“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.
Hello! I’m Anthony, a current IRT scholar teaching third graders in Xiamen, China. It’s incredible to think that the brunt of graduate school applications is behind us, with many of us already receiving acceptances to stellar programs across the country. Congratulations! We’ve accomplished so much together, thanks in no small part to the IRT program and our advisors.
With the new year upon us, we may focus on how best to actualize our resolutions. But for a moment, I invite you to pause, take a deep breath, and instead ground yourself in how you feel now. Arts and Sciences Programs Specialist Brittany Zorn, IRT ’13, wisely asked this question at our first gathering of scholars a few weeks back. We know that many feelings swirl as we wonder, watch, and wait for the impact of the changes happening across PK-12 and higher education.
No matter what happens, IRT remains committed to recruiting and retaining educators who reflect the communities where our students and families live and work. These educators should be well-versed in their content knowledge/subject area, possess the necessary skill set to develop inclusive curriculum, and utilize instructional strategies that engage all students.
Throughout my journey of applying for a Ph.D., I have discovered a renewed sense of purpose. While my passion for teaching remains strong, I am eager to expand my impact by implementing my ideas for supporting students on a larger scale. As an elementary Special Education teacher in a self-contained classroom for students with emotional and behavioral needs, my aspiration is to integrate Culturally Responsive Teaching with Trauma-Informed Education. I aim to develop methodologies that educators can use to support students who are at risk for or currently experiencing emotional and behavioral disorders (EBDs). Creating a safe, supportive, and nurturing classroom environment is essential to prevent further trauma and escalation. My successful approach as an educator has reinforced my commitment to helping other teachers cultivate similar environments. Ultimately, I envision myself transitioning into academia after completing my Ph.D., where I can contribute to the field and support fellow educators.
I write to you with the most bittersweet news. After almost a decade of service in the IRT office, I have officially resigned my position as the Art & Sciences Program Specialist and accepted a new role at Mount Wachusett Community College. I am beyond thrilled to share that, as of February 9th I will be serving as the inaugural Director of Multicultural Affairs and Student Engagement at MWCC.
While this new role is the most natural next step for me as I advance my career, leaving IRT is truly the definition of bittersweet. In nine years, I have cultivated countless friendships, personally advised roughly 500 scholars on their graduate school lists and SOPs, oversaw the creation and implementation of our growing virtual curriculum and webinar series, attended a dozen conferences and alumni events, hired an increasing amount of alumni to serve as SOP Advisors, supported a massive growth exploration initiative that is evaluating IRT’s future directions ongoingly, and ultimately contributed to nearly every facet of IRT’s operations and services. When I reflect on all I have achieved as part of this team, I am filled with gratitude and pride for this deeply meaningful, equity-centered work.
It is a uniquely gratifying experience to be able to work for a program of which you are an alum. As much as IRT has revolutionized my career post-graduate school, it also changed my life’s trajectory as a student. When I participated in the 2013 Summer Workshop just months after finishing undergrad, I could not even begin to conceptualize all that was possible for me professionally. As a first-generation college student whose parents always worked multiple “low skill, low wage” jobs to make ends meet for our household, I thought that I would graduate from the University of New Hampshire with my dual Bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies and Psychology, and go on to manage a Walmart or be a shift leader at a local Dunkin. I simply could not envision a life for myself that differed from what my parents had done.
Thanks to the ever-sage foresight of esteemed IRT alumnus and my friend and mentor, Dr. Reginald A. Wilburn, I was introduced to the idea of graduate school and compelled to apply to the “Institute for Recruitment of Teachers Summer Workshop.” Saddled with more than $40,000 in undergraduate student loans, growing credit card debt, and no possibility of financial assistance from my parents, the idea of pursuing more post-secondary schooling was distant from my mind. However, I knew I longed for a career with meaning and after four years of studying equity- and diversity-centered topics in my courses, I knew I craved a work environment that similarly allowed me to engage with and act upon my values. IRT introduced me to the idea of higher education and student affairs as a field in which I could achieve these professional goals.
It would have been more than enough for my one IRT blessing to be the gift of a fully funded Master’s program offer from the University of Maine, but in May 2016, mere weeks before graduation, I was offered the position of Arts & Sciences Programs Specialist. Now, many years later, I reflect on how much enriched I am by the work and the people with whom I’ve engaged through my role as ASPS. There is an immeasurable IRT-shaped stain on my heart, mind, and soul that I am so thankful to be able to carry with me into this next chapter. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am a better higher education professional, better advisor, better (co)worker, better leader, better advocate, better thinker, and all-around better person because of my composite IRT experience.
I very much intend to stay connected to everyone in my IRT community and to the program, and look forward to finding new ways to be in service as an alumna who no longer also works in the office. My last day at IRT will be Friday, February 7th. Anyone wanting to be in touch after that can reach me on the IRT Alumni Network (connect.irtalumni.org/profile/view/brittany-zorn) or on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/brittanyazorn/).
Institute for Recruitment of Teachers 
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