The AU School of Education (SOE) Spring 2024 Commencement ceremony featured numerous graduates from its Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Elementary Education; Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Special Education, and International Training and Education; Master of Education in Education Policy and Leadership; and Doctor of Education in Education Policy and Leadership programs.

Among these graduates were students from two cohorts whose programs produced their first graduates. The MAT graduates included 2022 cohort members from SOE's City Teaching Alliance (CTA) program; the BA graduates included two 2020 cohort members from the School's AU Teaching Fellows program. The graduation of these program enrollees symbolized not only program successes but also the attainment of goal objectives of SOE's Teacher Pipeline Project (TPP), which provides supports for students of color who seek to become teachers, resulting in a more diverse population of teachers nationwide.

City Teaching Alliance (CTA), formerly Urban Teachers, is an alternative teacher certification program that was established in 2010 and focuses on teacher education and preparation to foster participants' entrance into a pipeline of teachers in Baltimore, Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Program participants received a certification in a content area, such elementary education, secondary mathematics, or secondary English language arts.

In 2019, its new partnership with SOE resulted in participants also earning Master of Arts degrees in teaching and dual certifications. Program participants now receive certifications in special education and in one of the aforementioned content areas. To facilitate multi-region instruction of its MAT program's curriculum, SOE hired full-time faculty members in CTA-based locations. This spring, over one hundred students from these locations, conjointly known as "Cohort 2022," traveled to DC to take part in American University's commencement ceremony. 

"And just like that, we graduated our inaugural cohort of the City Teaching Alliance MAT program at SOE. Congratulations Class of 2024," said Dr. Sherita Flake, SOE Senior Professorial Lecturer and the City Teaching Alliance Program Director at American University. "I’m honored to lead such a dynamic teacher preparation program across four cities. Get ready Dallas, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and DC! Our teachers are prepared to transform society through education."

The formation of SOE's partnership with CTA followed the establishment of TTP offering AU Teaching Fellows, a program that SOE Dean Dr. Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy created to engender her goal of diversifying the pool of teachers in the District of Columbia. Students from the program, 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) earn a full-time scholarship to partake in an undergraduate degree program at SOE, ushering them to become teachers.

Teaching Fellows Chloe Ifill (photo below, left) and Keirah Daniels (photo below, right), both DC natives, entered the program after completing another SOE TTP program, Dual Enrollment, where enrollees from select DCPS high schools that 


aspire to become teachers take one SOE class per semester during their senior year to help ease the perception that college is unattainable through the one-year acclimation process the program affords. After completing both programs, Ifill and Daniels became Spring '24 graduates, earning BA degrees in elementary education.

"The graduation of Chloe and Keirah is the result of Dean Holcolmb-McCoy's vision to bring DCPS students to SOE to become teachers, through our program for dual enrollment during their high school senior year and enrollment as elementary or secondary education majors via our Teaching Fellows program afterwards, both to ultimately foster the achievement of a signature agenda, the Teacher Pipeline Project," said SOE Director of Undergraduate Education, Dr. Ocheze Joseph. "It's a true pipeline!"

The inaugural graduates of both CTA and AU Teaching Fellows programs also benefitted from long-term valuable assistance from program directors, coordinators, and advisors based at SOE as well as in CTA's respective cities. Their contributions helped to ensure that the presence of members from both cohorts at AU's spring '24 commencement ceremony became a timely reality. All parties are now ready to graduate the next cohort.

"The future is bright for the CTA SOE program, as it sets a new standard for educating teachers who are prepared to uplift and transform urban schooling," said Dr. Flake. "This achievement stems from the hard work of our dedicated faculty, committed students, and supportive community partners. Together, we are crafting a legacy of educational excellence and innovation."

Dr. Joseph added, "At SOE, we have a rock star team who are beyond capable of making what Chloe and Keirah achieved a reality for all TPP participants, and the success of every SOE student is a priority with them. We can't wait for the class of 2025."

Graduates of both the CTA and AU Teaching Fellows programs also receive guaranteed job placement and will immediately begin teaching full-time in their regions.

 

School’s in Session 

Read the American University article on SOE Spring '24 Master of Arts in Teaching graduate Jesse Lima.

“Diversity means including everyone,” Lima said. “In our classroom community, we are all seen.”

Using what he’s learned from AU’s School of Education, DC Public Schools first grade teacher Jesse Lima is shaping the next generation of Washington learners.

The School of Education Spring 2024 Commencement Ceremony

Saturday, May 11, 2024

Sylvia M. Burwell, University President, Presiding

Welcome President Burwell
National Anthem Emily H. Brignand
Invocation Reverend Doctor Rachel Livingston, United Methodist Campus Minister
Recognition of Faculty Vicky Wilkins, Provost and Chief Academic Officer
Dean's Remarks Corbin M. Campbell, Acting Co-Dean
Student Address Bailey J. Haines, Graduate Speaker, Master of Education Graduate
Commencement Address Kwame Alexander
President's Charge to Graduates President Burwell
Presentation of Candidates for Doctoral Degrees Provost Wilkins and Dean Campbell
Conferral of Doctoral Degrees President Burwell and Toks Fashola, Research Professor in Residence
Presentation of Candidates for Master's and Bachelor's Degrees Provost Wilkins
Conferral of School of Education Master's and Bachelor's Degrees President Burwell, Dean Campbell, and Professor Fashola
Recessional City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums
Faculty Marshall Carolyn Parker, Hurst Senior Professorial Lecturer 
United States Flag Bearer Faith Ellen Arthur, Master of Arts in Teaching Graduate
School of Education Flag Bearer James R. Silveria, Master of Arts in Teaching Graduate

By the Numbers
School of Education Spring 2024 Graduates

26 Doctor of Education
151 Master of Arts
43 Master of Education
21 Bachelor of Arts