preschool teacher

assistant teacher

lead teacher

substitute teacher

kindergarten teacher

The Malvern School

My experience at Malvern started off great and I learned a lot but as the company grew, the love, inclusivity, warm, and heart of the school diminished. By the time I'd left I'd had 13 different Directors and executive team members drilling me on how to do my job and each had their own way of doing things. No one communicated anything well and you're just expected to "figure it out" in any occasion. It's poorly organized and the only thing keeping the teachers there is their pay and combined loathing of their jobs. Most of my days were spent talking my coteaches off the ledge. Some of the teachers have resorted to using the child-size bathrooms in their classrooms as management refuses to relieve anyone for a bathroom break. If you're sick, prove it and come to work anyway. I know people that still work there (God bless them) and their covid practices are dangerous and apprehensible! The environment is very cooperate which is sad when you're working with children. You feel like you never get time to actually get to know your students families and the directors don't even know half the parents, let alone which child is in which class. The only thing saving that school from themselves is their amazing set of teachers...Well some of them. I couldn't be happier to have left that toxic environment. 

In my experience working at Malvern School, the work environment has been very disappointing. The senior management often treats teachers with excessive control and very little trust. Teachers are not allowed to use their phones or smartwatches, and they are not permitted to bring bags or even personal items such as keys into the classroom.

What concerns me even more is that if a teacher feels unwell, they may face restrictions on carrying basic medication, such as headache medicine or eye drops. At times, the school policies feel overly restrictive rather than supportive.

I have also noticed favoritism, with some teachers appearing to receive better treatment than others. While this was frustrating in the past, I feel that the situation has become even worse over time.

The administration provides very little support to teachers’ professional growth and development. Instead, there seems to be constant pressure placed on teachers without sufficient consideration of their concerns or well-being.

Overall, I feel undervalued and unheard. My experience there has left me very unhappy, and I hope to leave for a better opportunity when one becomes available.

The management at this company is THE WORST. I was hired here as a Director, and then forced to travel all over NJ/PA for my management training for over a month. Most days when I arrived at a school for training, the Executive Director who was supposed to be training me had no idea I was even supposed to be there (because there’s no communication between the corporate office and the schools), and so I was given tedious  busy work to do for nine hours a day, which was then touted as their top-notch “training” and staff onboarding program. The schools are severely understaffed and next to nothing is done about it. Directors are forced to cover classrooms to keep them within ratio, on top of running the actual school. This company‘s main focus is on building enrollment at all costs, and the higher ups prioritize sales and marketing and leads above all else. They constantly tour new families to enroll them, knowing that there are not enough teachers in the classrooms to provide adequate care for these new students. The WORST place I’ve ever worked. 

Malvern School has the illusion of a very professional environment. I some aspects they do provide an upscale environment for children and staff and they do have a specific structure and curriculum that on paper could be very appealing, but in all honesty as a teacher I found their curriculum very stifling. It didn’t allow me to use my creativity or cover the topics that were important to me as an early educator. The management used and abused staff. Did not provide sufficient training or support for new staff and was very severe and harsh and unfair in their treatment of employees. Many staff members were fired for only minor infractions. The management is not up front about expectations. Because of this they had a very high employee turn over rate. During my time there I was promised an assistant in my classroom and never received one.
Although they promote diversity in their curriculum the center’s staff and student population is far from diverse 
The pay is higher than many daycares, but the benefits were awful!!

The children would play at different centers at drop off, then we would gather in a circle to do circle time, which included: songs, activities to go along with the theme for that week. Throughout the day the children would learn the following skills:  Math, Reading, Social, Physical, Science, Art, Social Studies according to their developmental level.  
     I have learned how to meet the needs of each individual, and be creative on how to apply lessons to meet their interests.  Also I learned how to solve different issues with different co-workers.
     The manager did a great job at organizing the school needs.  
The hardest part of the job would be trying to meet the needs of the those children that are not following the rules, and the routine. 
   I really enjoyed seeing the children succeed throughout the year in many areas.  The co-workers were pleasant to work with too.

Worked for this company for almost a year. The only thing consistent was that it was inconsistent. Teacher turn over averages 1-2 a month so it was always understaffed. Sick days were basically laughable because you were told you had to come in. Parents never had to follow policies in handbook so you could be there past 6pm closing and they were not charged. Pink eye ran rampant because children were not made to go home when they had it. 

I learned that the expectations and goals set for these teachers were ridiculously high and unattainable, especially when there is no support given from superiors. They really know how to kick you when you're down. Morale was very very low.

The only positive thing about the place was the families that go there. Most were excellent and incredibly supportive of the teachers.

I really wanted to give this review more than two stars. The Directors, families, and most of the staff at this location are phenomenal. I came into work and left each day pretty happy with a sense of purpose and belonging. But none of that matters with this terrible corporation. The turnover at this company is insane. We ran on an understaffed skeleton crew, and our corporation did not care. They would come into the building, write everyone up, and then demand that we implement more intensive curriculum. They would also hold our bonuses hostage, all while having to constantly replace and hire new Directors. I was missing money from four paychecks, and after reporting it to corporate's HR they straight up did not care. The pay compensation isn't great at all, although their benefits are good.

They expect so much for you and give you no time to get it done. Do not expect any planning time. The needs of the director are put above what is best for the children. You will never see the director in the classroom, sometimes you will not even see them all day if you work on the second floor. You have to be a part of the director clique to get anything. Your request off will be denied because the director does not want to go in the classroom. They will move children around so certain teachers can sit in the office with the director and hang out all day. There is no support for you in the classroom. As long as your in ratio, you are expected to "handle it." They will say come to us for anything, but when you do you are met with attitude or no response. They like to pretend they are this elite school, but they are just another day care center.  Malvern's motto should be money over everything!

Management, work/life balance, and pay at The Malvern School are horrendous. You will not enjoy working here, nor will you be paid even remotely close enough to make working at this school worth it. The management culture breeds power hungry micromanagers who believe this job is your number 1 priority in life and you are to serve and respect them as royalty. They really believe they are better than everyone below them. No respect for any commitments in your personal life and managers do not hesitate to retaliate against their employees. There is no growth here either, as the teachers are worked to the bone and paid minimum wage no matter what your degree. Constant state violations for too many students in one classroom because they will not turn anyone down. 

I've been an assistant for almost two years with no job advancements. I have my degree in early childhood education but they seek alternates for what ever reason. Directors are both rude and treat you like children. If you make a facial expression they don't like you're officially the bad employee. Don't ask for help, they tell you to figure it out on your own, then you're frustrated and screamed at because you're frustrated towards them.... you call out sick and still have to come in. You could be the star employee and get everything. Everyone knows your business before you do. It's pathetic! I've had the worst experience working for a corporate company that prides on saying their happy employees love working there. Pay more! Goodness I think the Malvern school can afford to pay all their staff more than McDonald workers!

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Preschool teacher 52 salaries reported	$19.75 per hour
Assistant teacher 10 salaries reported	$17.72 per hour
Lead teacher 9 salaries reported	$20.22 per hour
Substitute teacher 5 salaries reported	$25.00 per hour
Kindergarten teacher 3 salaries reported	$27.50 per hour

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