Teaching Fellow

Exempt 1.0 FTE

Reports to: Director of Educational Mentorship

All UCDS employees are expected to embody the school’s mission to design a culture of inquiry essential to meaningful learning; cultivate reflective, collaborative, skillful thinkers who ignite positive change in their communities; and engage diverse perspectives in an ongoing effort to shape and share our innovative education model.

Overview
University Child Development School (UCDS) located in Seattle, Washington is an independent school serving 390+ Infant/Toddler, Early Elementary (Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten) and Elementary (1st through 5th grade) students. In addition, the UCDS education institution comprises the UCDS Graduate School of Education. UCDS uniquely serves to prepare teachers, educate children, and develop innovations in curriculum and teaching. UCDS’s unique design as a place where both teachers and children learn, where early career teachers develop their practice, and where experienced teachers research and design curriculum, gives rise to its innovation. The Master of Education program is the evolution of UCDS’ deep history of developing and supporting exceptional educators.

Job Summary

The UCDS Teaching Fellowship provides early-career and aspiring educators the opportunity to earn a Master’s degree in education while immersed in a two-year teaching fellowship at an innovative independent school in Seattle, WA. Fellows participate in the full teaching life with the support of experienced mentor teachers and advisors. The teaching environment allows fellows to directly apply what they are learning in the graduate program to the classroom setting. Fellows develop an understanding of how classroom and school culture impact learning and develop their reflective practice skills. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with experienced teachers to develop and implement curriculum in a dynamic, multi-age classroom environment.
• Plan, develop, and implement curriculum. 
• Instruct and assess students, lead small and large groups of students in different curricular areas, and foster a supportive learning environment for all students.
• Partner closely with mentor teachers and grade level team members.
• Participate in professional development opportunities and regular cohort meetings.
• Participate in formal and informal planning meetings during and after school hours.
• Contribute to all school community duties such as lunch/recess and the Quiet Start program, gaining opportunities to facilitate Social Emotional Learning.
• Support school-wide equity initiatives and participate in faculty committees.

Qualifications 

• Willingness to collaborate professionally in service of learning
• Enthusiasm to try new things and think flexibly
• Demonstrated commitment to education
• Commitment to advancing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive teaching and learning environment 
• Consistently demonstrates reliability and commitment to responsibilities.  
• Enthusiasm to earn a master’s degree in education while completing a teaching fellowship

Application process

Interested applicants start the process by first applying for the UCDS M.Ed. program and indicating their interest in the fellowship on the application. 

Then, applicants will receive an email requesting an electronic submission of a cover letter expressing their interest in and qualifications for the fellowship. 

Files will be reviewed as received, and 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. Positions are offered on a rolling basis until all spaces for the 2025-26 Teaching fellow Cohort are filled  (typically by mid-May).

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

UCDS aspires to be a welcoming learning community with a deep commitment and appreciation for diversity in all forms. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are central values at UCDS. From our youngest to our oldest students, we strive to help them develop a worldview that identifies, understands, and values diversity in race, ethnicity, gender, religion, ability, and more. We weave opportunities for these meaningful conversations, experiences, and learning throughout students’ days. Over the past few years, UCDS has continued to refine our approach and review our DEIB programming to continue to improve the ways we support students, parents, and employees by bringing an equity lens to academic and operational systems across the school.

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

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement
UCDS is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities. We will provide reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job unless doing so would cause an undue hardship. Physical requirements and job duties listed in this posting are essential to the role. If you believe you need an accommodation to perform these functions, we encourage you to apply and discuss potential accommodations with our team.

If you require accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact Lauryn Mascareñaz, Director of Organizational Development & Personnel  at laurynm@ucds.org.

Notice of Nondiscrimination
UCDS strives to provide equal opportunity to all employees. The school's policy is not to discriminate in employment based on race, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, creed, age, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or military status or any other status protected under applicable local, state or federal law. The School is committed to administering employment decisions, including hiring, promotions, compensation benefits, transfers, layoffs, return from layoffs, terminations, training, sabbaticals, tuition assistance, and other programs, without regard to an employee's protected status.

Education and/or Experience

• Prior experience working with children and/or school-aged youth 
• A Bachelor's Degree

About UCDS

UCDS is a dynamic learning environment for students and teachers alike, located in Seattle’s University District. UCDS 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.

Connections working at UCDS