The Impact of IRT
IRT Scholars continue to impress me year after year. Spring is our season of buzz, when scholars reach out to share if they’ve heard back from the schools they applied to. Some navigate interviews, while others send updates on their Scholar Chat. No matter the outcome, I am consistently filled with pride.
Throughout my IRT tenure, higher education has been evolving — from the COVID-19 pandemic to attacks on diversity in education — and it has not been an easy time to stay committed to improving educational outcomes. Yet time and again, I see IRT Scholars not only working hard to submit their applications but also witnessing our alumni make a significant difference in the lives of others.
Take Dr. Stephen Zrike Jr., IRT 01’s most recent appointee as the Secretary of Education in Massachusetts. Dr. Zrike has supported IRT Scholars through webinars and the broader learning communities in Salem, Andover, Wakefield, and Holyoke, where he held various leadership roles. I am excited to see the positive impact his work will have on students across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Additionally, other alumni such as Karina Fernández, IRT ’06, Ryan Sermon, IRT ’10,’12, and Dr. Heather Moore Roberson, IRT ’07, ’10 have recently received awards for their dedication and influence in education.
The impact of our program is clear not only in our many alumni but also in our current scholars, who persevere through significant changes in higher education. Together, you all show the effect of the IRT – the ability to make meaningful change during times of transition. As I learn more about your work, I remain inspired by the opportunities now available to future learners and our communities.
P.S. – I will finish reading The Injustice Never Leaves You and share my questions in my next blog post (by Patriots’ Day, April 20). If you’ve read or are currently reading this book, feel free to send me questions or comments for our next blog post.
Best,
LaShawnda Brooks
Executive Director
Institute for Recruitment of Teachers 