Pros
Brightside Academy invests in the professional education and training of each professional seeking to grow in their career. Unlike other child care organizations, Brightside Academy is the largest early education and child care provider. For this reason, we are an incredible training hub! Some of the best educators and leaders in the city work at Brightside Academy. You'll connect with people you can learn from. Brightside Academy offers meaningful career paths and training education for those who prioritize these goals. I used to work for Brightside Academy a few years ago under different senior management. I returned to be a part of the change under our new senior management. I only work with highly committed and resourceful teams. If you have reached a point in your career where your growth is stagnant or you need a kick start to your career, apply to join our team!
Cons
I will share the downsides of working at Brightside based on my experiences working here. At Brightside, I work with individuals who set limits on their potential to grow. They do this by overwhelming themselves with matters outside of what they were hired to do. They also limit themselves by ignoring their self-care needs. In both cases, the quality of their work and professionalism declines. Brightside is usually criticized for the individuals choosing to present themselves in an unprofessional manner. I know that I cannot dictate how people choose to apply the training they receive from our organization and how they choose to respond to challenges they face in their professional growth. If I could, I would be able to support these individuals to overcome limits in their professional growth. It is really disappointing to watch individuals act outside of their professional character. Either way, Brightside continues hold teachers and leaders accountable to high expectations. I truly believe that everyone has room to grow no matter one's level of education and years of experience. The "growing pains" related to teaching and leadership have everything to do with the mindset one has about change and growth. Some of Brightside's staff struggle with change. I encourage my colleagues to be open-minded about change. The challenges that come with change involve both internal and external factors. At Brightside, there are old ways of thinking that are not all positive. Negative attitudes from the past still linger despite Brightside's efforts to hire forward-thinking professionals. This is the other downside I experienced at Brightside: when new professionals onboard, they may meet some professionals who are still struggling to think positively about their work. They are peer pressured to adopt a negative way of thinking. For professionals interested in working at Brightside, they have to be willing to grow their thinking even when others are choosing not to. The progressive change at Brightside Academy has come from professionals who are aligned with the company's values and mission; they are solutions-oriented and flexible. The most successful individuals that I have worked with at Brightside Academy: -have a strong work ethic -excellent time management superb customer service skills These professionals stay away from workplace gossip and are not influenced by others who show a low morale. They always show their best, professional-selves no matter the situation. They work hard on their professional development and are receptive to feedback. My advice to those reading the "downsides" of Brightside Academy is to keep in mind that one's success at Brightside Academy and anywhere else depends on the person's motivation for success. At Brightside, the opportunities for success are offered. Identify (and surround yourself with the) change makers and highly effective individuals at Brightside Academy; we are here. At Brightside Academy, we develop teachers and leaders. While it is not an easy task, it is our most confident tool to educating and caring for Philadelphia's children. Hope this helps!