SMU partners with City Teaching Alliance to expand access to graduate teacher preparation

SMU has established a new higher education partnership with City Teaching Alliance to expand access to graduate preparation for future educators. Beginning fall 2027, incoming participants across City Teaching Alliance’s regions will have access to SMU’s Master of Education with Teacher Preparation through its Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development.

The partnership will be available to incoming participants in Maryland, Dallas and the Metroplex, Philadelphia, and the Greater Washington, D.C., area. All coursework will be delivered online, allowing participants to pursue their graduate degree while preparing to serve students in their local school communities. Participants in the Dallas region will also have opportunities to connect with SMU's campus community given their proximity to the university.

“City Teaching Alliance and the Simmons School share a commitment to preparing educators who can make a meaningful difference in the lives of their students,” said Michael Harris, Leon Simmons Dean of SMU’s Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development. “By making this graduate pathway available online, we can connect aspiring teachers across City Teaching Alliance’s regions with SMU’s educator preparation community while they build their careers in the communities they serve."

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to making teacher preparation more accessible while supporting educators’ long-term growth. The Master of Education pathway combines preparation for classroom teaching with graduate study that supports continued professional development and career mobility in education.

"Preparing exceptional teachers means investing in both the start of their careers and the possibilities ahead of them," said Dr. Rahesha Amon, CEO of City Teaching Alliance. "Our partnership with SMU brings together a more affordable graduate pathway and a shared commitment to helping educators grow, lead, and remain in the profession. We want our teachers to enter the classroom well prepared, and to see a future in education where they can continue to thrive."

Through the partnership, participants will be able to pursue four programs of study:

• Elementary

• Secondary English Language Arts

• Secondary Mathematics

• Special Education

The new partnership applies to incoming participants beginning in fall 2027. Current City Teaching Alliance participants will continue with their existing higher education partner.

Prospective participants can learn more at cityteachingalliance.org or smu.edu/teacher.