We are excited to announce that the2023 IRT Cohort has been finalized and programming has begun! Working with a new group of scholars is always exciting and this year is no exception. We welcome those scholars who are new to IRT in 2023 and welcome back our seasoned scholars who are working with IRT again to further advance their academic opportunities.
I am writing to express my gratitude and excitement for being selected to participate in the 2023 IRT Cohort. I am honored to have been given this opportunity to receive support and guidance as I pursue advanced study and work towards addressing social justice issues in education and beyond.
Since 1990, over 400 alumni have secured doctoral degrees, and over 1,000 have earned Master’s degrees, through the IRT. The program is able to advance this critical work and guide its talented scholars thanks to donor support—contributions from its alumni, partners, and friends. Please consider making a gift to the IRT this fiscal year, ending June 30, and impact the next generation of diverse educators. Your gift—of any size—truly makes a difference. To make a donation, please use the QR code below or visit this link. Thank you!
IRT Arts & Sciences Specialist Brittany Zorn, IRT ’13 and Education Specialist Leislie Godo-Solo, IRT ’91 share their thoughts with IRT Scholars.
The first couple months of the New Year is always my favorite time of year- and no, it’s not because I’m an Aquarius Sun or because New England winters are the prettiest of anywhere (ok not JUST because of these things). The start of the New Year is my favorite time of year because it is admissions season!
For IRT scholars, the first six months of their IRT engagement is rigorous and time consuming; conducting school list research, making connections with graduate school folks, curating application materials, and crafting close to a dozen quality statements of purpose keeps scholars busy from June through December. Admissions season is the time when all that hard work pays off and scholars begin to see the fruits of their labor in the form of invitations to interview or visit campus and offers of admission. It’s always a season of some uncertainty and great celebration. The shock, joy, and relief that students often feel when the offers (and the dollars!) start to roll in is something I am grateful to share in each year.
While admissions season brings lots of exciting news, it also comes with a new set of stressors. Through the pre-application season, scholars are often most concerned with packaging themselves legibly to graduate programs- the emphasis is always on the scholar seeking approval (admission) from these graduate programs- but the post-application season introduces a new dynamic. Once an offer has been extended the power of approval (accepting an offer or not) is shifted into the hands of the scholar. After months of scrutinizing program websites, scouring faculty profiles, and drawing insight from one-to-one conversations so that they might be judged worthy of entry into a program, scholars are now faced with determining whether these institutions are in fact worthy of THEM.
We extend heartfelt thanks to the many members of the IRT donor community who continue to advance this critical work through their annual gift. Our program is possible because of your support! For the past several years, PA Giving Day has served as an exciting and powerful day for the IRT, and we are excited to continue this momentum! Several members of the IRT Advisory Board are offering match funds to inspire participation. Every one of the first 79 gifts to the program, regardless of size, will be matched with a $1,000 gift, unlocking up to $79,000 in funds for the IRT!
Please help us to ensure success on Giving Day. The official event runs from 9am EDT on March 29th to 12pm EDT on March 30th, but you can help jump start this amazing day and make your gift now; simply select “IRT” from the “Designation” drop-down menu.
Hello esteemed IRT alums! Now that I have your attention! Are you looking for part-time Summer employment that aligns with your commitment to teach and lead for justice? Are you in search of a community that values a sense of belonging and is eager for you to share your wisdom while at the same time giving you opportunities to grow and innovate your teaching skills. Well you have come to the right place!
We are currently seeking IRT Summer Workshop faculty to teach in our IRT 2023 Workshop. This year’s workshop will be facilitated virtually so that all scholars, no matter where they live in the United States, can participate and engage with the curriculum materials as well as meet with IRT alums and Consortium partners. Our workshop sessions will be highly interactive and engaging as we seek to support and prepare the next generation of diverse educators to teach and lead in PK-12 through higher education.
Please consider submitting an application or pass this onto a fellow IRT alum. Many thanks! Applications are due March 17, 2023.
Institute for Recruitment of Teachers 
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