A Phillips Academy Outreach Program
NEWS
In March, Brooks Klimley, PA ’75, IRT Advisory Board and Strategic Planning member; Kate Slater, IRT coordinator for admission and recruitment; and Akhil Rajan, PA ’17, IRT Advisory Board member, attended Visioning Day 2020 in Boston. The trio was part of a focus group that discussed ideas about the future of the IRT. Phillips Academy’s Institute for Recruitment of Teachers (IRT) addresses the lack of diversity in the nation’s teaching faculties by recruiting outstanding 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. IRT graduates have enjoyed remarkable success securing jobs as K–12 teachers, counselors, and principals, as well as professors, university administrators, and deans.
Institute for Recruitment of Teachers
JUNE 2015
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Planning for the Future, Savoring Successes along the Way There has been a whirlwind of activity at the IRT over the past six months! In January, the IRT’s first-ever strategic planning process gained momentum. We held numerous meetings, including the very successful Visioning Day 2020 in Boston (see page 2), and gathered and analyzed extensive data. The incredible work of the IRT Strategic Planning Committee, the engagement of the IRT Advisory Board (including new members Chris Eng, IRT ’09, Alexis Lefft, PA ’16, and Akhil Rajan, PA ’17), and inspiring feedback from our alumni community resulted in a bold and energizing IRT Strategic Plan 2020 (see page 3). On April 15—graduate school decision day—the 2014 IRT cohort made their final choices. Demonstrative of their remarkable talents, our 103 IRT fellows received a total of 468 acceptances to top-ranked graduate programs; 59 of those students received four or more acceptances. By highest yield, the top institutions are the University of Michigan (8), UC Berkeley (7), Purdue (6), and Stanford (6). Eight students were accepted into all 10 programs to which they applied. Of the 103 total students, 45 percent received full funding for up to six years and another 40 percent received partial funding. Congratulations to all! IRT students and alumni continue to distinguish themselves in their research and teaching careers. Please see page 7 for exciting news about their achievements.
HIGHLIGHTS The IRT’s New Strategic Plan page 3 Recruitment Initiatives page 5
Thus far, 2015 has been both challenging and gratifying. It is an incredible privilege to work for this great program, and I look forward to collaborating and partnering with all of you to implement our inspirational strategic plan. Sincerely yours,
Accolades & Milestones page 7 Our Newest Class of Recruits page 7 Photos: Gil Talbot, John Hurley
Asabe Poloma