Our Mission
University Child Development School designs a culture of inquiry essential to meaningful learning. We cultivate reflective, collaborative, skillful thinkers who ignite positive change in their communities. We engage diverse perspectives in an ongoing effort to shape and share our innovative education model.

Our School
UCDS is a 501(c)3 nonprofit educational hub—a dynamic learning environment for students and teachers alike, located in Seattle’s University District. UCDS comprises three schools under one mission that, together, elevate teaching and learning. UCDS Schools include:

• the Early Elementary and Elementary independent school,
• the Infant-Toddler School, and
• the Graduate School of Education 

The Early Elementary and Elementary School serves roughly 350 students, with 53% students of color, and 1 in 6 families receiving tuition assistance. The Infant-Toddler School serves an additional 36 children. Combined, the schools for children have 65 full-time faculty with an average tenure of 11 years. 

In 2020, UCDS launched the Graduate School of Education with a Master of Education degree program. The UCDS Graduate School of Education engages educators to develop, extend, and deepen their practice and passion for learning and leading. UCDS Schools are supported by the UCDS Institute, formed in 2003 to elevate the teaching profession by providing professional development resources and services. The Institute supports faculty in each of the UCDS Schools and beyond. The UCDS Institute houses the Teaching Fellowship Program.  

UCDS Fellowship
The UCDS Teaching Fellowship provides early-career and aspiring educators the opportunity to earn a Master of Education degree while immersed in a two-year teaching fellowship at an innovative independent school in Seattle, WA. The teaching environment allows fellows to directly apply what they are learning to the classroom setting. Fellows develop an understanding of how classroom and school culture impact learning and develop their reflective practice skills.

Teaching at UCDS
Fellows are part of a collaborative grade-level teaching team. On this team, they: 

• Partner closely with mentor teachers
• Plan, develop, and implement curriculum 
• Instruct and assess students
• Lead small and large groups of students in different curricular areas
• Participate in professional development opportunities
• Contribute to all school community duties such as lunch/recess and the Quiet Start program

M.Ed. Program
Fellows attend the UCDS Graduate School of Education, where they focus their educational lens on the philosophies and practices that promote cultures of inquiry and excitement for learning. We aim for our graduates to build the dynamic skills of great teaching that are often missed in traditional programs—those needed to shape culture, collaborate to ensure meaningful learning for all students, and design innovative curricula.

Graduate students experience:

• The opportunity to weave their learning into their teaching practice through practicum work.
• A cohort of peer educators who build shared understanding, encourage academic risk, and provide constructive feedback.
• Capstone action research that contributes to understanding how school culture shapes education and sets a professional path.
• An emphasis on process, practice, and skill in the core areas of collaboration, reflection, inquiry, and innovation.

Courses take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings over six quarters in two academic years (fall, winter, and spring). Summers are open for additional work or personal opportunities.

Ideal candidates have:

• Willingness to collaborate professionally in service of learning
• Enthusiasm to try new things and think flexibly
• Demonstrated commitment to education
• Strong work ethic 
• Excitement for being mentored
• Commitment to advancing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive teaching and learning environment 
• Enthusiasm and ambition to earn a master’s degree in education while completing an intensive teaching fellowship
• Experience working with children and/or youth
• A Bachelor’s Degree

Start Date
August 2024

Compensation
Fellows will receive a stipend of $34,112 per year with full medical, dental, and vision benefits. Full tuition ($14,943, in 2024-2025) is included for both years of the fellowship. Health and wellness benefits, a subsidized computer purchase program, and additional summer employment opportunities are available.

How to Apply
Interested applicants begin by applying for the UCDS M.Ed. program, indicating their interest in the fellowship within the standard application. Then, these applicants will receive an email requesting an electronic submission of a cover letter and resume expressing their interest in and qualifications for the fellowship. 

Files will be reviewed as received. Finalists will be invited to participate in a virtual interview or an in-person visit with a chance to meet graduate school faculty, the Dean of the Graduate Program, and UCDS mentors.

We strongly encourage members of marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, as well as members of other underrepresented groups, to apply for this Fellowship Program and become a part of our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive educational environment.

If you have questions about the process or the materials, please contact Natasha Rodgers at gse@ucds.org. If you have questions about the opportunity, please contact Katie Morrison at gse@ucds.org. We can also be reached at 206-547-8237.

Non-Discrimination Policy
University Child Development School is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to promoting diversity in the workplace and to seeking a diverse and broad spectrum of qualified candidates. The School does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, gender or gender identity, age, or sexual orientation.