Chesterbrook Academy Kids Campus

Do not come here for preschool.\r \r This school violates numerous licensing standard of Virginia, the worst being the student-teacher ratio in Beginners. The teachers are told by the principal that it is okay for them to pop out of the class room for a few seconds even if you are leaving it out of ratio. All it takes is a few seconds for an accident to happen and I have been left by myself with nineteen preschoolers (the ratio standard is 1:8) on numerous occasions every day. At other locations and at other preschools that is unacceptable. One is should be able to call someone to step in, but there is no one to come and the principal refuses to step in, saying she did not have time (At other daycares and schools I have worked at the director herself would step in and take phone calls from the phone inside the room. The did not have time either, but as inconvenient as it was they put the children's safety first). \r \r When I voiced this concern I was slapped down, told that it was okay to more

Do not come here for preschool.\r \r This school violates numerous licensing standard of Virginia, the worst being the student-teacher ratio in Beginners. The teachers are told by the principal that it is okay for them to pop out of the class room for a few seconds even if you are leaving it out of ratio. All it takes is a few seconds for an accident to happen and I have been left by myself with nineteen preschoolers (the ratio standard is 1:8) on numerous occasions every day. At other locations and at other preschools that is unacceptable. One is should be able to call someone to step in, but there is no one to come and the principal refuses to step in, saying she did not have time (At other daycares and schools I have worked at the director herself would step in and take phone calls from the phone inside the room. The did not have time either, but as inconvenient as it was they put the children's safety first). \r \r When I voiced this concern I was slapped down, told that it was okay to be out a few seconds. As I said, it only takes a few seconds for an accident to happen and rarely do accidents in preschool happen one at a time, most of the time it's one child is on the table on one end of the class room, another is about to push a big box of legos off a shelf and onto a friend while you're busy doing diapers.\r \r Our lead teacher was out all this week (information that the principal knew way ahead of time) and did not find someone to stand in, even though when the lead teacher herself brought up the concern on who would be in her place when she left the principal said that she ""would take care of it"" numerous times. No one came. The assistant teacher and I have been alone with twenty to twenty-two children every day since, with the occasional third teacher from another being able to step in for half-an hour or so. Today we were alone all day with nineteen preschoolers, and my co-worker, the assistant has been working ten hour days, covering not only her shift but the absent lead's shift, on the principal's order. She is exhausted, I was exhausted and it is not safe for two over-worked people to be taking care of five extra active preschoolers.\r \r The other teachers are nice, they genuinely love the kids, I really enjoyed getting to know the kids and teaching them, but logistically the place is not working and after only eight days I am completely spent and frustrated. When I told the principal it was not working out and I gave her the date of my last day, she lost her temper and told me to leave.\r \r In the middle of the day. \r \r LEAVING THE ASSISTANT TEACHER ALONE WITH 19 CHILDREN! (11 children out of ratio. There is no one else available! They do not have an assistant principal, either).\r \r I protested ""what about so-and-so? That leaves her alone with nineteen"" she said ""I'll be in there"". I did not say anymore but I thought, ""that still leaves you way out of ratio"".\r \r Ratio is not the only concern. I was shocked to find that the lead and the principal thought it okay to have a container of scissors easily accessible to the children (Frisker's small scissors which are sharp enough to cut if the child puts his finger in between the blades and closes them).\r \r There should be more places where employees may review so parents can get a glimpse of what a place is really like when they or licensing is not watching. more

As a parent that has children enrolled at both the pre-school and the elementary school, I am very concerned. \r I have no problem with the preschool. Ms. Rachel, the principal is wonderful and has done great things for the school. The teachers are wonderful too.\r My problem is with the elementary school. The entire 2011-2012 school year has been influx with no true leadership. They now have a principal in place that is one of the coldest women I have ever met.\r There has been a huge turnover in staff and more teachers do not plan to return for the next school year.\r Only the teachers that kiss up to the principal are treated fairly. The quality teachers who are concerned about the children and put them first are the ones who are treated badly. They are being penalized for speaking up.\r I would avoid this school at all costs. I can't wait to make it to the end of the school year to put this place behind me. more

As a parent that has children enrolled at both the pre-school and the elementary school, I am very concerned. more

I disagree with the previous reviewer -- I think this is a very good preschool. The teachers are caring, the principal is involved and knows the children by name, the cook is attentive to issues such as food allergies. The kids learn but they also have fun, and the proximity to the resources at the adjoining school (computer, art, gym, etc.) is a big plus. The hours and schedule is great for working parents. I encourage interested parents to come and look at the school for themselves, and not be swayed by the previous reviewer. more

Hello, there are two facilities here. The elementary school and the preschool/daycare. My experience is with the preschool. I have spoken to other parents at this facility and the one in Sterling. The stories are similar--these places are not good for young children. Unfortunately in this area, you don't have to be good to have a waiting list. There are not enough facilities for all of the people. \r \r The staff is severely uneducated and lack proper training. At the facility in Chantilly, you will find numerous high school boys (very strange) working in the classrooms with young kids. This would not be a problem if the supposely lead teacher would actually supervise the inexperienced kids looking for a paycheck. At this particular facility 4 of the teachers graduated from high school in June--3 are very young men (18). Drop by after the parents leave or in the afternoon and observe who is working with the kids.\r \r The staff is extremely unprofessional and uncaring. None of more