Run, run, as fast as you can from the Woodbridge location! - Education Specialist AlphaBEST Employee Review

3.0
10 Aug 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The best part about working at AlphaBEST, for me, was working with the teachers. The teachers loved their jobs and went above an beyond to make sure each student is cared for. I was often amazed at the passion and love that the teachers had for their students despite being underpaid and ignored by management. The curriculum is wonderful and although the students complain about it being too difficult, it is a tool that serves students by teaching them different languages and helping them develop academic skills. I loved working here as an Education/Curriculum Specialist. I often told my friends and family how lucky I was to work for such an amazing organization. The work that you do at the company is very rewarding.

Cons

*Heavy sigh* I'm sure this review will be read at a management meeting, so I will keep this as civil, yet thorough, as possible. The managers and administrators at AlphaBEST are terrible. The people in upper management are very, very, very close. So close that many of the other employees questioned whether or not their friendships crossed ethical boundaries. Drama and gossip are the flavors of the day in the Woodbridge office and many of the employees work in fear of professional ruin. Many of the Area Managers (AMs) are amazing, but there is obvious favoritism towards one or two AMs in particular. It caused a rift between many of the employees, which led to a very hostile and unproductive work environment. Management present themselves as very cheerful, but it is all a facade. Management would not only do their best to sabotage the work and reputation of employees, but would they would project negativity and blame employees for things that were a result of their incompetencies and unprofessionalism. Days after being promoted from part time to full time, I regretted accepting the position. I loved being out in the sites with the teachers and students, but felt very uncomfortable in the office. After I expressed some concerns that I (as well as my team) had, I became a target. I went from being an exalted leader that received praise from the company's administrators (both in and outside of the Woodbridge office) on a DAILY basis, to the employee that was accused of not knowing how to do my job. I felt hopeless. I resigned after only a few months at AlphaBEST, but was asked to step down early because I filed a formal complaint on one of the Managers 6 days before I was due to leave the position. I asked the person (a "big wig" at AlphaBEST) that I filed my complaint with to keep my complaint confidential because of the fear of retaliation management (who, by that time, was notorious for professional sabotage), the big wig informed management about my complaint and I was asked to step down 6 days early.

Explore other reviews about AlphaBEST

5.0
28 Jul 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good pay, great job, fun time, great environment

Cons

Trouble with site to site standards

1.0
16 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You can make a real difference for kids and families in this chaotic time. Fun to play with kids, watch them have fun or help them with homework and watch them improve. I liked seeing kids over multiple years. My favorite kindergartener became such a great 3rd grader and my favorite second grader is ready to be an amazing middle schooler.

Cons

Your experience will be largely determined by your local site. Of course every site will have some cons (and some pros) but locally we have one site with a wonderful director, great kids and great support from the school staff where staff but another site with a very difficult director and assistant, very difficult kids and such low enrollment that 2 to 6 pm shifts are typically cut to 2 to 4 15. You won't have any way to know what situation you will walk into. Hours are constantly cut, but you have to plan to be there. If they get understaffed it gets very hard to do the job and can even get dangerous. On the flip side they can get overtaffed and hours get severely cut as kids go home. You have to take pictures of students doing the curriculum on personal devices if you are a site director. Constantly changing rules causes chaos. One year we had former staff pop in to visit kids and staff; the next year that's banned. One month you need to email your manager and payroll if you miss a punch; the next month you don't; the next month the procedure will change again. The company gaslights parents with claims that every day they offer homework help, STEAM projects, free play, fitness activities, and student choice clubs. But it's literally impossible to do all of this daily. They worry excessively about trivial issues...don't let kids on their own playground equipment, every kid must do curriculum projects every day, don't let middle school kids go to the restroom alone...but if you report that a group of kids is unsafe due to extreme behavior, horrendous examples of racism, homophobia, etc. or needing basic supplies in the classroom no one will respond. You can be shifted from school to school (or even morning to afternoon shifts in the summer). This can be frequent and no one's needs are valued. It's your birthday and kids planned a party at your site? Too bad. You have plans tomorrow morning and can't change your schedule? There are certain expectations of you in this job. Their payroll system has constant serious issues and you need wi fi to get clocked in and out. Payroll can't resolve the issues internally. We have to take students with significant special needs and we don't have the resources to meet their needs. If we object to having violent or not fully potty trained kids we are told that's anti inclusive.

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