Seedlings Early Childhood Teaching Fellowship

In collaboration with Calvin Hill Day Care Center, the Seedlings Teaching Fellowship provides a unique combination of engagement in a high-quality preschool classroom setting and participation in related courses at Yale Child Study Center (YCSC). The one-year program is designed as a supervised and supported entry into the professional world of early childhood education (ECE), childcare, and clinical work with young children.

This program is for individuals with a dedicated interest in child development, ECE, and clinical evaluations and interventions with young children and their families. Most Seedlings fellows join the program with some classroom experience and/or a degree in ECE or child development. They are passionate about and interested in issues of childcare, ECE, and advocacy on behalf of young children.

Seedlings fellows participate in a weekly seminar at YCSC titled, “Clinical Child Development and Assessment of Young Children” which includes observing senior clinicians conducting developmental assessments and engaging in ongoing discussion of diagnostic formulations. Through this exposure, fellows become familiar with the processes of clinical referrals, diagnostic assessment, how clinicians think about the behaviors of children in groups, the differences between an educational and a therapeutic intervention, and models for working with children in an educational setting.

Depending on their preparation and background, Seedlings fellows may also have the opportunity to participate in a seminar on ECE theory and practice at YCSC. This course explores developmentally appropriate curriculum and instruction for young children.

Graduates of this fellowship have gone on to pursue advanced degrees in education, medicine, and psychiatry. Many continue to teach in childcare and early education settings, take on leadership roles, or work in other related fields to improve the quality of care for children.

Fellows have a full teaching schedule at Calvin Hill and become integral members of a highly experienced teaching team. Under the supervision of a mentor, they gradually assume all responsibilities of a teacher over the course of the year. They are involved in all aspects of the program including planning curriculum for large and small groups as well as individual children, leading activities, maintaining the classroom and materials, and participating in parent conferences. Their growing participation enables them to become immersed in and to share all aspects of the ECE environment.

The Seedling fellowship begins in August each year and ends in July. Fellows receive a one-year stipend, which is set at $31,500 for 2026-2027, and have the opportunity for full health coverage through Yale Health. Checks are issued twice per month beginning in mid-September.

A background in ECE with some teaching experience and/or college coursework in ECE and/or developmental psychology is preferred. Applicants may hold non-matriculated credits in child development and/or ECE.

A minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required, and successful candidates must be:

• Interested in further developing ECE and child development knowledge
• Mature, stable, flexible, reliable, and responsible
• Able to interact sensitively, tactfully, respectfully, and warmly with young children and their parents
• Willing to work as a member of a team of teachers
• Interested in issues of childcare, ECE, and advocacy on behalf of young children

Applications are accepted on an annual basis, typically open in mid-November and due in late-February each year. Dates and deadlines are posted to the Calvin Hill website, where application materials can also be found, including required forms. Related questions may be sent via email to Randi Alpert.

A complete application includes:

• Current resume
• College transcript
• Brief statement of professional goals with thoughts about teaching, learning, and children
• Short autobiography of life experiences as they apply to work interest
• 3 references, each consisting of a formal letter and reference form