Recognized for Excellence in Every Campus Forward Award Category
City Teaching Alliance received a Campus Forward Award for Excellence in Recruitment Strategies, Tech Innovation, Candidate Experience, DE&I, and Internship Programming.
Receiving an award for each category reflects City Teaching Alliance's unwavering excellence and commitment to providing the best experience for the next generation of talent. City Teaching Alliance invests in innovative recruitment strategies, cutting-edge technology, thoughtful candidate experiences, inclusive recruitment practices, and standout internship programs. See below for the highlights of their strategies in each one of these categories.
Excellence in Recruitment Strategies
City Teaching Alliance takes an innovative, equity-driven approach to sourcing and recruiting early-career talent, prioritizing underrepresented groups nationwide. The recruitment team engages candidates through impactful events focused on professional development, knowledge-sharing, and building mission-driven, impactful careers. Using a hybrid recruitment strategy, the team hosts both virtual and in-person events in collaboration with partner institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and mission-aligned organizations. Grounded in data-driven insights, recruitment efforts address what early-career talent values most: mission alignment, opportunities to make an impact, passion-driven roles, multidisciplinary skill-building, transparent communication, and leadership. This personalized approach ensures an exceptional candidate experience that reflects the organization's commitment to equity and transformative education.
Excellence in Tech Innovation
City Teaching Alliance leverages targeted technologies to elevate its mission-driven recruitment strategies and foster equitable outreach. Utilizing platforms like RippleMatch and Salesforce, the team efficiently identifies and supports diverse talent while tracking progress to ensure outreach aligns with their equity goals. Advanced tools, such as AI-enhanced messaging, automated email and text campaigns, and dynamic variable personalization, enable highly tailored communication that resonates with candidates' unique interests, schedules, and priorities. By combining data-driven insights with innovative software, the recruitment process is optimized at every stage—enhancing candidate experience, improving alignment with organizational values, and driving higher engagement, conversion, and retention. This tech-forward approach reflects City Teaching Alliance's dedication to equity, impact, and inspiring passion-driven careers.
Excellence in Candidate Experience
City Teaching Alliance prioritizes a positive candidate experience at every stage of the process. The Recruitment team connects candidates with the organization’s mission, provides personalized answers to their questions, and offers application advice to position them for success. The Selection team then conducts dynamic interviews to assess candidate fit and give candidates a firsthand experience of the program, allowing them to ask further questions and learn more about City Teaching Alliance. Finally, the Enrollment Team provides comprehensive support, including relocation advice and financial guidance. Enrollment also leads Experience Weekends, where candidates get a sense of daily life in the program and build lasting connections with their fellow program participants. The team continually evolves its processes based on candidate feedback.
Excellence in DE&I
City Teaching Alliance is dedicated to recruiting and retaining underrepresented talent in education through intentional diversity and inclusion initiatives. The recruitment team collaborates with multicultural and DEI centers at universities and colleges nationwide, engages with student organizations focused on cultural and identity-based communities, and leverages platforms designed to connect with diverse candidate pools. The organization also develops tailored programs, such as the Black Educators Initiative (BEI) in partnership with UNCF, to provide financial aid and resources that break down barriers to entry for eligible candidates. Furthermore, customized events and identity-specific supports are designed to engage candidates from diverse backgrounds, ensuring equitable pathways into the program and advancing a more inclusive educational landscape.
Excellence in Internship Programming
City Teaching Alliance's internship program equips early career talent to drive meaningful change in education. Campus Activators, dynamic campus-based interns, spearhead initiatives to highlight educational inequity, inspire mission-aligned students to join the program, and expand City Teaching Alliance’s robust network of advocates and partners. By crafting campus-specific recruitment strategies, interns gain invaluable experience in networking, marketing, and communication while delivering measurable impact. Collaborating closely with Recruitment Managers and engaging in structured professional development, Campus Activators emerge as leaders in advocacy and recruitment. Their contributions help refine the program to better serve participants, further strengthening City Teaching Alliance’s commitment to nurturing talent and expanding its pipeline from intern to full-time hire.
