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A Year for the Books
What a ride 2022 has been! I have learned so much this year, more than I probably have since I was a student.
In late 2021, we formed IPS with the fundamental understanding that creating a new type of trade school would be a heavy lift. Yet I was filled with both humble confidence and intense optimism about what we would accomplish. We faced road bumps just as you would with any new enterprise so that confidence was sorely tested many times.
There were moments where I wondered how we were going to get the pilot program off the ground because of challenges with timing, staffing or student recruitment. We thankfully expanded our team and together we kept up our efforts, adjusting when necessary and asking for help, which we thankfully received from supporters and community partners. Throughout 2022, I kept learning some valuable lessons – for example, pivoting can often yield great results and trusting the process is key! I am so glad we pushed through. IPS is truly better as a result and we are more confident than ever about our approach for our first full-year program.
Speaking of that, I’m excited to share some exciting news about our 2023-24 plans. IPS will offer admission to students from the ages of 21-36 who seek training in two disciplines: carpentry and woodworking. Both programs will be supported by trade and behavioral teachers as well as therapy staff. This is a deliberate change from our previous plan to admit students ages 18-30 for carpentry training. The pilot taught us not only that we have the ability to differentiate our curriculum but that we could also offer admission for two related programs to bring in young people who demonstrate more ability in one area versus another.
Secondly, we want to welcome more students who may not have found career training opportunities in their early adulthood or perhaps lost jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic. Our team believes that students who attend a post-secondary/independent living program or participate in workplace training after high school are best prepared for IPS. We are extending our age cap to 36 based upon similar programs that focus on young adults seeking career training. Please look out for more detailed information this winter about our programs and 2023-24 application.
As you can tell, IPS has many good things in store for 2023! We still need your support so please consider making a year-end donation. We truly appreciate your continued support as it enables all of us here at IPS – our team, future students and me! – to keep learning! Sending you all our best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and year ahead!
— Naina Narayana Chernoff, CEO
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