“We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” — MLK “The Purpose of Education,” 1947
Happy New Year, IRT Community!
As we head into the depths of winter, the IRT staff is hard at work supporting our scholars. This fall was a difficult one, as many scholars navigated program changes and ultimately submitted their applications. We are continually grateful for our broader IRT community – our Consortium partners, alumni who advise scholars through SOP advising, and friends of the program who support our work. Our Scholars worked to complete their applications by the December 15 deadline, and many are now hearing back about interviews. We are proud of all our scholars for embarking on this process during such a difficult time.
I also want to highlight our alumni community during this time. Beyond their innovative courses in the Summer Workshop, many have joined us throughout the curriculum to support students through alumni panels, webinars, and events for the current cohort. I am incredibly grateful for their wisdom, candor, and dedication to fulfilling IRT’s mission wherever they are. In the last few months, we joined them at a community gathering to discuss the importance of giving, as we aim to reach at least 25% participation in giving within our alumni community.
The IRT saying goes, “As one application portal closes, another one opens,” and our current IRT application is now open to interested participants. We encourage those who wish to apply to the IRT to visit our website, where they can find the prospective essay questions, frequently asked questions, and application resources. We also encourage prospective scholars to reach out to our office with any questions. Our deadline will be March 1, 2026 with no exceptions. While we may not know what will happen in the future regarding higher education and education more broadly, we relish the opportunity to work on these endeavors together in community.
A New Year’s Resolution
In the spirit of the new year, one of my personal resolutions is to read more. My best friend and I started a mini book club where we read one per newsletter and discuss it together. I would like to extend that same opportunity to the IRT community – and read a book a month written by an IRT alum.
Our first book was referenced multiple times in prospective applications as a canonical text. Throughout many scholar conversations, Dr. Monica Muñoz Martinez’s The Injustice Never Leaves You emerged as a text that shaped our scholars’ interest and their journeys into their respective fields. I have not had the privilege of reading this text yet and am incredibly excited to learn more about this topic, considering the urgent and pressing issues of today.
I hope you consider joining me in reading this book!
Best,
LaShawnda Brooks
Executive Director, IRT
Institute for Recruitment of Teachers 