So you ask yourself . . . Why Austin ISD Teachers Academy?

Experience and Credibility
When Austin ISD selects participants into their program, they are also given a hired, unassigned contract to teach in Austin ISD. During the preservice part of the program, interns interview with Austin campuses to find their assignment within the system. Note: Successful completion of the pre-service phase of the program is required to maintain the hired unassigned contract.

Paid internship with benefits
"Intern" refers only to the status of the participant in ATA. Although ATA interns go through the first year of teaching as participants of the program, they are contracted and paid as teachers-of-record within the AISD school district.

ATA interns are fully prepared to enter the classroom due to the curriculum's intensive preparation method. Training and instruction primes interns for the procedures of interviewing.

Field-based experience
During the month of May, ATA interns participate in two weeks of "field experience" on AISD campuses. Throughout this time, interns gain experience including designing instruction, performing observations, and conducting lessons in a classroom setting. This experience contributes to employability and networking.

Support systems
A beginning teacher's experience is both informational and emotional; therefore, giving novice teachers the support they need to fulfill their professional missions is necessary. The ATA offers one of the most innovative support systems with both a campus mentor and a program staff consultant.

Blended instruction (online and face-to-face)
The ATA realizes the face of society is changing by becoming increasingly technological and multi-tasking. In order to accommodate the non-traditional student in this setting, online versions of parts of the curriculum have been developed. Research proves that students prefer and benefit most from blended training and its ability to combine the luxury of personal scheduling with peer-to-peer interaction.