Educators / Providers in Greater Springfield, MA

Supporting the people who support Springfield's children.

Educators

providers

Educators, caregivers, and service professionals play a vital role in early childhood success. But you can't do this work alone.


Foundations for Success Springfield is a collaborative initiative between Springfield YMCA, Springfield Public Schools, Head Start, and Square One, designed to support you. We have built a more connected, more coordinated system, so the people doing the most critical work have the tools, resources, and community they need to keep going strong.


What We Offer:

  • Professional development and tools for early educators
  • Access to better-aligned services aimed at supporting families
  • Cross-sector connection with peers, agencies, and networks
  • A shared vision of inclusion and meaningful impact for the children of Springfield 
Early Childhood Careers in Massachusetts
  • Get an EEC Professional Certification | Mass.gov
    Learn more about certifications, eligibility requirements, the documents you’ll need, and how to apply.
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Get EEC Certified

EEC professional certifications provide an entry point into early childhood education careers in Massachusetts without requiring a full college degree, while building toward higher certifications.

Employment Opportunities

Explore local child education employers like YMCA Greater Springfield, Holyoke Chicopee Head Start, and Square One.

  • YMCA of Greater Springfield
    YMCA of Greater Springfield
    Imagine going to work knowing that what you do each day positively affects the lives of the people in our community. Working at the Y, you’ll discover more than a job. You’ll enjoy a career with a future and the opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of those around you.

    With a focus on Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility, Y employees give men, women and children of all ages and from all walks of life the resources and support they need to be healthy, confident, connected and secure.

    We are change agents for all, if this sounds like something you would like to be part of, please apply today so you can help us to help others learn, grow, and thrive!
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  • Start at Square One
    Start at Square One
    Join Square One and support local children and families across our community. Square One provides family-friendly education and support services tailored to each child and every family served.

    Explore current openings from Enrollment Specialist and Workforce Development Case Manager to Center Director and early childhood teaching roles, and take the next step in a mission-driven career.
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  • Holyoke Chicopee Springfield HEAD START
    Holyoke Chicopee Springfield HEAD START
    People LOVE working at HCS Head Start!
    When you walk into a room of HCS Head Start teachers and staff, the joy and energy is palpable.

    Our teachers and staff say that they love working at HCS Head Start because they get to collaborate daily with a wonderful group of people, and their work with children and families is both unique and deeply meaningful.

    In fact, many of our staff are former HCS Head Start students or family members who have seen the value of HCS Head Start’s care and education, and want to pay it forward.
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  • Springfield Technical Community College - Free College
    Explore STCC and take the next step toward an education career with affordable pathways and student support designed to help you move forward.
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  • Holyoke Community College
    At HCC, you can prepare for a career working with young children while learning in a supportive campus environment for free, with easy access for Western Mass students thanks to its convenient location near Routes 91 and 90.
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  • Greenfield Community College
    GCC’s Early Childhood Education program focuses on working with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, pairing coursework with direct experience in educational settings. Courses also cover areas like child growth and development, curriculum development, and inclusion/accommodations.
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  • Early Childhood Education Transfer - ECTR.AS | STCC
    Earn an associate degree designed to help you continue into a bachelor’s program in early childhood education. This transfer-focused pathway helps you build a strong foundation while keeping long-term teaching goals in view
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  • Early Childhood Education - CDA.COC | STCC
    Start with STCC’s Early Childhood Education Certificate of Completion—an option aimed at people entering the field or already working as early educators. It’s also positioned as a starting point for meeting EEC Lead Teacher Certification requirements
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community colleges

Explore local community colleges offering career-focused programs, and transfer pathways to four-year schools, with support services designed to help you stay on track from day one.

Continuing ED

Build your skills, boost your credentials, and set yourself up for long-term growth with local and online Continuing Education options.

  • American International College Early Childhood Education and Administration
    The undergraduate Early Childhood Education and Administration program is designed to address the need for trained professionals who can implement effective educational practices. The expansion of early childhood education necessitates a new generation of leaders who can effectively manage and advocate for educational programs.
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  • Bay Path University Early Childhood Leadership Bachelor's Degree Program
    The Early Childhood Education curriculum includes courses in early literacy, motor development, math, science, and social and emotional development. This program will prepare you to teach pre-K through second grade. Bay Path University provides both a licensure and non-licensure program.
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  • Bay Path University Online Associates Degree in Early Childhood Leadership
    Become an impactful influence in the lives of young children with the 100% online AS in Education: Early Childhood Leadership degree. This accelerated program offers asynchronous courses and the skills to support early childhood education. You’ll graduate with the credential to pursue leadership roles in childcare settings or continue your education with a bachelor’s degree.
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  • Springfield College - Continuing Studies
    The Springfield College Continuing Studies is committed to providing professionals and lifelong learners like you with exceptional and innovative programs to meet your continuing education needs.
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  • University of Massachusetts - University without Walls
    Whether you are a seasoned educator or new to the field, this online bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in early education and care will help you develop the knowledge you need to open your own child care center, become a preschool educator, or advance your career within public or private child care programs such as Head Start, YMCA, 4-H, scouting, and a variety of preschools and afterschool programs.
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Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care logo.
  • 2026 Career Pathways Grant
    As per the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Appropriations Act, EEC is releasing this competitive procurement to award grants to a maximum of fifteen (15) applicants to support the early education workforce in obtaining higher education certificates and degrees.
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  • Baystate
    We offer comprehensive mental health and behavioral medicine programs that are responsive to today's changing healthcare system.
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  • Gandara Center
    Founded in 1977 to advocate and provide for equal services in the Hispanic community, Gándara Center delivers quality bilingual behavioral health, substance use and preventative services for a diverse clientele of nearly 15,000 children, adults and families each year in 100 locations across Massachusetts.
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  • MSPCC
    Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Since 1878, MSPCC has been on the forefront of innovative services and passionate advocacy to protect and promote the rights and well-being of children and families. To prevent child abuse, MSPCC focuses on the needs of both the child and the parent. We know the best way to keep children safe and healthy is to promote nurturing, stable environments for children, prevent adverse childhood experiences, and intervene when trauma occurs.
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  • River Valley Counseling Center (RVCC)
    River Valley Counseling Center (RVCC) is a multifaceted community-based mental health agency that has been changing lives and empowering people throughout the Pioneer Valley since 1953.
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  • Southbay
    Mentor South Bay offers a wide range of services for children and adults, including substance abuse counseling, autism services, early intervention services, and more. We have more than 30 years of experience helping children, adults, and their families build the skills and positive relationships they need to live well.
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Mental Health Supports for Children and Families

Find mental health supports for children and families, including counseling, behavioral health services, and community-based programs from local providers.

Special Needs Support for Children and Families

Find special needs support for children and families, including evaluations, therapies, educational guidance, and community resources designed to help your child thrive at home, at school, and in everyday life.

  • Autism Care Partners
    Empowering families to reach their potential through early diagnosis and exceptional, innovative, interdisciplinary care
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  • Behavior Services of Western Mass
    Children and adults with behavioral challenges can achieve their full potential through our full spectrum of research-based services and interventions
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  • Community Autism Services
    Community Autism Services provides comprehensive ABA services, diagnostic evaluations, and one-on-one behavioral and psychological therapies for children with autism and developmental delays.
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  • RISE Behavioral Health Services
    RISE Behavioral Health Services is a Western Massachusetts organization specializing in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IHBS). Their team of BCBAs, technicians, therapists, and monitors work with families to understand how behaviors are learned and how they can be improved, providing in-home and community-based support, including on-site social skills groups.
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  • The Center for Human Development (CHD)
    The Center for Human Development (CHD) provides a broad range of high-quality, community-oriented human services dedicated to promoting, enhancing, and protecting the dignity and welfare of people in need.
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Training Opportunities

Find training opportunities that build job-ready skills, help you earn credentials, and support your next step, whether you’re starting out or advancing in your current role.

Advocacy Opportunities for Educators

Organizations and networks where you can stay informed, lend your voice, and help shape early childhood policy and practice in Massachusetts.

  • Advocacy - Latinos for Education
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  • Department of Early Education and Care | Mass.gov
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  • Massachusetts Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators
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  • Massachusetts Early Childhood Policy Landscape - Alliance for Early Success
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  • Massachusetts Head Start Association
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  • The Strategies for Children Advocacy Network
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  • YWCA Child Care Services and Programming
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  • Early Childhood Resource Center
    The ECRC consists of books and other resources especially appropriate for teachers and caregivers working with young children. The only thing you need to borrow these resources is a library card! Resources are available through interlibrary loan and can be sent to whichever C/WMARS library is closest to you.
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  • Ed Web
    edWeb.net is an award-winning professional learning network that makes it easy to collaborate, engage in peer-to-peer learning, and share innovative ideas and resources. Our edWebinars provide anytime learning with CE certificates for PD hours!
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  • Family Child Care Provider Application Process
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  • Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care Videos
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  • Neighborhood Villages
    Neighborhood Villages designs and scales innovative and collaborative solutions to the biggest challenges facing early education and child care providers serving families with young children ages 0-5 and advances sustainable, equity-driven systems change through advocacy, education, and policy reform.
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  • PBS Learning
    Find early learning resources for preschool and kindergarten that support the critical transition to school. Inspire your students with videos, games, and activities aligned to state and national standards.
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  • Resources for Early Learning
    EEC, in partnership with the WGBH Educational Foundation, has created this media-rich site of educational resources to help support adults who teach, nurture, and care for children from birth to age five. These resources were developed by a team of early childhood experts, educators, and parents.
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  • Sesame Workshop
    Sesame Workshop is a global nonprofit organization with a mission to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.
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  • The Institute for Education and Professional Development
    Resources for Early Childhood Administrators and Educators
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  • The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)
    Family Child Care Training Opportunities
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  • The SEIU Education and Support Fund (ESF)
    Our mission is to provide education and training programs that empower workers, raise standards, and promote high quality jobs.
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  • Zero To Three
    ZERO TO THREE has been a dynamic advocate emphasizing the critical importance of the early learning window in child development since 1977. We continue to translate our expertise in the field of early childhood development into pioneering programs that help shape strategies to support infants, toddlers and families.
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Resources for Early Educators

Find trusted tools and professional learning designed for early childhood educators, from classroom-ready activities and webinars to licensing guidance and research-based training.