Pros
Hello there, I worked at AF for four years. I really liked my school and would still be there if I did not move away. That said, AF is not for everyone. If you are considering a job there then go to the school and see how you feel. You will know quickly. Here is what I liked: -Loved the kids -I learned more in my four years there than, I assume, I would anywhere else. I feel very prepared for the classroom in how to: build culture, strengthen relationships, plan lesson, and manage a classroom -My co-workers were dedicated and professional. I learned a lot from my peers and also feel very close with them. -My administration nurtured me as a leader -I felt that I had input into the decisions made within my school -I believe that my school is heading in the right direction as far as putting student needs first and building investment.
Cons
-The network drastically over-emphasizes the results of standardized tests. This bleeds into other important parts of the organization. For example- -Teachers use short-sighted methods to boost scores on a test instead of teaching the whole child. -Students are referred to by their score- for example you may hear "she was a two but could be a 3." This is dehumanizing and not ok. -The hours are longer than needed because there is an overemphasis on task completion to items that are non-essential. Example- norming on district wide standardized tests. -Teachers and admin are asked to create new things from scratch pretty regularly. This both makes the work longer and less sustainable and also neglects the fact that educational research has been around for a long time and there is often an established way to do things well. -The network puts rigor as the largest key lever for success- over relevance, level of student ability, and relationships.