Pros
Meeting other ACMs and tutors is fun, and of course the kids give the work meaning. Working with an undeserved group of students will change your perspective forever.
Kontras
Top-down, inflexible management. High, unrealistic enrollment quotas, lack of transparency, disorganization, lack of communication, nonexistent transparency— worst of all, “dumping” of work onto site coordinators. Managers are disengaged, executive leadership in Bay Area and Silicon Valley is severely lacking. Stark divide between different groups within staff— between managers and ACMs, between program staff and engagement staff. Mangers discuss work life balance, but in reality expect you to put in weekend hours—managers do not model professionalism. Decisions are not focused on what will actually help students, nor are they focused on what will help ACMS achieve site goals. Decisions are made for convenience of management only. Lack of support for ACMs yet management is also micromanaging and lacks trust—a lethal combination that causes indifference and burnout. These issues seem to be worsening each year. Administrators are picking up on these issues amongst others such as reliability of end of year data and school sites are dropping like flies. School staff take notice when site coordinator does not have manager support.