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