City Teaching Alliance Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 43 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
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5 roles · 43 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at City Teaching Alliance.
City Teaching Alliance
Resident
Entry Average Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Presentation Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation
I applied for the 2026 Cohort and got an offer. The interview was kinda awkward and the interviewers seemed bored, likely because they had other interviews. Even with little experience in education or teaching, the process is manageable if you have transferable skills. They highlighted strengths like time management, proactivity, and willingness to learn. The interview had 11 questions, a mock lesson, a short presentation from them, and time for my questions. I got an email offer about 1.5 weeks later. They say it's selective, not competitive, focusing on qualified candidates rather than a quota. Be ready to talk about your strengths and how they align with CTA's mission. Prepare STAR stories and advocate for yourself.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- What is your motivation for joining CTA?
- Describe a situation where you received feedback and how you reacted.
- Tell me about a time you had multiple deadlines simultaneously.
City Teaching Alliance
Clinical Faculty
Entry Difficult Negative experience No offer 4 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Presentation Background check
Interview formats
Presentation Behavioral
I got an email on a Sunday night asking for my availability the next week. They said there would be four interviews, two hours each, back to back on both days. That was a red flag, but I did it and prepared two presentations. I showed up ready and got good feedback. They also mentioned classes would start in a few days, so they were in a hurry. I sent one follow-up email within a week, and it felt like they weren't going to hire anyone. After that first contact, I never heard from them again. Asking someone to prep long presentations with only days notice and not even sending a basic email is really telling. Another review here says something similar. If they ask you to do this, don't. They're just collecting resumes or checking boxes. The pay was also surprisingly low for the amount of work, and it would only work as a contract or part-time gig in the DC area. Just a bad experience overall.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Prepare a sample lesson and a job talk with less than 72 hours notice.
City Teaching Alliance
Teaching Resident
Entry Difficult Positive experience Accept offer 4 rounds
Interview process
Presentation Group Background check Offer
Interview formats
Presentation Group Behavioral Case
The interview process was nerve racking and unique to any other typical interviews I've been too. They do tell you before you start that you are not competing with the people in the room with you but your more so seeing if urban teachers is a for you. It's not a competitive interview, it's a selective interview, so if you give it all you have and show a willingness for growth you will most likely get in. They say that without saying it, but still give it your best because you never know what exactly they are looking for and comparing you to.
Confirmed questions8 questions
- Prepare and deliver a 5-minute lesson plan.
- Complete the group work assignment.
- Address a classroom management scenario where students need to return to their desks after a lesson.
City Teaching Alliance
Urban Teachers Resident
Entry Average Positive experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Group Presentation Background check Offer
Interview formats
Presentation Behavioral Other
I applied online and since I had a 3.0+ gpa I think, I was automatically given a final interview. I got to choose my interview date online. My interview was on zoom because of covid 19. There were around 15 other applicants there. First, they just gave us info about the program. Then, everyone was divided into groups with an interviewer and a few other applicants to do a 5 min math or language arts lesson/lesson plan. After that, there were one-on-one interviews. They asked basic questions and you had to role play different scenarios as if you were in the program or teaching a class. Everyone was really nice and patient and tried their best to make you feel comfortable. I'd really suggest preparing and practicing beforehand.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you share any experiences you have working with children, volunteering, or in an urban environment?
City Teaching Alliance Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from City Teaching Alliance interview reports.
“How would you deal with a student who is failing your class and not showing up, when talking to their parent?”
Read reports →“What would you do if a student consistently didn't do their homework?”
Read reports →“How would you address a parent whose child is not performing well in school due to attendance problems?”
Read reports →“How would you instruct students to return to their seats?”
Read reports →“How did you feel about the article on inner city schooling?”
Read report →“How would you handle a child who isn't participating?”
Read report →“What kind of feedback is crucial for a new teacher?”
Read report →“What is the goal of our program with the Baltimore site team?”
Read report →“What makes you want to teach in urban schools?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 43 City Teaching Alliance interview reports.