Aiyana Mourtos is currently Chief of Staff for the DC Public School system. She completed the MA in Education and Social Policy to learn from her professors and their research, with the goal of working afterward to improve outcomes for children furthest from opportunity. In her current work, she supports work from across the organization, leading performance management, intergovernmental affairs, communications and engagement. “From exploring strategies to increase enrollment to evaluating the impact of a program or reviewing policy decisions related to educator evaluation - I am constantly calling upon the quantitative skills and research based in key education issues that I gained from my time at NYU,” she shares.
What is something you especially value about your program?
The thing that stands out the most in hindsight are my professors. Beyond excelling in their research, they were genuinely interested in sharing their knowledge, skills, and passion with students. I was working full time while taking a full time class load so having engaging classes made such a difference for me after a day of teaching third graders.
What are some tips for networking or growing in the field?
I will always be a learner! I try to maintain a balance between research and practice. There is so much in education that is documented best practice; and at the same time, opportunity gaps persist particularly for black and brown students. I believe we have to be responsive to what we’re seeing in our context while also creating space to elevate innovations from the field. For me, this means seeking out articles and books that synthesize research on the topic at hand; and connecting that with what’s happening in our schools — through engagement with students, families, and educators, reviewing data, and school visits.
Do you have any advice for current grad students?
As you explore job opportunities, look for a manager that will give you space to lead and learn in the same breath. I was fortunate enough to find this with my first role after grad school, and it has had a significant impact on my career.