Many careers in education begin long before someone becomes a teacher, principal, counselor, or district leader.
For some education professionals, the first step is gaining hands-on experience working directly with students, building relationships with families, and learning how to create environments where children can thrive. At AlphaBEST, employees working at our program sites have the opportunity to do all of that while developing the leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills that prepare them for long-term success in education.
Whether you’re a college student exploring a future in education, a recent graduate seeking meaningful experience, or someone passionate about working with children, AlphaBEST offers opportunities to learn by doing while making a real impact on students and families.
There is no substitute for hands-on experience when preparing for a career in education.
At AlphaBEST, team members work directly with students every day through engaging enrichment experiences that go beyond traditional childcare. Employees facilitate STEM activities, creative arts projects, fitness challenges, leadership opportunities, homework support, and social-emotional learning experiences that help students continue growing beyond the school day.
These daily interactions help employees develop valuable skills in communication, classroom management, child development, problem-solving, and relationship-building – all critical for a future career in education.
For Alma Brown, hands-on experience with students helped shape an entire career.
Alma began her AlphaBEST journey as a Site Director, where she quickly discovered how much she enjoyed working with children and supporting staff. As her program grew from 30 to 90 students, she gained firsthand experience in leadership, program management, and student engagement. Over time, she expanded her skills through roles including Program Specialist, Customer Care, and Subsidy & Compliance, each providing new opportunities to learn and grow.
Reflecting on her career, Alma shared, “I’ve always enjoyed a challenge. Every role I’ve had has challenged me in different ways. Once I became comfortable in one position, AlphaBEST gave me opportunities to learn something new and continue growing.”
Her experience reflects what many employees discover at AlphaBEST. Working directly with students often builds confidence, uncovers new strengths, and opens doors to career paths they may not have originally considered.
AlphaBEST, employees gain leadership experience by leading enrichment activities in the programs every day, managing groups of students with diverse needs, communicating with families to connect them to the program, mentoring and training newer team members, and supporting daily program operations.
For many employees, those experiences become the foundation for future leadership opportunities.
Cierra Stewart joined AlphaBEST as an assistant and gradually advanced into director and area manager roles. Throughout her journey, she learned how to support both students and staff while developing the communication and leadership skills needed to manage teams effectively.
Reflecting on her leadership journey, Cierra shared, “Leadership has taught me a lot about patience and communication. I went from working mainly with children to now managing nearly 30 adults, all with different personalities and work styles. I’ve learned that every person responds differently, and effective leadership means adapting your approach to support each individual.”
Karen Lopez followed a similar path. She joined AlphaBEST as a Group Leader while attending college and was promoted to Site Director after demonstrating strong leadership and a passion for working with children. Over the years, she managed increasingly large programs, eventually leading a site serving 80 students and supervising multiple staff members before transitioning into her current role as a recruiter, where she draws on her deep experience at AlphaBEST to find the very best recruits who are also looking to grow their careers.
Cierra and Karen’s experiences demonstrate how AlphaBEST provides opportunities to take on new responsibilities, develop leadership skills, and continue growing professionally.
Student success depends on strong partnerships between schools, families, and educators.
Working at AlphaBEST provides employees with a unique opportunity to see those partnerships in action every day.
Team members collaborate with teachers, school administrators, and families to create supportive learning environments for students. They learn how educational systems work together to support children’s academic, social, and emotional growth while helping families balance the demands of work and home life.
This broader understanding of education helps prepare employees for future careers as teachers, school leaders, counselors, and education professionals.
At AlphaBEST, professional growth doesn’t stop after onboarding.
Employees have access to ongoing training, mentorship, leadership development opportunities, and hands-on learning experiences that help them continue building their skills throughout their careers.
Many team members advance into new roles across the organization, including leadership, operations, recruiting, customer care, training, and family support positions.
Stacey Dunnington is one example of that growth. After joining AlphaBEST shortly after high school, she advanced through multiple roles, including a Site Aide, Group Leader, Site Director, and Program Specialist. Along the way, AlphaBEST supported her professional development through training opportunities and tuition assistance, helping her continue her education.
Employees can also take advantage of AB Ascend, powered by Guild, which provides eligible team members with access to fully funded education benefits, career coaching, professional development resources, and more than 70 college-accredited certificate and undergraduate-level courses.
These opportunities allow employees to continue investing in their education while building meaningful careers at AlphaBEST.
One of the most rewarding parts of working in education is seeing the impact of your work firsthand.
Throughout AlphaBEST, employees regularly witness the difference they make in the lives of students and families.
Karen Lopez experienced this years after working with one of her students. A former AlphaBEST participant tracked her down nearly six years later to share that Karen had remained one of the most influential people in her life. The student was preparing to graduate from high school and was even interested in working for AlphaBEST herself.
Stories like these are powerful reminders that the relationships built in after-school programs can have a lasting impact long after students leave the program.
Employees also see that impact in smaller everyday moments. Whether helping a student build confidence, supporting a family through a challenging situation, or creating a safe and welcoming environment where children feel they belong, team members have opportunities every day to make a meaningful difference.
Whether your goal is to become a teacher, counselor, school administrator, or education leader, AlphaBEST can help you build the foundation for a successful future.
Ready to take the first step? Explore current opportunities on the AlphaBEST Careers page and learn more about the benefits, professional development programs, and career growth opportunities available to our team members.
