Observer Fellows Program
Applications Are Now Closed
Applicants will be notified of their application status by the end of May 2022.
Why is Teachstone creating this program?
It is important that observers represent the diversity of programs where they will observe. This helps to ensure that they are grounded in the settings and can capture more nuances in interactions than someone with limited experience in that setting. Separately, observers must be fluent in the languages of instruction in the setting they are observing. Currently, CLASS Observers are significantly more likely to be white monolingual English speakers than the overall early childhood workforce. We want to help correct this imbalance through this special program that will offer complimentary CLASS Observation Training to BIPOC educators and educators who speak languages that are underrepresented in the current observer pool relative to their use in early childhood settings.
What is this program?
This program is designed to support 30 Observer Fellows for the 2022-2023 program year. Each Observer Fellow will have the opportunity to train and certify as an observer on either the Infant and Toddler CLASS or the Pre-K and K-3 CLASS during Summer 2022. During the 2022-2023 school year, there is an expectation of mutual partnership with Teachstone. Fellows will receive training, certification, and receive specialized support from Teachstone at no cost. They will also be asked to provide training feedback and participate in activities that support Teachstone’s mission.
What are the benefits to joining this program?
Observer fellows receive:
- Free CLASS Observation training on two age levels (Infant and Toddler or Pre-K and K-3)
- Individualized support from Teachstone to achieve Observer certification
- Live group calibrations at the start of each semester
- A marketing kit to help you find data collection opportunities
- Discounted tickets to InterAct 2023
- Virtual networking opportunities with other Observer Fellows
- Promotion on the Teachstone website, including a highlight in the Observer Directory
- Opportunities for possible contract work with Teachstone’s Observation Services Team
What are the partnership expectations?
Observer fellows, as part of the partnership, are expected to:
- Provide feedback on the CLASS Observation Training experience
- Offer feedback on current and forthcoming products and services for observers
- Explore partnership opportunities with Teachstone on CLASS Community events
- Explore collaboration opportunities to create new content (podcasts, blogs, webinars, etc.)
Who can apply for the program?
The Observer Fellows program is open to:
- Any BIPOC educator who is interested in becoming a CLASS Observer
- Any educator who is fluent in one or more languages other than English and interested in becoming a Certified CLASS Observer so they can conduct observations in educational settings where those languages are in use
Applications closed April 11. Applicants will be notified of their status by the end of May.
What does the program year look like?
Observer Fellows is a year-long program, and fellows can expect a timeline similar to:
- March/April 2022: Apply for the Observer Fellows Program
- Late April 2022: Teachstone will select and notify Observer Fellows
- May 2022: Join a Virtual Welcome Event
- June 2022: Access Complimentary CLASS Training
- Summer 2022: Test and certify on two CLASS age levels
- August 2022: Join a Back to School Live Calibration for Observer Fellows
- Fall/Winter 2022: Start collecting CLASS data; ongoing opportunities to collaborate
- January 2023: Join the Spring Semester Kickoff Live Calibration for Observer Fellows
- Winter/Spring 2023: Continue collecting CLASS data; ongoing opportunities to collaborate.
- April 2023: Choose to Attend InterAct 2023
- May 2023: Attend the Virtual Graduation Event