City Teaching Alliance is answering the national call for talent by preparing certified teachers who unlock student potential and build strong pipelines from community to classroom.

Across the country, school systems are navigating unprecedented teacher shortages, budget constraints, and the urgent need to strengthen educator pipelines. In this moment, we offer a powerful response: workforce development, powered by excellence.

How do we turn the national teacher shortage into a workforce development opportunity? It starts with the 5Cs: the foundation for every City Teaching Alliance educator.

Coursework. Coaching & Mentoring. Clinical Placement. Certification. Community.

Together, these five interconnected pillars make up our Signature Approach—a preparation model that provides every educator with practical training, personalized support, and a lifelong professional network.

Why the 5Cs Matter

This values-based model is designed to meet the real needs of teachers, students, and school systems alike. It offers a comprehensive and actionable path into the profession and ensures every aspiring educator receives the preparation, support, and connection that lead to long-term success.
Whether a fellow is entering the classroom straight from college or through a career change, and whether they’re based in Dallas, Baltimore and Central Maryland, the Greater DC Metro region, or Philadelphia, the 5Cs ensure they’re not navigating the teaching profession without a robust toolkit and a plethora of support.

The 5C’s: Our Signature Approach in Action

• Coursework: Through our graduate-level university partnership, City Teaching Alliance fellows complete a master’s degree grounded in research-based instructional practices. Coursework is integrated with classroom experience, giving fellows the tools they can apply immediately.
• Coaching & Mentoring: Each fellow is matched with an experienced coach who offers consistent, 1:1 guidance throughout the year. This relationship provides real-time feedback, professional encouragement, and support in navigating the challenges and growth that come with becoming a full-time teacher.
• Clinical Placement: Fellows complete a full-year clinical experience in a public school classroom, co-teaching alongside a skilled host teacher. This immersive model bridges theory and practice and ensures our fellows develop the confidence and competence to lead a classroom of their own.
• Certification: We support our fellows through the full certification process, helping them meet state licensure requirements with clarity and confidence. Our program is designed to remove barriers to certification, so residents can focus on becoming excellent educators.
• Community: Belonging is essential to thriving in this work. Our cohorts form deep bonds during the formative stages of the teaching career, and our alumni network continues to support educators well after they graduate from the program. This shared sense of purpose and connection fuels both resilience and retention in the profession.

Designed for Impact. Built to Last.

The 5Cs reflect our commitment to preparing culturally responsive, equity-driven career educators who accelerate student achievement and disrupt systems of inequity.
Every element of the 5Cs is designed to align with what schools and communities need most: well-prepared, committed, certified teachers who stay.

Want to bring the 5Cs to your school district?

We believe every student deserves access to an excellent educator and every district deserves a partner invested in long-term, sustainable talent development.

If you’re looking to strengthen your teacher pipeline and invest in a model that works, let’s talk.

Contact us at consulting@cityteachingalliance.org and learn more about our consulting services here.

Let’s grow this alliance together.