I’m Autumn Hyatt and I’m the founder and director of A Child’s Village. The very beginning ideas for this project were formed during my undergraduate career at Dartmouth College. I’ve held A Child’s Village close to my heart for many years and I am so excited for this opportunity to have a positive impact on the young children and families in my hometown of Greenville, SC.

I discovered my passion for working with young children when I applied for a student job at Dartmouth’s child care center during my sophomore fall in 2016. In fact, I loved it so much that I contemplated changing my major and took a year off from school to work full-time and try it out. The things I learned that year from my colleagues and mentors, and the relationships that I formed with children and their families, convinced me that I had found what I was supposed to do with my life.

After working in the field for over 7 years, I’ve seen the ways the current child care system struggles to adequately support young children, their families, and the dedicated community of professionals that serve them. It’s time to re-think how we view early childhood education.

Education

• B.A. in Music Composition & Sonic Arts with a minor in Education from Dartmouth College (2020)

• A.A.S in Early Care & Education from Greenville Technical College (2023)

• Currently pursuing a M.S. in Early Childhood Studies with a Specialization in Administration, Management and Leadership from Walden University

SC Early Care & Education Credentialing System

• SC Early Childhood Credential 1

• SC Infant / Toddler Credential 2, Credential 3

• SC Preschool Credential 2, Credential 3

• SC Director Credential 2, Credential 3

• SC Special Needs Credential 2, Credential 3

• SC Family Child Care Credential 2, Credential 3

SC Endeavors Early Care & Education Career Ladder

• Level 6

Professional Memberships

• South Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children (SCAEYC)

  • Public Policy Committee Member (2024)

• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

In my free time, I enjoy crocheting, kayaking, gardening, and building LEGOs.