Advancing Youth’s Academy

So-​called school shouldn’t be open. Its a FRAUD! Do not send your child to this place. Do not work here!
The so-​called owner, Romneys has found a way to rip off poor families, non-​white especially, and is getting a way with it. The building itself is depressing, not up to code, and reads «prison» when you walk in.
When I worked there in 2014, the kids were being sexually and physically abused. The head seargent was fired for sexually abusing a student. The owner brought in her lawyer and threatened all employees to keep quiet or be fired. That’s when I started making preparations to leave. The owner sent the child home to finish her work and quietly graduate. The owner also told the students that the accuser had to leave suddenly to take care of hia family. Romneys sat in fromt of us and cried about the school shutting down and the media coming to get the story. None of this happened. The girl involved reached out to othwr students and was still talkimg about it. Maybe they paid the family to be quiet? Just my opinion.
I witnessed the seargents kicking and hitting the students, and cursing them. No parent would agree to that!
When I left after not being paid and. several checks bouncing, the owner refused to pay me and still owes me. The secretary hangs up on me because she recognizes my phone number.
The owner hypnotizes the students and does God-​knows what to them. The seargents and owner were physically assulted by the students because they were being mistreated.
The other Unilocal reviewer came to teach after I left and everything she says about this place is correct. Also, the intake specialist takes children into her home to further manipulate them and to get paid additional money from the state of Georgia.
Wrath will come to this crooked place and the biggest victims will are the children.
No Integrity. No Respect. No Honor. Pitiful!

The good: great vision to help students lead better lives, full circle mental health monitoring
The bad: very poor execution and handling of students in the physical setting, hostile work environment for employees, nepotism, mistreatment and intimidation to employees, non-​payment of documented wages to employees, borderline unethical treatment of students, bullying of students and employees
I worked here as a teacher and loved working with the students. I established a solid and professional mentor relationship with the children. I encouraged them daily while also teaching them new concepts of thinking and handling problems without violence or anger. Most of the pupils were below their grade level competencies, but a few excelled at their academic studies and put forth a real effort to get good grades. Some of the parents were in denial about their child’s true behavior; however, most of them were supportive in trying to assist the process of getting their child back on track. Many of them openly complained about feeling deceived through their contracts and concerned about misuse of school funds.
Upon being hired, I did not receive training, orientation or any type of on-​boarding process. I was not informed of pertinent information directly related to my role as an employee. I took initiative by asking questions and learning things on my own. I was told by an employee, «don’t ever tell anyone else that you were not trained. I wasn’t trained either. Just come and ask me.» There was an incident in which I was reprimanded for communicating with a former student and misinterpretation of playful banter with a separate student. In this case, it was brought to my supervisor’s attention that I had not been trained or briefed on the proper protocol, thereby; relinquishing me of any true wrongdoing with intention. I have the documentation to back this up.
I am still owed back wages for hours worked in March and April. I have been forced to pursue legal action because the school will not issue my paycheck. More than a few former employees also expressed that they were not issued paychecks for hours worked as teachers. Honor, integrity and respect are emphasized as core values to the students at this school; however, employees are not treated with any of those same values. I personally would not send my child to this school.
Update: after contacting the Dept. of Labor, sending a demand letter and filing a report with the BBB, I received my back wages paycheck in the mail on 5 June 2015. I have not changed my position or opinion of this school.
Update: on 21 August 2015 the GBI and local police raided AYA. WSB-​TV, Telemundo and other news stations investigated and covered this school.