GEAR UP Mississippi

GEAR UP

• G- gaining • E-early • A-awareness• R-readiness

• U-undergraduate• P-programs

About GEAR UPThe GEAR UP program was enacted in 1998. It is funded primarily through a grant from the United States Department of Education.

GEAR UP MS is a collaborative effort of the Mississippi Institution of Higher Learning, the MS State Board for Community and Junior Colleges and the MS Department of Education.

The Partnerships provide: information on college prep, financial aid, mentoring, tutorial services, and access to scholarship opportunities.

The GEAR UP Mission

Actively encourage students to set high academic expectations, stay in school, study hard and take courses that will prepare them

to enter and succeed in college.

GEAR UP MS serves approximately 40 schools in 20 districts across MS.

The National GEAR UP project has served over 2.7 million students and distributed over 1.7 billion dollars nation wide.

This effort is given in order to decrease drop out rates among middle school and high school students, and increase post secondary education rate.

GEAR UP MS Staff

• State Director: Nira Coleman-Johnson• Associate Director: Juanester Colbert Russell• Special Projects Director: Lashanda Colbert• Evaluation & Compliance: Mary Grant Lee• Fiscal Coordinator: Charlotte Tanner• YAC Coordinator: Briana Thompson• Mentor Coordinator: Marlow Butler• Administrative Asst.: Pat Shines• College Coaches

College Coaches

An integral part of GEAR UP would include the college coaches. Each GEAR UP school is assigned a college coach.College coaches are the recognizable faces of GEAR UP.

Coaches provide services within the school such as: ACT prep, student advisor on college requirements, presentations , and act as an overall “go to “ person for students, parents, and teachers.

The Mission:As a college coach we are to communicate the vision of GEAR UP. Coaches work to improve graduation rates and promote post secondary education for all students.

What can GEAR UP offer your School?

• GEAR UP MS provides long term mentoring over a six year period, helping students stay on track for college and often providing scholarships when they reach college.

Services Include:

Family and Community Outreach Gear Up NewslettersTutoring and Mentoring Scholarship

OpportunitiesACT Testing Duel College EnrollmentSummer Enrichment Academies College ToursExposure to Cultural Events Youth Advisory

Committee

Other Projects that make GEAR UP Successful

ACT Explore: This year all 8th grade students were given the ACT Explore

test. (10th grade ACT Plan; 12th grade ACT)College Goal Sunday:

On February 26, GEAR UP will sponsor a day when Senior students in MS can come and receive help filling out the FAFSA.

College Coach Presentations:7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, How To Get The Most Out of

High School, Study Skills, and Parent Academies.

GEAR UP Summer Academies

• Each summer GEAR UP provides free summer academies for students from each GEAR UP school. Academies this year focused on Math, and Biology.

College Hosts: Alcorn, MS Valley, Ole Miss, Southern MS, Museum of Natural Science

Who Needs to be on Board?• Superintendent…………….

• Principal……………………….

• Site Coordinator………….

• YAC Coordinator………….

Provides support to schools

Oversee maintenance and communication

Implements action plan, submits documents, etc.

Sponsor for student led club

College Tours

William Carey College

YAC

www.gearupms.org