Institute for Recruitment of Teachers

Executive Director, October 2019

Brooks photo The start of the school year is one of my favorite times of the year. The energy and buzz, the excitement, and the anticipation of a fresh start. Of course, we all love the summer. And this summer, I had the pleasure of witnessing my first full summer workshop. I am thankful to the tremendous faculty and staff, who work tirelessly to support our students.

Our Interns and Associates are inspiring. After observing your growth throughout the workshop as well as the advising process, we are all rooting for you.

Another reason why I love the new school year is that it allows us to reflect on our past learnings, and put them immediately into action. These are lessons for all of us. As a staff, we are excited to support 130+ Scholars in their graduate admissions process. Further, we are grateful for our alumni, and we are preparing to launch an alumni networking site this fall.

As we reflect on our previous year, we look forward to our new class. We are excited by your ideas and dedication throughout this process. I am eager to continue to meet all of you and to continue to support the IRT. Together, we can work to ensure that this new school year will be a great one.

Monthly Matters in Black History—Jessica Samuel, IRT ’15

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Teaching Beyond a Colonial American Blackness or The Costs of being Black and not really American in the Classroom

By Jessica Samuel, IRT ’15
American & New England Studies Program
Boston University

One of the most fascinating (and disheartening) phenomenon I experienced as a first–year teacher in an urban public school was the way in which the Black students I taught assumed that because I was Black—in addition to being a woman, “foreign,” and young—I knew less than my white colleagues, even when those colleagues and I shared similar demographics across gender, age, educational background, and professional experience. Comments such as “she doesn’t know what she’s talking about,” “what the hell is she saying” or even, “she can’t teach” alerted me to the ways in which my identities had predetermined my capacity, and by extension, that of my students. It became increasingly clear to me that years of indoctrination had led my students to think the way they did about Black intelligence.

Even more than thinking intelligence was colored everything but Black (or Brown), my students had also learned that “American” was the most reliable and legitimate label from which to expect knowledge and skill. As an Afro-Caribbean U.S. Virgin Islander—whose relationship to Americanness is fraught—it had become clear to me that my students had inherited a white supremacist, imperialist, patriarchal framework for being in the world.[1] Who my students believed was most qualified to teach them was not simply about years of experience in the classroom but also about years of experience being American. How American I could be directly informed my students’ ability to respect me in the classroom. That I had a slight accent, was born in a place they’d never heard of, and happened to also be Black meant that I would have to work overtime to establish professional authority in my classroom.

Continue reading “Monthly Matters in Black History—Jessica Samuel, IRT ’15”

2019 Summer Workshop Highlights

The IRT opened it’s 29th Summer Workshop program this July. Welcoming members of the 2019 cohort, more than 30 IRT alumni and IRT consortium deans and representatives, the workshop was an engaging experience for all constituents.

IRT Intern, Sherline Renodo and IRT faculty member, Jaymon Ortega, IRT ’15 during seminar.

“Being an IRT intern in Andover this summer gave me life. IRT gave me life because it put me an intellectually stimulating environment that challenged me not only to grow as an academic but as a person. The challenges that IRT presented me with pushed me to see my full potential. I am forever in debt to IRT for giving me life.”

2019 Recruiter’s Weekend
Students gleamed insight on consortium school’s program offerings as they begin to navigate the process and develop their application materials. Throughout the weekend, IRT students had the opportunity to make valuable connections with deans and liaisons and establish relationships with each other.

IRT students enjoying the sunshine before their next session.

IRT students heading to meet consortium deans and liaisons.

Continue reading “2019 Summer Workshop Highlights”

Phillips Academy Honors Steve Frank’s Service to IRT

On Saturday, September 21, Steve Frank ’81, P’09 was awarded Andover’s Distinguished Service Award. Presented annually by decision of the Academy Resources Committee of the Board of Trustees, this award honors volunteers whose services to Andover have been distinguished by commitment, uniqueness, and effectiveness. Their efforts on behalf of their school provide an inspiring example of all Andover volunteers.

Deeply involved as a fundraiser and leader of the IRT nearly since its inception, Steve was the inaugural chair of the IRT Advisory Board, which he led from 2005 to 2014. He formalized the group’s responsibilities, created productive subcommittees, and oversaw the seamless transition from Executive Director Kelly Wise, the IRT’s founder, to successor Asabe Poloma. He also addressed board issues around governance, financial stability, organizational structure, and leadership; established and led an executive committee; initiated resolutions around board terms and annual financial support; and participated in national searches for the IRT director and executive director.

We at the IRT are incredibly grateful for Steve’s myriad contributions to the program and thrilled to see him honored in this remarkable way. Thank you and congratulations, Steve!