Press Release  Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care Welcomes Two Fellows Through the Early Childhood Policy Pathways Fellowship

Boston — The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) is welcoming two fellows through the Early Childhood Policy Pathways Fellowship, an initiative designed to provide recent higher education graduates with valuable real-world experience and pathways to leadership in the early childhood sector.

Launched in September 2025 by Strategies for Children with funding from Commonwealth Children’s Fund, the Fellowship placed five inaugural Policy Pathways Fellows at early childhood organizations, including two with EEC. The fellows will support the agency’s work through April 2027 with direct support from a Fellowship Coordinator at Strategies for Children. By leveraging public-private partnerships, EEC is building on its external engagement and research capacities while strengthening collaborations across the field to advance high-quality early education and care in Massachusetts.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rejina and Arianna to our team,” said Amy Kershaw, Commissioner of the Department of Early Education and Care. “Their energy, expertise, and commitment to supporting children and families will help strengthen our work across the state. The Policy Pathways Fellowship is an important opportunity to grow the next generation of leaders in early childhood education.”

“We have wanted to see a fellowship like this in Massachusetts for many years now,” said Amy O’Leary, Executive Director at Strategies for Children. “Thanks to the Commonwealth Children’s Fund and our partner host organizations, we are making the Policy Pathways Fellowship a reality.”

“CCF is thrilled to be able to support EEC and the other host organizations through this new fellowship,” said Melora Balson and Lydia Icke from the Commonwealth Children’s Fund. “We’re excited to attract extraordinary new talent to this important work and to deepen the bench of early childhood policy experts in the Commonwealth.”

EEC is hosting two fellows:

• Rejina Tabay joins as the Early Childhood External Engagement & Policy Fellow, where she will work closely with programs, educators, and families across the Commonwealth. Rejina recently earned her Master of Social Work from Boston College and brings experience with child- and family-focused organizations, including City Year New York, the YMCA of Greater Boston, and the Children’s Trust MA.
• Arianna Burnham joins as the Research and Data Fellow, where she will support EEC’s efforts to advance research-informed policy and practice. Arianna completed her Master of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and brings experience as a Program Manager at a college access nonprofit in New York City. She has also worked directly with students in schools and educational programs, including Bright Horizons and Jumpstart.

In addition to the two fellows supporting EEC, fellows have also been placed with Strategies for Children, East Boston Social Centers, and Edward Street. EEC is excited to partner with the fellows and play a role in this innovative initiative, which strengthens leadership pathways and drives forward high-quality early childhood policy and practice across Massachusetts.

To learn more about this opportunity, visit strategiesforchildren.org/fellowship.

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