Program Overview

Arizona Teachers Academy

The Arizona Teachers Academy (ATA) is a program that allows students to earn a degree leading to teacher certification. The program provides an ATA scholarship to cover remaining tuition and mandatory student fees after other aid is applied. Students also receive hands-on guidance, mentorship, and professional development opportunities. In return, students commit to teach in a public school for the same number of years they received an ATA scholarship.

Program Details

• The ATA is available on all campuses.
• The program has had 1,299 participants and has awarded over $8.16 million in scholarships.
• There are two tracks in the ATA: teacher certification and dual enrollment.
• Both undergraduate and graduate students are welcome in the teacher certification path; dual enrollment is only available for teachers who are seeking to fulfill requirements to offer dual-enrollment coursework.

How to Join

To join the ATA, students must meet certain eligibility requirements and follow the application process. The program is available on a first-come, first-served basis for eligible students, up to the allowable funding provided by the state.

Benefits

• ATA scholarship to cover remaining tuition and mandatory student fees
• Hands-on guidance, mentorship, and professional development opportunities
• Job placement after graduation
• Freedom from debt

Support and Mentorship

The Arizona K12 Center provides a free, trained mentor to all ATA graduates during their first year of teaching. Mentors are non-evaluative and provide support through regular classroom visits.

Partnerships

The ATA has partnerships with several organizations, including the West Valley School District and the Arizona Teacher Residency. These partnerships provide opportunities for students to teach in their own communities and receive support and mentorship.

Preparing Indigenous Teachers for Arizona Schools

The Preparing Indigenous Teachers for Arizona Schools (PITAS) program is designed for para-professionals, educational assistants, and others in Native-serving schools across Arizona who want to become certified K-8 teachers.

Program Locations

The ATA is available at several locations, including Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Yuma. Students can select a location or find the nearest one.