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Teacher Pipeline Project

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About the Teacher Pipeline Project

students on their first day of class outside of a building

American University’s School of Education is invested in cultivating a teacher workforce that is diverse and well-prepared to meet the needs of students in the District of Columbia. Designed to increase the number of DC teachers from the District, it aims to diversify the teacher workforce and increase teacher retention.

The Teacher Pipeline Project provides dual high school+college enrollment opportunities in education courses and used to include full undergraduate scholarships for aspiring teachers, with new teacher coaching, through a partnership between American University, the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), Friendship Charter Schools, and the Office of the State Superintendent in Education (OSSE). Teaching Fellows studied to be early childhood, elementary, secondary, or special education teachers.

Dual Enrollment AU Teaching Fellows

The first phase of the Teacher Pipeline Project is the Dual Enrollment Program, which includes the opportunity for District of Columbia Public Schools seniors to enroll in two courses, totalling six college credits, free of charge. Students will attend on-campus courses alongside AU undergraduate students. Between 10 and 20 high school students are selected each year to participate in the dual enrollment experience. The courses include the following:

Read former SOE Dean Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy's Washington Post article, Opinion: A Dual-enrollment Program for D.C. High School Students Could Help Fill Classrooms in the Future.

AU Teaching Fellows

The second phase of the Teacher Pipeline Project, AU Teaching Fellows, provided full scholarships to DCPS graduating high school seniors who were aspiring teachers, combined with new teacher coaching. This program is no longer accepting new applications.

Teaching Fellows aspired to be early childhood, elementary, secondary, and/or special education teachers via the following majors/minors:

 

NBC4 teacher pipeline screenshot

NBC4, a television station in Washington, DC, spotlighted our Teacher Pipeline Project as part of their Black History Month programming. Watch it here.

Teacher Pipeline Project FAQs

The Teacher Pipeline Project provides dual enrollment opportunities in education courses for high school students, and used to provide full scholarships for aspiring teachers enrolled in undergraduate degrees, plus new teacher coaching. Designed to increase the number of DC teachers from the District, the program aims to diversify the teacher workforce and increase teacher retention. Teaching Fellows can aspire to be general elementary or secondary teachers and/or special education teachers. The program is a partnership between American University, the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), Friendship Charter Schools, and the Office of the State Superintendent in Education (OSSE).

High school seniors can begin their college journey early, gaining exposure to classes, while earning 6 credits, at no cost.

AU Teaching Fellows could attend American University’s School of Education tuition free. In addition to four years of funding, the Fellows were also guaranteed a teaching job upon graduation.

Yes, all Teaching Fellows earned District of Columbia certification, which can be used in 48 other states. See the map of which states accept this certification here.

Students are required to complete the AU application for admission. See application here. There are special questions pertaining to the Teaching Fellows Program. 

Contact Information

For more information on the Teacher Pipeline Project contact: