A new initiative has been launched in Dallas by City Year and Uplift Education to address the ongoing teacher shortage in the city, by providing scholarships for alternative teacher certification.

The new program, Corps Member Pathway to Teaching, is funded by The Dallas Foundation and eliminates financial barriers for City Year corps members, allowing them to transition into full-time teaching roles at Uplift Education schools.

“A strong educational foundation is essential to long-term success, and that begins with having well-prepared educators in the classroom,” Vickie Allen, The Dallas Foundation’s chief impact officer, said in a statement. “By investing in future teachers through this initiative, we are helping to strengthen the pipeline of qualified educators who will make a lasting impact on Dallas students.”

An Uplift science class. [Photo: The Dallas Foundation]

The foundation said that Texas faces a critical teacher shortage, with nearly 45% of new hires entering the profession uncertified. It said that many of those educators lack formal classroom training, creating challenges for both teachers and students. The new program addresses those issues by prioritizing hands-on experience and mentorship to develop highly qualified, committed educators for the Dallas community, the foundation said.

The scholarships, made possible through The Dallas Foundation’s What Else Do You Need to Be Awesome Together Fund (WEDYNTBA Together Fund), cover the costs of alternative teacher certification, which typically average around $5,000 per person.

The foundation said those costs, including upfront exam fees, often present a major financial hurdle for aspiring educators to take that first step. By removing these barriers, the foundation said the program ensures that talented individuals who have already gained valuable classroom experience through City Year can take the next step toward becoming certified teachers.

Uplift students do some learning out of doors. [Photo: The Dallas Foundation]

Equipped to educate

According to the foundation, the idea for the initiative was born from the physical proximity of City Year and Uplift Education within The Water Cooler at Pegasus Park, one of the largest nonprofit shared spaces in the country.

City Year is a national service program that partners with AmeriCorps to unite young people for a year of full-time service in schools. It focuses on supporting students’ academic and social-emotional development and creating positive school climates.

The foundation said the collaboration shows the impact of strategic partnerships in driving social change, which is one of the reasons The Water Cooler was founded.

According to the foundation, the new program has already begun making a tangible impact.

An Uplift teacher works with a student. [Photo: The Dallas Foundation]

Reagan Reyes, a second-year City Year corps member serving as a Team Leader at Uplift Hampton, is one of the first scholarship recipients, the foundation said. Having grown up in Dallas, she’s now committed to giving back to her community by becoming a certified teacher and pouring back into it.

“After witnessing the challenges of teacher shortages and high turnover, I realized I wanted to transition from City Year into the classroom as a full-time teacher,” Reyes said. “This scholarship has made that possible, removing financial barriers and allowing me to pursue my passion for education.”

Nationally, nearly 48% of City Year alumni who become teachers choose to work in the districts where they served, demonstrating the deep connections they build within their school communities, the foundation said.

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