Grant Team Attends Workshops
(Press Release 02-18-09)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

Submitted story and photos

Six members of the Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP for a Brighter Tomorrow team joined over 1,300 from across the nation as they attended the NCCEP/GEAR UP Capacity-Building Workshop 2009 in New Orleans, LA, February 8-12. The workshop is designed to help new and experienced GEAR UP professionals effectively meet their project goals and objectives through professional development and strategic planning activities. The Capacity-Building Workshop is coordinated by the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP) and is planned in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education.

The conference began Sunday Eastern's GEAR UP team members attended a Documenting the GEAR UP Matching Funds workshop.

NCCEP President Hector Garza and NCCEP Executive Vice President Betty Paugh Ortiz addressed the audience throughout the conference. Attendees from across the nation meet to hone their grant implementation practices. In addition to the numerous workshops, opportunities were available for networking with colleagues. Louisiana Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu welcomed the group during the opening session.

The team attended various workshop tracks including GEAR UP Grant Administration: Strategies for Building Stronger GEAR UP Projects; Parent and Family Involvement; and Getting Your GEAR UP Students to College: Understanding Admissions & Financial Aid. Afternoons were spent attending various seminars including Innovative Ways to Meet and Document the Match; Parent Engagement; Tutoring and Mentoring Programs; GEAR UP Logistics: The Where, How, What, and Who; Getting the Buy-In of School Staff; and Beyond Academics: Meeting Student and Family Needs.

The team also attended Experiential Training 101; Financial Literacy; 16 Summers; The Case for a Case-Managed Approach: Ingredients, Implementation, and Impact; and Don't Recreate the Wheel--Beg, Borrow and Steal from Your Colleagues.

Eastern GEAR UP Project Director Linda Morgan co-presented the "Don't Recreate the Wheel. . ." workshop with Eric Batten, Implementation Manager, Systemic Interventions, Texas Instruments, Inc. Morgan also attended a mandatory meeting of all GEAR UP Project Directors with the U.S. Department of Education Program Officers.

"I really enjoyed the conference," said GEAR UP Education Coordinator Michelle Whitecotton. "I learned a lot about the responsibilities of grant administration and about the wonderful opportunities provided by GEAR UP from those who have been directly involved in the program."

Eastern Oklahoma State College received a $6.7 million federal GEAR UP grant and is in its third year of implementation. Eastern has partnered with 23 area schools to provide students with additional educational opportunities.

GEAR UP Staff Photo Caption info:

Left to Right: Education Coordinator Michelle Whitecotton, Education Coordinator LaDonna Baldwin, Education Coordinator Dara Ward, Education Coordinator Fenessa Little, Project Assistant Helen Scott, and Project Director Linda Morgan.

Members of the Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP for a Brighter Tomorrow team recently attended the 2009 NCCEP/GEAR UP Capacity-Building Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Morgan Presents Workshop at 2009 NCCEP/GEAR UP Capacity Building Conference

Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP for a Brighter Tomorrow Project Director Linda Morgan presented a "How-To" workshop at the 2009 NCCEP/GEAR UP Capacity-Building Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. Morgan co-presented with Eric Batten, Implementation Manager, Systemic Interventions, Texas Instruments, Inc., Education Technology. The workshop, "Don't Recreate the Wheel--Beg, Borrow and Steal from Your Colleagues" provided information about capturing and documenting In-Kind Match and tracking student, parent, and teacher activities.