director of student services

english as a second language teacher

case manager

retention specialist

substitute teacher

The Next Step Public Charter School

There was job uncertainty and an undercurrent of nastiness indicative of the culture which sadly affected my day to day functioning and overall job satisfaction. It’s a terrible feeling to work hard, be successful at your job and fear for your job simultaneously. Being a conscientious worker that gives themselves to their work was not enough. There also exists clear biases and nepotism at the core of hiring decisions as well as job maintenance. I personally felt I was walking the razor’s edge in terms of job security. It made for a highly stressful work experience. I just couldn’t continue under that weight even though I enjoyed the work itself. I left feeling between a rock and a hard place. I loved the work, but felt extreme anxiety from the culture and biases that maintained me as an outsider and required perfection. I am human and can’t be perfect. I lived in fear of making a mistake. In the end, all the stressors mentioned here were too great. 

Next Step used to be a great place to work, but there have been a lot of upper admin changes recently that have really affected the culture. There's a lot of resentment -- and terrible communication -- between departments. HR treats the school like it's a massive, impersonal corporation, but there are maybe 100 employees total. Lots of "welcome to the family" followed immediately by micromanaging. There's a lot of performative inclusion just checking things off a list with no action, and there's a lot of failing upwards, but only if you're one of the favorites. LOTS of favoritism, and really inconsistent enforcement of the rules depending on if you're a favorite or not.

The students, of course, are great and the whole reason for coming in at all. Case workers and teachers work really hard and care a lot, but they're all super miserable, overworked, and treated with condescension. Admin avoids responsibility at all costs, yet is quick to point the finger in blame. It's depressing to watch this once great school slide downhill.

(I worked in the day school, not sure what it's like at night school these days.)

The School does not have an orientation in place for new hires. They expect you to do the job without directions. 

Management team does not know what "Good Morale" means. Many of them treat employees as slaves and terminate your employment if you resists to follow their orders even though may be something illegal or against Federal or States regulations.. 

Managers have no training on "employee relations" and it really is scary to work under directions that are against the law.

Currently, the school is under investigation for terminate employees in retaliation for finding many discrepancies and for reporting those discrepancies to the District of Columbia.

I will make this short and to the point. Management is all about themselves and their people. They will do what it takes to protect their own. I personally worked very hard there and exceeded expectations. I know that as management announced it to everyone else. Privately, they drug me through painful meetings. Two meetings were planned to run me out. It amounted to workplace bullying and I know I was not alone. Management hires friends to higher positions. Promotions perhaps are sometimes merit based and sometimes based on nepotism. It is my experience that their behavior is not only unethical, it is illegal.

I am an on-call substitute teacher, so I do not spend that much time there. When I do, I enjoy it. The students - both ESL and English native speakers - are generally motivated. When they're not, they slack but they do not disrupt the class.

After teaching a combination of World Languages and visual arts in DCPS and DC charter schools from1999 to 2014, the Next Step Charter School feels like a sinecure. 

Students, teachers, and administrators have so far been pleasant and welcoming. I would recommend checking this school out.

When I first came to TNS I thought I was going to love it here. They use a lot of inclusionary vocabulary and post a lot of pictures that send the message. However as it relates to actual practices that make students and staff feel comfortable are lacking significantly. Upper management doesn't  see how their ineffective communication or inconsistency with maintaining policies creates havoc throughout the school. 

This school is steeped in drama. Management has formed a clique. Advancement and loyalty to clique members. The charming alternative environment can turn on you in a dime. It is good if you are favored. If you are not, your days are likely numbered. It is not a secure place to work. It has a poor work/life balance and many are stressed and feel they are walking on eggshells.

Next step has limited job security, high turnover, clique behavior, unrealistic teaching expectations. They have lost sight of the mission, lack loyalty, promote based on friendship and and hiring of friends is common practice. There is also back stabbing and lying. A key management strategy is humiliation.

I enjoyed working at The Next Step. It's a fun and collaborative work environment full of smart, motivated and passionate professionals from diverse, multicultural backgrounds. You will enjoy the work, which is so necessary and important, and the workplace culture, which is supportive and team-oriented. I highly recommend working there!

It is a great place to work.  Lots of support in and out of the classroom.  Diverse environment. The school is located in a great neighborhood in Washington DC.  The leadership is great at supporting the teachers and staff.  You are given an opportunity to learn more, explore trainings in the area of teaching via pd and professional conferences.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Director of student services 6 salaries reported	$81,250 per year
English as a second language teacher 3 salaries reported	$43,667 per year
Case manager 2 salaries reported	$59,500 per year
Retention specialist 1 salary reported	$24.83 per hour
Substitute teacher 1 salary reported	$22.50 per hour

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