IRT Alumni Network – Institute for Recruitment of Teachers

IRT Mentorship Program

Did you know the IRT has an Alumni Mentorship Program to help alumni support each other at various points in their academic and professional careers?

The program is designed to connect mentors and mentees and establish a one-to-one relationship that both find beneficial. Leveraging the vast IRT Alumni Network through mentorship to share experiences and knowledge while making connections in your field is invaluable and a resource that can lead to a rewarding experience.

To learn more or to get started, visit the online IRT Alumni Network.

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.

Executive Director Letter, April 2025

Earlier this month, I joined a webinar hosted by the African American Policy Forum, where I had the opportunity to hear Dr. David Johns, IRT ‘03, share his work and how he stands up for the LGBTQ+ community through these times. It was helpful to hear and see how our alums continue to shape our world through listening, engagement, and advocacy. We know this isn’t easy, and we appreciate your dedication to your field, scholarship, and praxis. This newsletter showcases how our alumni make a difference in their communities through scholarship and capacity building.

Alums like Viviana Cordero-García, IRT ‘15, show the importance of establishing community and working to support students in meeting their goals at Esperanza Academy. Dr. Tiffany Joseph, Andover ‘00, IRT ‘03, research and timely text illustrate how immigration and health care policies impacted communities here in Boston. The newsletter has stories of the impact of alums shaping their fields through text, art, and engagement.

Executive Director Letter, February 2025

A Beloved Community

“I do not think of political power as an end. Neither do I think of economic power as an end. They are ingredients in the objective that we seek in life. And I think that end of that objective is a truly brotherly society, the creation of the beloved community”- Martin Luther King, Jr.

One of the things I value the most about IRT is the sense of community—not just any community but a potentially beloved community. In my view, the scholarship and engagement of IRT alums force us to imagine a better world and society and analyze our past. This work is critical in our present moment, allowing for prospective reconciliation and action to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable of us. Our community is also where we find prospective IRT Scholars, so please consider sharing our application with your networks.