College Hosts GEAR UP Partnership Meeting
(Press Release 09-29-08)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

Submitted story and photo

More than 55 representatives from GEAR UP partner schools, Eastern Oklahoma State College administration and GEAR UP staff met at Eastern’s Wilburton campus for a GEAR UP a Brighter Tomorrow Partnership meeting recently.

The Eastern GEAR UP six–year grant is in the third year of implementation and now serves 23 schools in southeastern Oklahoma.      

Eastern President Dr. Steve Smith welcomed the attendees and GEAR UP Project Director Linda Morgan introduced special guests including Eastern Grants Manager Debbie McIntyre, Vice President of Student Affairs Leah McLaughlin and Director of Development/Alumni Relations Ann Owens.      

Morgan reviewed the objectives of the grant and the first two years of partnership including GEAR UP–sponsored tutoring, field trips, summer camps, the Career & College Tour; implementation of okcollegestart, distribution of calculators to “Algebra Ready” GEAR UP students, academic incentives and more.      

“Teachers are the backbone of the education system,” Morgan said. “GEAR UP is providing opportunities for them so we may invest in all students.”      

Professional development workshops sponsored by GEAR UP have included NASA training, FISH! for Schools, a Ruby Payne workshop, SkillsTutor workshops, a Texas Instruments workshop and Love & Logic^®.      

Schools have received over $7,000 in technology through the GEAR UP grant.      

“We are excited about this year,” added Morgan. “The GEAR UP staff is anxious to work with students, teachers and administrators to make this year the best yet!”      

The grant is currently serving 8^th and 9^th grade students at Antlers, Bokoshe, Buffalo Valley, Canadian, Clayton, Crowder, Indianola, Keota, Kiowa, LeFlore, McCurtain, Moyers, Panola, Pittsburg, Quinton, Red Oak, Whitesboro and Wilburton Public Schools. The grant is serving 9^th grade students at Haileyville, Hartshorne, McAlester, Rattan and Talihina.     

Caption information:  

LeFlore County Representatives— Front row: Celia Abernathy, Bokoshe Public Schools; Dara Ward, GEAR UP Education Coordinator; Julie McClain, Talihina Public Schools. Back Row: Dennis Hensley, LeFlore Public Schools; Dennis Shoup, Bokoshe Public Schools; Robert Perryman, Talihina Public Schools; John Turner, Whitesboro Pubic Schools and Cory Wood, LeFlore Public Schools.    

Pushmataha County Representatives— Front Row: Lawanda Vaughn, Moyers Public Schools; Donna Dudley, Moyers Public Schools and Marcia Armstrong, Moyers Public Schools. Back Row: LaDonna Baldwin, GEAR UP Education Coordinator; Pam Matthews, Antlers Public Schools; Judd Matthes, Clayton Public Schools and Bruce Lawless, Rattan Public Schools.  

Haskell County Representatives— Joni Shaw, Keota Public Schools; Terry Shaw, Keota Public Schools; Perry Arnwine, McCurtain Public Schools; Becky Bryant, McCurtain Public Schools and Dara Ward, GEAR UP Education Coordinator.

Latimer County Representatives— Front Row: Brenda Deatherage, Red Oak Public Schools; Fenessa Little, GEAR UP Education Coordinator; Cherish Marshall, Wilburton Public Schools; JoLynne Deaver, Panola Public Schools and LaDonna Baldwin, GEAR UP Education Coordinator. Back Row: Buddy Enis, Wilburton Public Schools; Jerry Mathews, Buffalo Valley Public Schools; Bryan Deatherage, Red Oak Public Schools; Gary Lay, Wilburton Public Schools; Harold Hayes, Buffalo Valley Public Schools and Ira Harris, Buffalo Valley Public Schools.    

Pittsburg County Representatives— Front Row: Jurean Cook, Quinton Public Schools; Carolyn Miller, Canadian Public Schools; Lori Palmer, Canadian Public Schools; Patti Tucker, Crowder Public Schools; Gina Hernandez, Indianola Public Schools; Mia Smith, McAlester Key Academy; Peggy McBeath, McAlester Public Schools and Jimmy Harwood, Pittsburg Public Schools. Second Row: Chuck Geis, McAlester Key Academy; Wade Daniel, Kiowa Public Schools; Nicole Cook, GEAR UP Education Coordinator; Lori Roberts, GEAR UP Education Coordinator and Cecil Hallmark, Haileyville Public Schools. Back Row: Paul Ogden, Quinton Public Schools; Robert Florenzano, Crowder Public Schools; Gary Walden, Kiowa Public Schools; Randall Peters, McAlester Public Schools; Mark Ichord, Hartshorne Public Schools; Jennifer Hunt, Hartshorne Public Schools and John Bernardi, Hartshorne Public Schools.