Irby will serve as the executive director at the organizations first-ever North Carolina Piedmont Triad corps, located in Charlotte, N.C.

Teach for America has about 570 corps members in North Carolina with more than 1,000 program alumni that live and work in the state, including 80 in the Triad. The organization’s aim is to address issues of equity in public education by sending its corps members to high-needs schools. This year’s corps includes graduates of A&T, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Johnson C. Smith University.

According to Teach for America, 17 percent of all teachers identify as people of color, compared 46 percent of students. Recognizing that teachers who share the backgrounds of their students have the potential for profound additional impact, the organization aims to be part of closing this gap.

This year, 42 percent of corps members teaching in Greensboro identify as people of color, including 32 percent who identify as African American, 6 percent who identify as Latino, and 3 percent who identify as multi-ethnic/multi-racial.

“Connecting students with teachers from diverse backgrounds is something I find very important, and I am thrilled that we can be a part of doing that,” said Irby.

“These outstanding individuals have been welcomed so warmly by their school communities, and are eager to begin their work alongside so many committed educators, parents, and students,” she said.

Irby graduated N.C. A&T in 2008 with an undergraduate degree in journalism and mass communication. Since 2009, she has worked for Teach for America, serving first as a corps member and later worked as a special education teacher in Charlotte. She has held other leadership positions within the organization.

Irby will oversee daily regional operations of Teach for America-North Carolina Piedmont Triad which includes building partnerships with schools, parents and communities, while cultivating private, public and foundation support.

“We’re delighted to have Teach for America corps members joining our school district,” said Mo Green, superintendent of Guilford County Schools. “Like all GCS educators, corps members believe in the potential of all students, set high expectations and invest deeply in relationships with students, families, parents and the broader school community.”

Teach for America has been partnering with North Carolina school districts for 25 years and the work in this region is made possible by a partnership with Guilford County Schools and support of the Cemala Foundation and Phillips Foundation.

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