Teaching Fellow

Exempt 1.0 FTE

Start Date: August 7, 2026

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 UCDS M.Ed. program to the classroom setting. Fellows develop an understanding of how classroom and school culture impact learning and develop their reflective practice skills. To be selected, fellows must be admitted and enroll in the UCDS Graduate School of Education.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Collaborate with experienced teachers to plan, develop and implement curriculum in a dynamic, multi-age classroom environment.
• Instruct and assess students in response to their developmental needs and expectations. 
• Lead small and large groups of students in different curricular areas, and foster a supportive learning environment for all students.
• Co-teach with a mentor teacher and collaborate with grade level team members, communicating needs, observations and ideas.
• Participate in professional development opportunities and regular cohort meetings.
• Participate in formal and informal planning meetings during and after school hours.
• Communicate with parents and guardians through conferences and written reports.
• Contribute to school community duties such as lunch/recess, gaining opportunities to facilitate Social Emotional Learning.
• Support school-wide equity initiatives and participate in faculty committees.
• Serve as a counselor for one flexible week of UCDS summer camp, applying skills, creating programming, and facilitating social-emotional growth in a multi-age camp setting. Specific dates to be determined.

Education &/or Experience

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

Qualifications 

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

About UCDS

We are a preschool through 5th grade independent school with an Infant-Toddler Education Program. We encourage students to stretch, reflect, collaborate, and think expansively—enriching their educational growth and ensuring they thrive in school and beyond.

Connections working at UCDS