be mildly considered, nevertheless, be even heard when it comes to the operations of Renewal. Until she realizes that change can be extremely beneficial to both the employees and the clients this organization serves, the CEO will continue to run this company’s day to day functions as if it were still 1973 with its efficient methods of documenting and record keeping. 

It truly is unfortunate that a government run agency is being conducted so unorganized and so unethically, especially when the children and their families in our communities would greatly benefit from a Headstart program. Until the voices and opinions of all employees at Renewal Unlimited are heard and valued, there will never be change and the turnover rate will continue to be high. Listen to your employees who are in the homes, who see the struggles first hand, and who are in this field to enhance the well-being of our community members. There is no doubt that this program can succeed, but until your employees are compensated financially for the selfless work they are doing and the various programs that this company runs are restructured, the families enrolled in your programs will continue to suffer.

This is my favorite job I have ever had, I never want to leave!! I have worked here almost a year now, and I feel SO spoiled! Management has been extremely flexible and accommodating, and almost every person I have met has been extremely welcoming and kind. They all genuinely want to be supportive, and care deeply about the work that they are doing and the children and families they are helping. 
I think the one main thing that can use improvement is staffing. I totally understand why we are frequently short staffed though, and it’s because this company cares so deeply about making sure that they are hiring high quality staff. This is SO important, and I love that! However, it can also be tough because it sometimes leads to staffing shortages. It’s an unfortunate catch 22 that is prevalent almost anywhere you go in fields like education or health care. I have seen it everywhere I have worked. But I feel like the many pros of working here greatly outweigh that con!!
Overall, I am grateful that I actually look forward to going to work every day, and that the work I do is so rewarding. I could see myself continuing in this role throughout any phase of my life, and I plan to continue to work here for a long, long time!!

Might be an okay stepping stone but there is little room for advancement, you will never get a raise except for very modest(2%) COLA raises. If you are salaried expect to work well beyond 40. Hourly, you will work beyond your hours to get the job done but you will not receive OT. Operations are very outdated, still a lot of hard copies and paper records,  technology...well expect to set up your own computer, do all your own maintenance, trouble shoot etc.  Sooner or later you will get roped into cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming floors or washing dishes. For new grads, get in do a year then move on asap if you plan to support yourself.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Abundant materials for teaching 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Negative climate with staff, support staff complain and talk Negatively about other employees.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Lack of support from administration 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Support staff come to work with attitudes, Working with children is great and fun, difficult getting breaks with not enough staff and dealing frequently with untrained new staff due to high turnover

A typical day at Renewal Unlimited is what you make it.  Your position must be something that you enjoy doing and it must also be something that you see the reward in.

I enjoy being around children, think that they're awesome and funny.  This is because I am able to understand that children operate the way that they do and someone like me has limited control over their behavior.

Because I am able to see the children's positive qualities and appreciate them, it is easy for me to overlook any negative aspects of any child's -or adult's, for that matter- behavior.

Everyone I encountered at Renewal Unlimited was friendly and professional. 

I was there such a short time before relocating out of state that I really can't provide much a review, other than what I experienced there was positive.

The idea of the job itself was awesome....down side they try to force so much into so little that it lacks impact and effectiveness. Don't try to help people with anything else except what is in the curriculum. 

Too much work for a 40 hour week, long days, dumb paper paperwork (everything should be on computers these days), management lies to teachers and families, lack of communication, pay is not great, upper management doesn't care about the families (just cares about filling the classrooms and keeping them full).

Way too much work load. If management doesn’t like you they push you out the door and make the environment so stressful. Don’t even try to go to head office if you have an issue cause they don’t care. They keep the employees who cause drama in the environment. They will give bad reviews even tho you bust your butt for them and did everything they wanted. 

we would meet every morning in class then head to the job site only staying in class one day a week to study for tests otherwise we were building houses from start to finish it helped me to have a job but also go back and finish school so i could one day have a much better job

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Preschool teacher 12 salaries reported	$43,246 per year
Parent educator 1 salary reported	$22.44 per hour
School principal 4 salaries reported	$43,532 per year
Bus driver 11 salaries reported	$17.47 per hour
Classroom assistant 1 salary reported	$15.37 per hour

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