KinderCare Learning Centers reviews

Pay scales are all over the place. VERY low teacher pay resulting in VERY high turn over rate, making it impossible to staff many of the centers. Name your price because they are desperate for people right now. Some Center Directors are under qualified and are making over $65,000 and they can't even put their own name on state licensing paperwork as an administrator so they use someone else's name and credentials (maybe an unbeknownst teacher in the building.....BEWARE) without even telling them! I was making $20,000 less than Directors who had over ten years less experience than me and no degree or any kind of credentials. They are all about filling the building and factory-style child care....they ARE NOT Early Education in any shape, way, or form. Their one-size-fits-all (cookie cutter, pre-made) curriculum, outdated buildings, and lack of any kind of technology (for children AND teachers!) at all are just to name a few of the cons. All leadership from the district level on up has been replaced with people from retail, having absolutely no knowledge of Early Childhood Education and the unique needs of managing a center. It is actually very sad, as approximately five years ago, the company seemed to be turning in a positive direction. Upon the termination of tenured leadership within the past year, these new "leaders" from retail are going to sink the ship. Let's put it this way, a district manager (who started in mid-fall with Kinder Care) visited one of their centers ONCE in four months. That's not being a leader, that's just being stupid. Nepotism is rampant and if you suck up to the right people, you will get somewhere, but don't expect to advance just by being a high performing director and by running an extremely high performing center......because it is the low performers who seem to be getting advancements. This sends the wrong message to your great directors/REAL LEADERS! Wake up because they are all jumping ship one by one.....hence all of the employment ads on here!

low pay. I made 9.75. which they didnt even want to give me, I had to fight for it. The only reason I applied is because I saw 12 on their ad, but that was a lie, thats what management makes. They do not value their employees. I applied to be lead teacher. I was pitched that I would have my own class, that I would teach 4's. Then once I had quit my other job and came in I found out I was sharing a class and on the application it said 2nd teacher -_- I'd been teaching for years as lead, what do I look like being 2nd teacher?? The way management handles you and talks to you its like you are back in middle school and you literally do have to ask permission to go to the bathroom. And believe me they can tell you no. I was also pitched before I started that they had great benefits and that they pay for you to get your CDA. That too is also a lie. I signed up for benefits. Im single with no kids but it still took 200 out of my check each paycheck. And when i finally needed to go to the hospital for a broken arm my insurance sent me a letter saying that they werent paying for it but they had negotiated a discount lol. I have never been micromanaged more. they will literally stand over your shoulder. I have never felt completely out of control as I did here. I felt like a child. And the uniforms were so bummy and unprofessional looking. And believe me, if you get hired for one position, even if thats what you applied for, they can and will move you somewhere completely different just because. my director on a regular told us they dont do things for the employee because everything's for the children. Speaking of the children, I have never worked at a center which such badly behaved children. they hit ADULTS and children, fight, tell you no, everything, and its allowed. You know why?, its because kindercare does not believe in discipline or punishment. seriously, its written somewhere. they only believe in positive redirection. for example, if i walk in and a child smacks me in the face, that child does not have a consequence, a time out, or anything, i am simply to say to the bad kid, hey little boy, that hurt, why dont you use nice hands like this.. - I am then supposed to take his hand and have him pat my hand gently. 0_0 I promise you Im not making it up lol. I used to go to this job and stare at the clock. time went by so slow. It took the fun out of teaching. my last teaching job we were allowed to make our curriculum, I had my own class, I was able to make up my own projects and decorate my room. but at kindercare none of that is allowed. everything is decided by a printed book that tells you what to do, say and feed the child each and everyday. it even tells you what they are allowed to play with for that day. This job took away my passion for teaching. And I kid you not, every day I pass by that job I thank God. Im now making 17 an hour at a good job, with real benefits and no one micromanages me. I am HOPINGG for the day I bump in to any one of my old directors there so I can tell them how much I make. Like look at me now, you treated me like a child not too long ago and now I make more than you, take that Kindercare My advice to all people looking for a job would be to stay away from this happiness sucker of an occupation. It is a dead end, with little pay and managers who micromanage you to death. If you just need a job like i did at the time, make sure you keep putting in applications so you can break out some day like i did. Also they tell you they pay for the CDA- thats a lie, you only get a little certificate, it doesnt mean youre certified, and its not a degree. dont believe the hype.