Institute for Recruitment of Teachers 2019 Program Report

PHILLIPS ACADEMY 2019 OUTREACH PROGRAM REPORT

INSTITUTE FOR RECRUITMENT OF TEACHERS

OUR MISSION The Institute for Recruitment of Teachers (IRT) addresses the lack of diversity in the nation’s teaching faculties by recruiting outstanding college students of color and other scholars committed to diversity, counseling them through the graduate school application process, and advocating for sufficient funding for advanced study.

OUTCOMES More than 1,000 of the IRT’s alumni have gone on to earn master’s degrees in the humanities, social sciences, or education; an additional 347 have earned doctoral degrees.

IMPACT IRT graduates have enjoyed remarkable success securing jobs as K–12 teachers, counselors, principals, and superintendents as well as school psychologists, professors, university administrators, and leaders in education. They serve as positive role models and mentors to students of all races and ethnicities.

“Submitting doctoral program applications to a dozen of the top schools in the country was one of my proudest moments. And I have each and every one of you at the IRT to thank for that.”

—BRYANT BEST, IRT ’18 Vanderbilt University (doctoral student in education leadership and policy)

Visit www.andover.edu/IRT to learn more about the IRT and its impact.

2019 IRT PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS For our 29th program year, the IRT received 263 completed applications from students at more than 100 colleges and universities. Thirty interns were selected to live on the Phillips Academy campus for four weeks, receive instruction and guidance from IRT faculty—all program alumni—and attend the IRT’s private graduate school fair. Upon completion of the summer workshop, the interns automatically became members of the IRT Associate Program, receiving continued assistance through graduate school application deadlines—and beyond.

Along with providing the best possible guidance for our cohort, the IRT focused on the following multiyear goals:

EXPANDING RECRUITMENT. The IRT hosted multiple recruitment events throughout the United States,

LASHAWNDA BROOKS Executive Director

with strong staff and alumni collaboration. Recruitment efforts stretched from New England, New York, and Pennsylvania to Georgia, California, and across the Midwest.

A first-generation graduate of the University

INCREASING ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT. Thanks to a grant from the Abbot Academy Fund and a gift

of Virginia, LaShawnda Brooks launched

from a PA alumnus, an IRT Alumni Weekend was piloted in July. Thirty alumni returned to

her career in education in the classroom as

campus to reconnect, discuss their career paths with workshop interns, and receive additional

a member of the Teach For America corps.

professional development support. Kevin Maillard, IRT ’94, also hosted a well-attended alumni

She then spent nearly a decade in nonprofit

event in New York City.

programming and management before

IMPROVING COMMUNICATION. In early 2019, a new IRT blog and enewsletter were launched. The timelier news and information included contributions from staff, alumni, interns, and associates.

In addition, LaShawnda Brooks, IRT executive director, and Jessica Acosta Chavez ’06, IRT ’12, associate director of admission and director of multicultural outreach for Phillips Academy, were featured on Every Quarter, Andover’s podcast.

earning an MS in education policy from the University of Pennsylvania. Due to her background as well as her work experience, Brooks is committed to the IRT mission and views teacher diversity as imperative to educational excellence.

FOSTERING NEW PARTNERSHIPS. Essential to the work of the IRT, on-campus partnerships this year included (MS)2, Andover White Anti-Racist Education (AWARE), and the Tang Institute, among others. Off campus, the IRT hosted professional development opportunities with the nonprofit MDRC in New York City and worked to develop partnerships with Educational Testing Service and test prep companies Magoosh and Kaplan to support GRE prep. Emerging partnerships continue with NYC Men Teach, City Year New York, and local school districts.

CLASS OF 2018—GRADUATE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

90%

46%

70%

41%

accepted to at least 1 graduate school program

accepted to 4 or more graduate school programs

receiving partial to full funding

receiving full funding

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THE CONSORTIUM The IRT’s consortium of 43 colleges and universities is critical to the program’s successes. By admitting and funding IRT students to their master’s and PhD programs in the humanities, social sciences, arts, education, computer science, and mathematics, our consortium partners are key collaborators in addressing the lack of diversity in the U.S. education system.

Boston College Boston University Brandeis University Brown University Columbia University Cornell University Duke University Emory University George Washington University Harvard University Michigan State University New York University Northwestern University Princeton University Purdue University Rice University Rutgers University Stanford University Teachers College, Columbia University Tufts University University of Arizona University of California–Berkeley University of California–Davis

University of California– San Diego University of Chicago University of Connecticut University of Maine University of Maryland– College Park University of Michigan University of New Hampshire University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of Rhode Island University of Rochester University of Southern California University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Washington University of Wisconsin– Madison Vanderbilt University Washington State University Washington University in St. Louis Yale University

Egyptian-born sisters Ayaa and Yasmin Elgoharry, both IRT ’14, earned master’s degrees in educational leadership from the University of Rochester in 2017. They each plan to pursue a doctoral degree in the next few years. (Photo by J. Adam Fenster)

IRT Alumnae Ayaa and Yasmin Elgoharry

SETTING THEIR SIGHTS EVEN HIGHER “As a first-generation, low-income student of color and a Muslim, my under­ graduate program already seemed difficult to navigate,” says Ayaa Elgoharry, “so the prospect of graduate school was very overwhelming.” Fortunately, Ayaa got some great advice from a favorite professor, Christiana Pinkston Betts, PhD, IRT ’09, who urged her to look into the IRT program. Not only did Ayaa apply, she convinced her older sister, Yasmin—then a recent Central Connecticut State College graduate—that she should apply too.

“The IRT Summer Workshop helped change the direction of my life and was one of the most supportive groups of people that I’ve ever been a part of,” Ayaa says. “They challenged me in every way and prepared me for what a master’s program would entail.”

“I was part of the IRT Associate Program,” says Yasmin, “which means I received the same support as Ayaa, but I was only at Phillips Academy for a weekend. That was perfect for me because I was working full time. The IRT made me believe

CATHERINE WONG

IRT Consortium Chair “I am honored to be affiliated with the IRT and am deeply appreciative of the strength, courage, and wisdom that consortium members bring to raising the IRT’s profile,

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that I was capable of more—and provided a support system to help me achieve it.”

Ayaa and Yasmin were both accepted to the University of Rochester’s Warner School of Education, where they went on to earn education-related master’s degrees. Now the pair have set their sights even higher.

Ayaa, currently an academic advisor at Indiana University, hopes to transition to a PhD program to research how concussions affect college athletes’ academic

outreach, and well-deserved recognition

performance.

within the higher education community.”

“I would like to become a dean,” says Yasmin, a career coach at Indiana

Wong is the director of Urban Outreach Initiatives

University. She too plans to apply to doctoral programs in the next few years.

at Boston College’s Lynch School of Education and

“It’s crazy to say this, but at one point in my life I didn’t think we would make it

Human Development.

past high school—but here we are!”

IRT IMPACT and OUTCOMES

Top 5

Advanced degrees earned by alumni

colleges/universities attended by IRT alumni 2013–2017

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN PURDUE UNIVERSITY HARVARD UNIVERSITY BOSTON COLLEGE NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

347

1,000+

PhD degrees

Terminal master’s degrees (highest degree awarded in a given field)

Top PhD degree–granting fields pursued by alumni

17% EDUCATIONAL STUDIES 16% ENGLISH 12% HISTORY

2,401+ total IRT alumni to date

Progress toward tenure

Influential positions in education held by IRT alumni

42

alumni are tenured professors

45

alumni are currently on tenure track

COLLEGE PROFESSOR HIGHER EDUCATION ADMINISTRATOR ACADEMIC COUNSELOR PRINCIPAL K–12 TEACHER RESEARCHER SUPERINTENDENT UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE PRESIDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT RECEIVER PROVOST ACADEMIC DEAN DEPARTMENT CHAIR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST AND MORE… 3

LEISLIE GODO-SOLO, IRT ’91

IRT Education Programs Specialist “Assisting talented students in figuring

SADIKI LEWIS, IRT ’16

Secondary School Faculty Member “I was reminded of what I am capable

HEATHER MOORE ROBERSON, IRT ’07, ’10 IRT Summer Workshop Instructor

“The IRT challenges students to push

out their educational and professional

of and that I’m needed in the

past their potential and into their

goals is tremendously rewarding.

classroom. The IRT also refined and

greatness. My own IRT Summer

I still get a rush of adrenaline when

solidified my passion for teaching

Workshop experience has been

a student tells me, ‘Your advice is so

and my role in education. It made

instrumental to my professional

helpful’ or ‘You’ve reassured me that

me more confident that I know the

career. I would not have an MA or

I can do this.’ Alumni consistently

material and that my interpretation of

PhD or be a college professor on

report that the IRT enabled a deeper

that knowledge and how I deliver it is

tenure track if not for the IRT.”

understanding of the graduate school

of value. To this day, I’m still friends

application process, which made

with the people in my IRT cohort.”

them stronger applicants.”

Assistant professor of Community & Justice Studies and Black Studies at Allegheny

A geometry teacher at NYC Charter High

College, Roberson earned MA and PhD

Godo-Solo joined the IRT staff in 2002. She

School for Architecture, Engineering, and

degrees from Purdue University’s American

earned an MA at the University of Rhode Island

Construction Industries, Lewis holds an

Studies program. She has taught at the IRT

and an EdS at Western Kentucky University.

MAT in math from Boston University.

for four summers.

Alarik Myrin ’88

PAYING IT FORWARD Alarik Myrin’s initial connection with the Institute for Recruitment of Teachers was inspired by program founder Kelly Wise—also his Phillips Academy English instructor.

However, as Myrin became more deeply involved with the IRT, it was his passion for its mission that solidified his commitment.

“I’ve always felt very warmly about the Academy and thought it was an amazing place,” says Myrin. “I started giving to the IRT around 2010 and then agreed to sit on its advisory board because of Kelly’s work getting the organization up and running. But what has kept me involved? I think the IRT is succeeding in its mission to recruit people of color to serve as leaders in education. To me, the idea that students of color would have only white teachers is problematic, and it’s equally important for white students to have teachers of color.”

As the IRT has grown—impacting more students through the Associate Program and focusing its work through the lens of its 2020 strategic plan—Myrin has been central to supporting the program’s efforts to broaden its reach.

“I love the idea that we are not just affecting these IRT students, who are amazing,” says Myrin, “but also that the program will positively impact thousands of future students— students with whom IRT-trained teachers, administrators, and educators will interact throughout their careers. Our efforts are being magnified.”

Myrin, a longtime software entrepreneur, brings technological experience to the IRT Advisory Board. He lives in Brooklyn and currently helps to run Zwift, a multiplayer online

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cycling and running video game and physical training program.

We are grateful to our many donors, whose generosity makes the IRT program possible.

Unwana M. Abasi ’13 Donald B. & Elizabeth B. Abbott Jessica D. Acosta-Chavez ’06, IRT ’12 Asna Afzal ’99 Yatharth Agarwal ’17 Chrystal Lynn Akor ’00 Yasmine B., IRT ’94 & Jorge S. Allen Fernando R. Alonso Jamin An, IRT ’10 Jason An Chikaodili Anoliefo Bret D. Asbury ’96, IRT ’99 Gant C. Asbury ’91 Allegra B. Asplundh-Smith ’04 & Evan B. McGarvey ’03 Christopher S. Auguste ’76 & Varuni Nelson P’09, ’12 Sharyn Bahn John B. Bassett, DMD, ’67 & Jane Thorn Bassett Ellen Bateman, IRT ’05 Kristine C. Bay ’81 & Robert A. Iger Mercy L. Bell ’08 Louis M. Bernieri P’96, ’10 George H. Billings ’68 Jason O. Billy ’97 Taylor S. ’79 & Willa C. Bodman Carroll R. Bogert ’79 Priscilla Bolanos-Salas, IRT ’12 Janelle Bonasera Paulette L. Branch, IRT ’90, ’01 LaShawnda Brooks David C. ’95 & Meisha Brown Sean Bryant, IRT ’18 Joseph F. ’82 & Carlyn Capella Sheri J. Caplan ’83 & Kenneth Merkatz, MD, P’19 Nathaniel M. Cartmell III ’69 & Suzanne Pettus Cartmell P’06 Scott & Alexandra Caulfield Sara Cerretani A. Lawrence ’58 & Serena Chickering Andrew M. Chin ’00 & Emily D. Griset ’00 William F. Chiu ’88 Robert E. Clifford ’81 & Donna Coleman Viviana B. Cordero Garcia, IRT ’15 Oscar Cornejo, IRT ’16 Jonathan Cortez, IRT ’14 Ryan W. Coughlan ’02 Jennifer H. Cray ’83 & Marc E. Igler P’18 Naomi E. Cromwell ’88 Anthony ’91 & Sandra D. Cunningham P’21 Diana M. D’Agostino ’96 Julie Ongaro de Luxembourg ’84 & Robert de Luxembourg Emile F. duPont II ’71 & Lindsay H. duPont P’04, ’06 Sari L. Edelstein, PhD, ’98 & Holly Jackson, PhD David B. ’69 & Anita Ensor Kristin & Nicholas Faivre Patrick J. & Karen J. Farrell P’08 Curtis Ferguson, IRT ’04 Dianne Fields Tyrone A. Forman ’88 & Amanda Lewis

Kimberly Doggett Formisano ’86 & James A. Formisano P’17 Lisa M. Foster ’84, P’12, ’22 Stephen H. Frank ’81 & Jane Reny Frank P’09 David A. Freilach Beth Friedman & Sherri Bisci Maho Fujiwara ’18 Ashley Garner David L. Garrison & Suzanne Kelly-Garrison George D. ’68 & Ana Gaskins Gabrielle L. Gazzola Gillian Geffen, IRT ’17 Elizabeth Gil, IRT ’11 John W., Jr. ’71 & Susan Gillespie Leislie Godo-Solo, IRT ’91 & Hossiri H. Godo-Solo P’13, ’17 Vikas Goela ’01 & Sphurthi Annapareddy Diamond Gray Linda C. & Graeme Griffith Andrew J. Guff Jr. ’79 & Jessica Stedman Guff Kimberly A. Guzowski ’86 Aria Halliday, IRT ’11 Jeffrey M. Halter Hannah Pfeifle Harlow ’96 & Jason Harlow John C. Harpole ’83 & Gabrielle Starr Rejji P. Hayes ’93 & Celeste Watkins-Hayes, PhD Kelicia R. Hollis ’08, IRT ’11 Rachael K. Horovitz ’79 Truth J. Hunter, IRT ’11 Rachel C. Jamison ’93 Julia Lloyd Johannsen ’96 & Peter Johannsen Marc A. Johnson, IRT ’97 Alan C. Johnston ’64 & Kathryn Edwards Johnston Alwin Jones, IRT ’02 Tiffany D. Joseph, PhD, ’00, IRT ’03 David W. Kaiser ’87 & Rosemary Corbett Roger E. Kass ’79 & Andrea van Beuren P’19 Victoria Kataoka ’93 & James Brown Hugh R. Kelleher ’69 Margaret G. Klarberg Kennedy ’96 & Bruce L. Kennedy II Michael J. ’94 & Amy Koehler Kirkland La Rue, IRT ’04 Cher Lewis ’68 Thomas P. Lockerby & Kathleen J. McCrickerd Lissette Lorenz, IRT ’16 Eleanor Coneeney Lyons P’78, ’81, ’83, ’89, GP’11, ’14 Lynnette V. Macomber Martha Phipps Maguire ’78 & Walter L. Maguire Jr. Kevin Maillard, IRT ’94 John P. Margolis ’78 John A. Mayer Jr. ’58 & Barbara Phillips Mayer Linda McDermott Irma McIntyre Julian A. McNeil, IRT ’07, ’16 Arnaldo Mejias Jr., IRT ’94 Richard Mora, IRT ’98 Camila Moreno-Jimenez, IRT ’18 Kaelyn B. Muiru, IRT ’17

Jane Biondi Munna ’96 & Dax Munna Kealy O’Connor Murray ’96 & Michael P. Murray Minor Myers III ’96 & Eliza W. Myers, MD Alarik Myrin ’88 & Kristine G. Myrin Steven A. & Elizabeth G. Napolitano P’20 Stanley S-H Ng ’15 Kevin Pajaro, IRT ’15 Beth & Tim Parsons Lucinda C. Pascale ’79 & Eric D. Stonestrom Richard S. Pechter ’63 & Kayla Lebovitz Pechter P’89, ’93, ’96 Asabe W. Poloma & Kalu Ukoh Gabriela Poma ’88 Elizabeth Parker Powell ’56 & David G. Powell P’84, ’90, GP’19 Edward W. Probert ’54 & Ann Linen Probert Lixin Qiao & Zhen Zhu P’19 Martin ’60 & Maria O. Quinn P’87 Julie A. Gwozdz Redfern ’96 & James A. Redfern Chera D. Reid, IRT ’00 & Brian D. Tutt BrianPaul Robert ’16 Biridiana Rodriguez David L. Ross ’70 Gita Runkle, IRT ’97 Jaclyn Serchuk Kelly T. Sherman ’96 & Daniel Goldsmith Richard J. Shin ’90 & Hay-Won Byun Donnie R. Smith LaShawn N. Springer Kristina Stahlbrand ’61 & Dean B. Pineles Mark W. ’69 & Annalyn S. Stevens Luke C. Stidham ’14 Tristan A. Striker, IRT ’08 Ellen M. Sullivan John R. Swansburg Jr. ’96 & Harriet P. Menocal ’98 Eric B. Tang ’85 Oscar L. Tang ’56 Derrick B. Taylor Sylvia L. Thayer ’54 & J. Philip Zaeder P’79, ’83, GP’17, ’18 Jamila Thomas, IRT ’05 Christopher C. ’83 & Elizabeth Thompson Catherine K. Tice ’79 Scott Underriner, IRT ’15 Alejandro Velasco, IRT ’99 Andrew Westover, IRT ’15 Bruce S. Wilson ’77 & Lisa D. Westfall P’12 Adam K. ’83 & Ann S. Wise Jonathan K. ’77 & Frances Wonnell Lucius L. Xuan ’15 Alan Yeh Stefanie Scheer Young ’81 & Andrew W. Young ’81, P’11, ’14 Marcy Kerr Yuknat ’90 & David A. Yuknat J. Murph Yule ’68 Ping Zhou & Wenjie Song P’21 Carolyn M. & James P. Zimmer P’17, ’20 Brittany Zorn, IRT ’13 Patty Zorn

Donor list reflects gifts received from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019. P = Parent(s) of Phillips Academy student or alumnus/a GP = Grandparent

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IRT ADVISORY BOARD Julia Lloyd Johannsen ’96, Chair Brookline, MA

Marc A. Johnson, IRT ’97 Milton, MA

Renee O. Wilmot, IRT ’12, ’17 Richmond, VA

Asna Afzal ’99 New York, NY

Victoria Kataoka ’93 New York, NY

Bruce S. Wilson ’77, P’12 Washington, DC

Saffron Agrawal ’21 San Francisco, CA

Michael J. Koehler ’94 Reading, MA

Adam K. Wise ’83 Auburndale, MA

Bret D. Asbury ’96, IRT ’99 Philadelphia, PA

Kevin Maillard, IRT ’94 New York, NY

Marcy K. Yuknat ’90 Dover, MA

Mercy L. Bell ’08 Boston, MA

Jane Biondi Munna ’96 New York, NY

Gonzalo S. Zeballos, IRT ’92 New York, NY

Andrew M. Chin ’00 Weston, MA

Alarik Myrin ’88 Brooklyn, NY

EX OFFICIO

Sari L. Edelstein ’98 Cambridge, MA

Gabriela Poma ’88 Cambridge, MA

LaShawnda Brooks Executive Director, IRT

Tyrone A. Forman ’88 Chicago, IL

Chera D. Reid, IRT ’00 Troy, MI

Kimberly D. Formisano ’86, P’17 Dedham, MA

Richard J. Shin ’90 New York, NY

Linda Carter Griffith Associate Head of School for Equity, Inclusion, and Wellness, Phillips Academy

Melani Garcia ’22 New York, NY

John R. Swansburg Jr. ’96 Brooklyn, NY

Andrew J. Guff Jr. ’79 Greenwich, CT

Alejandro Velasco, IRT ’99 New York, NY

Beth Parsons Director for Museums & Educational Outreach, Office of Academy Resources, Phillips Academy

P = Parent(s) of Phillips Academy student or alumnus/a

A PRIVATE SCHOOL WITH A PUBLIC PURPOSE Phillips Academy’s four educational outreach programs— Andover Bread Loaf, the Institute for Recruitment of Teachers, (MS)2, and PALS—have long

“I am close to finishing all of my grad school applications and so excited for what the future holds—but that would not have been possible without the help and support of the IRT family. Thanks for listening to me in challenging times and being that positive light.”

—ELIZABETH CONTRERAS, IRT ’18 University of Southern California (pursuing master's degree in education counseling)

served as resources for students and teachers locally, nationally, and worldwide.

Photos: Gil Talbot, Jessie Wallner, Michael Malyszko

180 Main Street, Andover, MA 01810