Dallas

Change Starts in Dallas

About Dallas

Make a difference in one of the nation’s fastest growing cities

Since launching in 2016, our Dallas region has trained over 370 educators across nearly 100 schools. The call to serve is urgent—despite rapid economic growth, the city has one of the highest child poverty rates in the country. Our Signature pathway helps address educational inequities, especially in special education and multilingual learning.

Here, you’ll work in school districts facing high teacher turnover and child poverty—places where committed educators are urgently needed.

Join a diverse community of aspiring teachers working to address critical educational needs in North Texas.

  • Master’s from American University
  • Paid experience all four years
  • 80+ hours of 1:1 coaching 
  • Triple certification, including Special Education and English Language Learners

As a teacher in this region, you’ll be prepared to teach and support every type of learner in your classroom. Here, we put the “all” in “y’all.”

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Voices From Dallas Educators

"What attracted me to [City Teaching Alliance] was the coaching and years of support. I was not only looking to teach, but to get my masters. And I wanted to make sure I was setting myself up for success in the classroom. I researched all the teacher training programs I could find, and [City Teaching Alliance] was one of the longest and most comprehensive. They don’t just put you in the classroom and forget about you."

Denise R.

Dallas Cohort 2019

Where will you make the greatest impact?

Each city we serve offers unique strengths. We’ll help you compare options so you can make the best choice for your future.

Compare our cities or chat with a recruiter.

Location

Living In Dallas

From Deep Ellum to Oak Cliff, Dallas offers big-city opportunity and a strong sense of local pride.

  • Access to affordable housing partners
  • Easy transit via DART
  • Partnerships with Dallas ISD and surrounding districts
  • Cost of living
    The average rental price for a one bedroom apartment is around $1,000-$2,000/month.
  • Things to do
    Dallas has a thriving music and restaurant scene, fantastic parks, and hiking trails, like the Katy Trail through downtown Dallas.
  • Transportation
    The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system, which includes light rail and bus service, is the fastest-growing mass transit network in the United States.

    • A Four-Year Journey Rooted in Equity and Excellence

    Year 1:
    • Paid classroom residency
    • Co-teaching with a mentor
    • Graduate coursework through American University
    • Weekly coaching and community learning sessions
    Year 2:
    • Full-time teacher of record
    • Continued support from mentors and instructional coaches
    • Complete your master’s degree
    • Earn a full teacher salary
    Years 3–4:
    • Become a Teacher of Record
    • Earn teaching credentials in content area and special education
    • Ongoing alumni support
    • Leadership pathways and professional development
    • Opportunities to mentor future educators

    We’re with you every step of the way—from working under a host teacher to leading the classroom and beyond.

    Our Community Partners

    Here are a some of the partners we work with in the Dallas region.

    Become a partner

    Partners

    Our Team in Dallas

    Our faculty is dedicated to classroom teaching, mentorship, collaboration, and the success of our participants. They inspire, challenge, and lead through innovative approaches to teaching, learning, and research. Our faculty members bring a wealth of experience from the field and are the driving force behind our theory of change.

    Faculty
    Alexes Terry
    Director of Clinical Faculty
    Tiffini McGill
    Instructional Coach
    Dr. Gayle Warmbrodt
    Instructional Coach
    Chriselda Sosa
    Instructional Coach
    LeeChel Moersch
    Instructional Coach
    Dr. Amanda Portes
    Instructional Coach
    Jola Lawal
    Clinical Faculty
    Dr. Veronica Alarcon
    Clinical Faculty
    Alexes Terry
    Director of Clinical Faculty
    Tiffini McGill
    Instructional Coach
    Dr. Gayle Warmbrodt
    Instructional Coach
    Chriselda Sosa
    Instructional Coach
    LeeChel Moersch
    Instructional Coach
    Dr. Amanda Portes
    Instructional Coach
    Jola Lawal
    Clinical Faculty
    Dr. Veronica Alarcon
    Clinical Faculty
    Texas Education Agency (TEA) Resources
    • Resolving Conflict and Providing Feedback

      If teachers have a conflict with City Teaching Alliance—excluding any matters that are specifically academic in nature or related to the master’s degree program, which should be addressed through the university partner—or an issue with a City Teaching Alliance staff member, please follow the formal conflict resolution process described below. Please use this process to escalate complaints, experiences of bias or discrimination, or other matters of inequity. We are always open to assisting our teachers.  

      • Attempt To Resolve Issue
        • City Teaching Alliance encourages applicants, participants, employees or future employees, cooperating teachers, mentor teachers, or school administrators to first discuss and attempt to resolve issues at the individual or school level. If an issue arises with an individual or group, first first directly with the person(s) involved. If it is a programmatic issue, first contact your designated site Assistant Director
      • If Unresolved, Raise With Supervisor
        • If a satisfactory resolution of an issue with an individual is not reached in a timely manner, then discuss the issues directly with the individual’s supervisor. If a programmatic issue is unresolved, consult the site Executive Director.
      • If Unresolved, Elevate to the National Team
        • If a resolution is not reached in a timely manner, direct the complaint to the City Teaching Alliance Director of Participant Affairs at ask.cta@cityteachingalliance.org
      • If Still Unresolved, File a Complaint With the State Education Agency
        • If the Issue Persists, after exhausting the above steps, file a complaint directly with their state education agency.
        • In accordance with the Texas Administrative Code, we provide information on how to file a complaint regarding EPP. If you have concerns or would like to file a complaint, please refer to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) complaints website for further guidance.
    • Criminal History Background Check and Certification Eligibility Notice

      City Teaching Alliance is responsible for informing all applicants and candidates that they must complete a preliminary criminal history background check before employment as an educator or prior to beginning clinical teaching. We will also notify each applicant and enrollee in writing (via mail, fax, email, or other electronic communication) of the following information, regardless of whether they have a criminal history:

      1. The potential ineligibility for certification upon completing the program if an applicant has been convicted of an offense.
      2. The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) rules regarding the eligibility of individuals with a criminal history for certification.
      3. The right to request a criminal history evaluation letter for clarification on eligibility.Failure to provide this notification to applicants and candidates will require us to refund any tuition, application, and exam fees they may have paid, in accordance with 19 TAC §227.1(d)-(e).

       

      For more information, please click here.
    • Teacher Demand

      The 2024-2025 teacher shortage areas have been approved by the US Department of Education. The approved shortage areas for 2024-2025 are as follows:

      Declared Areas – All levels unless noted

      • Bilingual/English as a Second Language
      • Career and Technical Education (secondary level only)
      • Computer Science/Technology Applications
      • English Language Arts and Reading (secondary level only)
      • Mathematics (secondary level only)
      • Special Education

      The following are critical shortage areas allowing individuals to apply for TEACH Grants and/or Public Service Loan Forgiveness:

      • Bilingual/English as a Second Language
      • Career and Technical Education (secondary level only)
      • Computer Science/Technology Applications
      • Special Education

      U.S. Department of Education – Teacher Shortage Areas Nationwide 1990-present.

       

       

    • Performance

      Education majors spend extensive time in the schools and agencies gaining real world experience. By graduation, students spend an average of 500 hours in diverse educational settings. Students have a consistent 98% pass rate on the Texas Teaching Certification Exam.

      View TEA data dashboards and sort by Educator Preparation Program (EPP) to view data for City Teaching Alliance (formerly Urban Teachers) program completers.

      TEA Data Dashboards

    Join the Alliance

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