Aloha/Greetings IRT Community!
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.
In service of IRT’s commitments, below are a few program highlights.
The current cohort is now in the Post-Application Phase to include:
- Preparing for invited campus interviews.
- Navigating acceptance offers and financial aid packages.
- Attending alumni panels whereby alums from various backgrounds and academic disciplines share their journeys, lessons learned, and career aspirations.
The IRT application for the next cohort opened on December 1, 2024, and will close on March 1, 2025. Brittany and Education Programs Specialist Leislie Godo-Solo, IRT ‘91, hosted a live informational session that was also posted on the IRT YouTube Channel. Recruitment materials were sent out to:
- 40 IRT Consortium of Colleges & Universities admissions liaisons and deans to share with faculty and students
- IRT alums who have offered to share recruitment materials with colleagues and potential applicants
- Educational Non-Profit Organizations to share with their alumni networks
We invite you to share the IRT Application link with those who may be interested in applying to IRT for this upcoming cycle. Thank you!
IRT’s Consortium of Colleges & Universities agreed at the July annual meeting that it would be advantageous to meet more than 1x/a year to reduce siloes, stay informed, and strategize support for IRT Scholars and alums. At our Fall meeting, we focused on the following questions:
- How is your institution making sense of this moment and the potential changes to higher education and PK-12 schooling?
- What kind of support are you seeing your students/scholars needing?
- How can we pivot and work more collectively to recruit and retain IRT Scholars at your institutions & beyond?
In conclusion, I would like to extend my warmest wishes and congratulations to Brittany, who will be transitioning from IRT to a new role within the higher education sector starting this month! As IRT’s Arts and Sciences Programs Specialist for the past nine years, Brittany leaves behind a legacy of advising, advocacy, and alignment, from which IRT will continue to learn and grow. I feel fortunate to have collaborated with Brittany, both as a higher education partner and as part of the IRT staff. Her ability to see both the broader landscape and the finer details of the transformative work at IRT is truly her superpower. Brittany’s new role will enable her to continue addressing her growing edges with care, courage, and compassion. Brittany, we will always be cheering for your success and impact!
Malama pono (take good care),
Catherine Wong
IRT Associate Director and Manager of Programs
Institute for Recruitment of Teachers 