Cellissa Hoyt (click for Bio)

Senior Advisor to SELA

Cellissa Hoyt is a Senior Advisor to the State Early Learning Alliance (SELA), a ground-breaking initiative of Early Learning NH.    

Cellissa graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of New Hampshire. She worked for nearly 30 years as the Executive Director at Growing Places, a multi-site nonprofit in the seacoast. While working at Growing Places, Cellissa was one of 10 founding members of the State Early Learning Alliance (SELA), a shared service model supported by United Way of the Greater Seacoast to help early childhood programs to strengthen business practices and enhance program quality. SELA saves programs time and money, so precious resources are freed up to support the things that matter most to the mission. Cellissa took advantage of every possible SELA resource to help Growing Places accomplish more of the agency’s quality related priorities.   In 2014, Cellissa began working part time as the SELA Project Director while still working at Growing Places in order to help other early childhood programs benefit from the extensive resources. In 2017, Cellissa began working full time for Early Learning NH, the home of SELA.

Cellissa has presented at numerous national conferences about the NH shared service model and has consulted with emerging shared service groups around the country to help others find innovative ways to increase resources for early childhood programs.  Cellissa’s work expanded in 2019 when Early Learning NH was awarded funding to promote two wonderful programs of the Bezos Family Foundation that support children’s early learning and development, Vroom and Mind in the Making. Vroom helps families and care givers turn everyday moments with young children into brain building moments. Mind in the Making is a deep dive into the science of Vroom and a focus on the seven essential life skills that every child needs in order to thrive.

Cellissa lives in Strafford, NH with her husband Brian. They enjoy travel, gardening, ballroom dancing, and time with family and friends.