College GEAR UP Team Attends National Conference
(Press Release 08-13-07)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

Submitted story & photo

Members of the Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP for a Brighter Tomorrow team recently attended the NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference 2007--GEAR UP: Leading the Way in College Access and Ensuring a Competitive Workforce--in San Francisco, California.

The event provided participants with an opportunity to look to the future by assessing the program's performance, refining strategies, and infusing new practices to make programs even better. The conference program highlighted the vital role, function, and vision of the GEAR UP initiative: to improve the quality of secondary public education for low-income students; to enhance the likelihood of their success in college; and to strengthen the global competitiveness of the nation.

Participants attended concurrent sessions and plenary sessions. Speakers included Coach Ken Carter, Rumble Head Coach for Slam Ball and previous Head Coach for Richmond High School; Hector Garza, founding president of the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP); Sir Ken Robinson, an internationally-recognized leader in the development of creativity, innovation and human resources; The Honorable Sara Martinez Tucker, undersecretary of education, the Department's third-ranking official; and Joseph Suarez, Director of Community Relations for the global management and technology firm, Booz Allen Hamilton.

Team members attended breakout sessions including Core Academic Support: Math, Science and Reading/Literacy; Kaplan K12 Learning Systems; PCS Edventures and SunDogs Environmental; Increasing Academic Rigor through Challenge Games and Experiential Development; An Effective Model for Increasing Counseling Services in Schools with At-Risk Students; Showing the Way to College Access: GO Centers, Summer Camps, and Adopt-A-School Initiatives; Small Schools, Gates and GEAR UP: How GEAR UP, School and Grant Program Collaboration Impact Academic Support and College Preparation; Leadership for School Improvement: A Formula for Success; Enhancing Student Success through Parental Involvement and Student Driven Life Plans; Documenting the Match; The Mentoring Perspective; Learn More Now, Do More Now, Earn More Later Student Credentialing System; Strengthening Academics through Character Education; Changing the Delivery and Application of Professional Development; Keeping Your Sanity--Confronting Common Challenges in Generating the APR; Internal Controls to Evaluate Adequacy and Effectiveness of the GEAR UP Program; Jigsaw: Putting the Pieces Together for College; iLead--College and Career Camps; and Professional Development: Teachers Need GEARing UP Too!

"It was a wonderful conference," said Eastern GEAR UP Project Director Linda Morgan. "There were over 1,000 GEAR UP grantees from across the nation. The level of networking was tremendous. It was a great time to visit with others about their programs and get ideas."

Eastern Oklahoma State College received a $6.7 million federal GEAR UP grant and is in its second year of implementation. Eastern has partnered with 19 area schools to provide students with additional educational opportunities.

Caption info:

GEAR UP for a Brighter Tomorrow team members attending include from left:
Education Coordinator for McAlester Nicole Cook, Professional Development Coordinator for McAlester Lorrie Russ, Development Coordinator for Wilburton Ramona Buckner, Education Coordinator for McCurtain Dara Ward, Project Director Linda Morgan, Education Coordinator for Panola Fenessa Little and Professional Education Coordinator for Antlers LaDonna Baldwin.