City Teaching Alliance Partnership for Teacher Preparation/MAT Partnership
American University’s School of Education is proud to partner with City Teaching Alliance to deliver a one-of-kind teacher preparation experience resulting in a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT).
The City Teaching Alliance’s mission is to improve the educational and life outcomes of children in urban schools by preparing culturally competent, effective career teachers who accelerate student achievement and disrupt systems of racial and socioeconomic inequity. To learn more about their commitment to publicly educated students click here.
Since its founding in 2010, City Teaching Alliance (formerly Urban Teachers) has welcomed more than 2,000 aspiring teachers who have taught nearly 240,000 students at 296 partner schools. More than 90 percent of principals reported that first-year teachers hired from the City Teaching Alliance program were well-prepared for the classroom.
Faculty
Dean Holcomb-McCoy on City Teaching Alliance
City Teaching Alliancèưteachers earn a master's degree from AU's School of Education where they learn from̀ưa curriculum that provides a grounding in high-quality antiracist K-12 instruction and teaches the importance of appreciating a child’s community and culture.
The City Teaching AlliancèưAdvantage
As an aspiring teacher in the City Teaching Alliance teacher certification and development program, you will earn a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from American University and become a teacher in Baltimore, Dallas, DC, or Philadelphia. City Teaching Alliancèưfaculty have years of high-quality classroom teaching experience and are uniquely equipped to provide you with a meaningful learning experience. Coursework in this program will give you the knowledge and theoretical foundation you need while also giving you plenty of opportunities for hands-on practice to apply your learning. You will also receive support from a dedicated City Teaching Alliance coach whose goal is to accelerate your effectiveness in your first year as a resident teacher and during your first two years as the leader in your own classroom.
Exclusive to American University, students who choose the City Teaching Alliance program will earn certifications in elementary education, secondary English language arts, or secondary math. Additionally, each participant receives a special education teaching license, preparing them to meet the needs of all students they teach. Participants in the Dallas cohort are also certified in English as a Second Language. ̀ư
City Teaching Alliance's teams on the ground in our partner cities are composed of former educators and invested local leaders who have deep knowledge of the local educational and cultural landscape. They work with you to find a quality school placement, and are fully accessible to support you with every detail of your transition into our program from placement support to housing and relocation.
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City Teaching Alliance Participant Benefits
- A residency year stipend to support living expenses
- Full-time teaching salary starting in year two
- 85 hours of individualized coaching
- Learning opportunities within a community of fellow aspiring teachers who are also committed to accelerating student achievement and disrupting systems of inequity
- Transitional assistance to support relocation expenses
- Scholarship and financial aid opportunities through AmeriCorps, UNCF and the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants Program
- A master’s degree and two high-value teaching certifications
The City Teaching Alliance Experiencèư
Year Onèư– Learning to Lead as a Resident Teacher
In your first year you will be assigned to a host teacher’s classroom in one of our nearly 300 partner schools across four cities. As a student, you will work beside an experienced teacher while receiving individualized coaching from American University faculty and City Teaching Alliance expert coaches. In this resident year, you’ll practice leading lessons, rehearsing classroom management techniques, and performing one-on-one interventions. Graduate coursework takes place in the evening, at the conclusion of the school day.
Now, you lead your very own classroom as a full-time teacher and an City Teaching Alliance Fellow. While you complete your final year of master’s coursework, you hone your teaching practice with the support of dedicated faculty and coaches.
With the endorsement of City Teaching Alliance, you will earn two state teaching certifications while coaches continue to support your growth as a classroom instructor.
You are now equipped with the tools and resources needed to excel in a lifelong education career. In this final year as an City Teaching Alliance Fellow, you are encouraged to pursue leadership opportunities within your respective school communities.
Applying to City Teaching Alliance
Do you see yourself positively impacting the lives of deserving public school students?
Aspiring teachers who have earned a bachelor’s degree and wish to enroll in American University through the City Teaching Alliance program must first submit an application to City Teaching Alliance. The best applicants are:
- Committed to a career in public education
- Committed to accelerating student achievement and disrupting systems of racial, gender, and socioeconomic inequity
- Eager to work with public school school students
- A strong student with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5
- A coachable team player prepared to become the teacher our future leaders deserve
- Aligned with the mission and values of City Teaching Alliance
- Eligible - any of the following may apply: a US citizen, permanent resident, or DACA recipient.
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The first cohort of City Teaching Alliance (formerly Urban Teachers) at American University's School of Education graduated in May of 2024 with their Master of Arts in Teaching. Watch this amazing video to hear some of their stories and share in their joy.
Latest News
AU SOE and City Teaching Alliance are excited to announce that Sherita Flake joined the SOE faculty as the City Teaching AlliancèưProgram Liaison. As the first faculty hired for the City Teaching Alliance Master of Arts in Teaching program in the SOE, Flake brings a longstanding commitment to urban education in practice, scholarship on the Black STEM teacher pipeline, tireless devotion to ensuring success for Black and Brown students, and experience as an City Teaching Alliance Clinical Faculty of Mathematics at Johns Hopkins University for the past several years.