congratulations – Institute for Recruitment of Teachers

Executive Director Letter, June 2026

Summer 2026

It’s here!

After admitting our newest class and graduating our most recent, the IRT is thrilled to launch our newest summer workshop. This workshop will continue to build on our previous virtual delivery with curriculum delivery, Chalk Talks, Recruiters Weekend, and opportunities for scholars to demonstrate their learning. I am excited to see how our Summer faculty will continue to develop ways to support scholars through these shifts in higher education and greater society.

Congratulations! – ¡Felicitaciones! – Félicitations!

June is a busy month for academic achievements, and we are happy to highlight the accomplishments of IRT Alumni in this celebratory post.

Nicollette Mitchell, IRT ’20
PhD, Learning, Teaching & Diversity
Vanderbilt University

Christian Walkes, IRT ’17
PhD, Education
Harvard University

Walkes defended his dissertation titled Landscapes of Freedom: Black Educational Architects & Historical Geographies of African American School Grounds.

Emerson Mayorga, IRT ’25
MA, Journalism
University of Arizona

Associate Director & Manager of Programs Update, March 2026

Spring Advising: Wherever You Are, We Are With You

Spring has always been a season of transition, and this season is no exception. Some of you are sitting with exciting news. Others are experiencing uncertainty, disappointment, or exhaustion. IRT holds space for all of this. However this application season landed for you, know that you are still seen, still supported, and still very much a part of this community.

Congratulations to Our Admitted Scholars

We know that several of you have been admitted into your graduate programs of choice. Congratulations! We are so incredibly proud of you. This is the result of your own hard work, your courage to keep going, and the knowledge and vision you have been carrying all along. We cannot wait to see where this next chapter takes you.

Executive Director Letter, June 2025

Congratulations to our IRT Scholars who have recently completed the IRT program and are preparing for their next steps! We know that this was not an easy year for graduate admissions, and we are proud of you regardless of your final decision. This year, I learned more from our scholars than I anticipated. I learned about their commitment, discipline, and unwavering hope and optimism, as well as their resolute belief in improving our education system, regardless of their location. I’m proud of what you accomplished, even if this year did not turn out as you anticipated.

Over the last few weeks, we have begun welcoming our newest cohort. This year, we experienced our highest virtual turnover ever for our Orientation, and we hope to continue building on our momentum of expanding our Summer Curriculum to all scholars via both asynchronous and synchronous virtual delivery. Our incoming cohort of over 130 scholars demonstrated a keen ability to articulate why they are invested in their research and goals at this critical time, as well as how this community can support one another. I am grateful to the IRT staff and Summer Workshop Faculty for developing and delivering our content.