Capca Head Start Conway Center - Conway AR Child Care Center

I wish I could give no stars. They had children going outside during days that the humidity and temperature were way too high to be outside. They have charts posted in classrooms that are meant to advise on what temperature and humidity combinations are safe for outdoor play. They never referenced this chart, and kids went outside on days that had a high of 80°F-95°F with humidity levels at 50% and above. I also worked several days a full 8 hour day, and never received even a 15 minute break. They gave me the worst training I have ever had. At no point did I feel like I knew what was going on. I understood about 2 forms, while the other 90% of forms used for documentation either weren't explained, or were explained once even if I was still confused. I never felt supported in the classroom. I had no idea how to write the lesson plans since I was barely taught how. I had very little knowledge about what they wanted from me as a worker even when they turned the classroom over to me when the other teachers left their positions. I wasn't given enough opportunities to gain instructional control with the kids before I was thrust into the role. I made it known to more than one employee from the administration on multiple occasions. They seemed unbothered that I was unprepared for the position, and set me up for failure in the classroom. This was unfair to me, and unfair to the children that I was there to care for. The training and running of the facility is disjointed, and unorganized. Many toys in the classroom were put up in a closet. Many shelves in the room appeared a little empty; displaying only 2 or 3 bins even though that room serves 17 kids. Much of the training I received contradicted itself. There were several things described in the online training that were either not practiced at all, or were the opposite of what the online training taught. Many times I was asked where certain forms were that I had never heard of, and/or didn't understand. I asked questions and indicated my lack of understanding, and yet I never got clarity on hardly any of it. The amount of waiting that I witnessed 3 year olds being asked to do was not age appropriate. No child was allowed to begin eating until all 17 kids were served their food, and I saw kids being asked to put food down if they tried to eat any before everyone was served. I do not understand not allowing a hungry kid to eat as soon as they have their food. I was also under the impression that they were supposed to practice brushing their teeth as a class after breakfast, but I never saw this in the classroom I was in. The feelings of children were invalidated on many occasions. I heard workers tell children that they were ok when they were crying, and sometimes it was said to them without ever finding out why the kid was crying. I did my best, and I tried to make changes that would help. It wasn't welcomed. It is not sustainable to ask someone to work at this capacity for $13.25 an hour especially when they don't understand the things that are expected of them. I plan to turn the violations I witnessed to licensure. The Conway Head Start currently has only one classroom open that serves just 20 kids. Teachers are quitting, and they can't hire new teachers with how low the pay is. If things don't change for the Conway Head Start I fear it won't be able to operate for much longer.