The Institute for Recruitment of Teachers (IRT)
Introduction and Mission
The Institute for Recruitment of Teachers (IRT) is a nonprofit that supports scholars committed to addressing issues of diversity, equity, access, and justice in education with their graduate school applications. IRT supports scholars in the pursuit of Master’s and PhD’s in the humanities, social sciences, and education fields
IRT scholars also gain access to our vast alumni network of over 3,000 educators, researchers, counselors, practitioners, and leaders in our national K-12 and higher education systems and related industries. IRT provides support to scholars in the following areas:
Graduate program selections: IRT works with scholars to find the right programs for academic and professional goals.
Access: Scholars receive access to representatives from their consortium of over 40 institutions.
GRE: Scholars receive discounted GRE prep services.
1:1 Advising: Scholars receive one-on-one advising throughout the application process.
Feedback: Scholars receive dedicated feedback on all written materials needed for their application.
IRT has prioritized community building through efficient ways of communicating with their alumni and current scholars with each other. IRT has expanded its alumni engagement methods through the record hiring of alumni to support advising scholars through their application and serve as summer faculty during the July Summer Workshop.
IRT also invested in an IRT-exclusive online platform for facilitating alumni connectedness called the IRT Alumni Network. This platform allows alumni to search for each other and stay updated with office happenings.
Values and Impact
IRT has recommitted itself to a student-centered approach to advising and mentorship. Through providing a structure of accountability and a culture of support for scholars to meet their goals. IRT practices this commitment through:
Free application to the IRT without a lifetime limit.
Remote advising model.
IRT has introduced a comprehensive deferral policy in line with their commitment to educational equity and access. This allows scholars to participate in the IRT for up to two consecutive cycles without the need to reapply. This change addresses many IRT scholars' diverse challenges and responsibilities while applying to graduate school, including familial obligations, caretaking responsibilities, financial pressures, full-time work or study, and mental and physical health issues.
Recognizing the need to support IRT scholars in achieving their academic and professional aspirations amidst these demands, the deferral policy offers flexibility, enabling scholars to engage with IRT at the most opportune time for their circumstances.
Workforce Insights
The most successful scholars within the IRT program are those who take a proactive approach and communicate their needs effectively. Despite IRT's substantial flexibility and support, it ultimately falls on the scholars to actively engage in the application process. Success favors those with a clear purpose, strong self-advocacy skills, the ability to set and achieve goals, and good time management strategies. The challenge of applying to more than seven graduate programs is daunting, underscoring that the process is much more personal and demanding than it might initially seem.
IRT is committed to fostering a supportive culture where scholars can rely on each other and the program's staff, encouraging authenticity and collective strategizing to overcome challenges, remain resilient, and achieve their objectives. This approach aims to move away from the traditional rigidity and exclusivity of graduate education towards a rigorous yet flexible model that is responsive to each scholar's unique circumstances and needs.
The program offers a range of resources, including asynchronous curriculum access, group and individual advising, mentorship from staff members and alumni, and spaces for social interaction and skill development. By creating a welcoming and adaptable environment that maintains high standards, IRT strives to equip its scholars for success and to secure fully funded offers for graduate school, ensuring they have multiple options and recognizing the worthiness of such opportunities.
The Vision
The Institute for Recruitment of Teachers (IRT) has embarked on an exciting journey of strategic growth and expansion, as outlined in a recent letter from Executive Director LaShawnda Brooks. This initiative, which began in the summer of 2022 and has spanned over 18 months, involved a comprehensive exploration to enhance the organization's impact.
Working alongside two consulting firms led by IRT alumni, the team conducted extensive surveys among alumni and key stakeholders to lay the groundwork for a strategic growth plan. This plan includes an operational model to scale the organization to meet ambitious new targets. A notable development in this strategy is the ongoing discussions with consortium institutions to pilot a hybrid summer workshop featuring in-person sessions at an R1 institution, marking a significant step in IRT's growth tactics.
In November, the Phillips Academy Board of Trustees endorsed the creation of a nonprofit subsidiary of the IRT. This crucial legal maneuver will open many future opportunities for the organization, marking a pivotal moment in its expansion efforts. Establishing this subsidiary will require not only the formation of a governing board but also the creation of non-board committees focused on programming, fundraising, and operations.
Brooks invites the IRT community to play a role in this transformative phase by expressing enthusiasm for the influx of ideas, engagement, and support received thus far. The invitation to contribute to the nonprofit subsidiary's development underscores the IRT's commitment to collaboration and community involvement as it navigates this new chapter in its mission to expand its impact in education.
