At Friends Center for Children, our educators mean the world to us. And we know they make a world of difference to the families and young children we serve. Unfortunately, we also know that early childhood educators are systematically under-valued and underpaid. To help turn the tide, Friends Center works to provide a work environment where all our children, families AND educators are nurtured and supported. For our educators, that includes providing free housing, competitive wages, up to 100% free childcare tuition, professional development opportunities, emotional well-being support and more. Please see below for more details on our staff support benefits.
Salary/hourly range: up to $65,000 per year / up to $26.00 per hour
Through our Mentoring Program, staff members are paired with a mentor for the Friends Center community member who will work with them to help them become more resilient, creative, clearer in their sense of purpose, and more fulfilled in their work. The mentor pool includes members of the New Haven Friends Meeting, Friends Center Task Force members and Friends Center partners.
Friends Center for Children provides free professional development opportunities for all employees. Team members work with each staff to create a personal professional growth plan. All professional development opportunities are paid for by Friends Center for Children.
up to $4,000 annually
Teachers who have been employed at Friends Center for up to one academic school year may apply for tuition reimbursement for course work relating to degree requirements for teaching Early Childhood in the State of Connecticut.
Up to $1,000 annually
Any teacher who endures a financial hardship may ask for financial support in the form of a loan or a grant.
Through the Friends Center Emotional Well-Being program, any teacher that endures an emotional hardship
has the opportunity to ask for emotional support to find external resources for further support and guidance.
Up to $28,800 annually
Friends Center for Children offers free or reduced housing to employees who have been employed for at least one year, are in good standing and can commit to specific goals (i.e. paying off significant debt or saving to purchase their own home) to build financial stability. Early Childhood Education is a historically underfunded workforce and therefore educators are generally underpaid. At FCfC we believe that supplementing housing costs for an employee provides a great opportunity for financial growth and housing security. Any employee who is interested may apply after 90 days of employment.
Up to $22,000 annually
Friends Center for Children offers child care to children of its staff. Every effort will be made to ensure placements for employee's children as soon as possible. Employees who have children enrolled in the Friends Center for Children utilize the same sliding scale as all applicants. In addition to the sliding scale, employees may receive a tuition rebate according to the anniversary date of hire.
In partnership with Trader Joe's and Haven's Harvest program, Friends Center offers a wide variety of free food to its employees and families once per week.
“At Friends Center, the curriculum is emergent — it is a natural extension of children’s curiosity, play and joys. Behind the seeming simplicity of a child’s play is the formation of and building upon complex connections and concepts. During today’s times of intense emotions and unsettled climate, we could all use and embrace the simplicity and joy of early childhood.”
– Infant/Toddler Teacher
Working at Friends Center for Children I have learned to grow and become the teacher I’ve always wanted to be. With the emergent curriculum FCfC uses, I have full focus on the childrens’ interests. And I love the emotional wellbeing tools that FCfC has to offer, such as the mood meter and our emotional charters. Having teachers and children check in on the mood meter everyday is a great visual to see how everyone is feeling. Friends Center For Children has given me helpful tools and feedback that I will carry with me throughout my teaching career. – Preschool Assistant Teacher
Friends Center for Children