SOPA – Institute for Recruitment of Teachers

Reflections on Growth and Transformation

As our IRT Cohort wrapped up their graduate school applications, we came together for our third IRTA meeting to celebrate how far each scholar has come. I designed a four-quadrant reflection activity that asked them to explore the wisdom they’d reclaimed, the resistance they’d pushed through, the relationships they’d built, and the uncertainties they’d learned to navigate. What unfolded was a powerful portrait of collective growth, individual transformation, and mentorship as a practice of reciprocity.

Discovering Worth: From Doubt to Recognition

One of the most striking revelations across the cohort was the journey from self-doubt to self-recognition. Many scholars entered the process underestimating the value of their own experiences, whether due to imposter syndrome, unfamiliar academic contexts, or comparison with traditional paths.

“I thought it would be seen as a ‘burden’ or reason that schools may not see me as a good candidate,” shared one parent scholar in our cohort, speaking about balancing family responsibilities with academic aspirations. Through the statement of purpose advisor (SOPA) process, they learned to reframe this not as a liability but as evidence of resilience and commitment.

Another scholar, who had spent years in community-based work rather than traditional research settings, initially worried about their unconventional background: “I thought that me working at the Y wasn’t as valuable as being published, having a research background, or interning at a fancy firm.” Their SOPA helped them recognize that direct community engagement offered irreplaceable insights for their research.

Once IRT, always IRT.
As alumni of the Institute for Recruitment of Teachers, you know firsthand the power of community, mentorship, and shared commitment to educational equity. IRT is more than its programming, it’s a lifelong network of educators, scholars, and leaders who lift one another as we move forward in our careers.

Each summer, a new cohort of IRT Scholars arrives inspired, ambitious, and eager to learn from those who have walked this path before them. That’s where you come in.

We warmly invite IRT alumni to get involved as Summer Workshop Faculty and/or Statement of Purpose Advisors. These roles offer meaningful opportunities to reconnect with IRT, share your expertise, and make a tangible difference in the graduate journeys of emerging scholars. Whether you’re facilitating a workshop, offering thoughtful feedback on statements of purpose, or sharing lessons from your own academic and professional path. Your perspective matters! Serving in either role is also a chance to reflect, recharge, and reengage with the mission that brought us together. Many alumni have shared that returning to IRT renews their sense of purpose while strengthening the cycle of mentorship that defines our community.

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Associate Director & Manager of Programs Update, January 2026

Stay Connected. Pay It Forward. Get Involved with IRT.