“Take Action at Your Campus: GEAR UP
for Action Council Student Directors”
The University of Texas – Pan American
GEAR UP Project
Monday, July 20, 2-3:15pm
UTPA GEAR UP Overview
 Centralized University GEAR UP Staff
 22 GEAR UP Coordinators
 22 GEAR UP Family Liaisons
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 22 High Schools
 8,950 Students
Quick Facts on Region
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4 of the poorest counties in nation
90% Hispanic
80% Speak language other than English
25% Foreign born, primarily from Mexico
38% Live in extreme poverty
53% of adults have H.S. diploma
 10% of adults are college graduates
5 Grant Components
 Academic Preparation
 Academic Preparation Support Services
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Career Exploration
Job Shadowing
Leadership Development
Cultural Awareness
Community Service
 Family and Community Outreach
 Professional Development
 Higher Education Collaborative
UTPA GEAR UP Action Council
Leadership Development
Action Council Objective
Leadership Development - The University of
Texas - Pan American GEAR UP Program is
committed to provide opportunities to enhance
leadership skills by developing action plans to
improve current conditions / situations.
• UTPA GEAR UP Action Council
– Launched school year 2007-2008
• Vision of the Action Council
• Recruitment of Directors to support the following areas:
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Academic Support
Community Service
Parental Involvement
Careers and Community
College Connection
• Guidance
– Centralized level
– Campus level
Who are these Action Council members?
• Active group of students that are self motivated and
driven to help develop and nurture a college going culture
• Commitment to peers, community and their academics
• Team sets goals to make a difference
• Initiative in order to produce and show results
• Outspoken to promote the GEAR UP objective
• Networking working with peers, parents, teachers,
administrators and community members to enrich the
mission of GEAR UP!
UTPA GEAR UP Action Council Model
UTPA GEAR UP
Project
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What makes an Action Council and how
do we get started?
UTPA GEAR UP
Campus
Coordinator
Director of
Community Service
Director of
Parental Involvement
Director of
College Connection
Director of
Careers & Community
Director of
Academic Support
Co-Director
Co-Director
Co-Director
Co-Director
Co-Director
Getting Started…
• Advertise (posters,
announcements)
• Meeting with Gear Up
Students
- 5 Committees
- responsibilities of A.C.
Directors
• students nominate
• votes are counted
develop leadership skills
enhance social skills and self esteem
learn teamwork & networking skills
Choosing the Appropriate Student Leaders
Available
Dependable
Hard-working
Motivated
The Roles and Responsibilities of the
Directors
Serving as a Role Model
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Active Involvement:
* Being academically responsible
* Participate in extra curricular
activities
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Skills:
* Leadership Skills
* Time management
* Collaboration/Team Effort
* Responsibility
* Academic: Peer tutoring
Building Leadership Skills
• Camp of Champs
(Confidence, Honesty, Action,
Motivation, Purpose, and
Success)
• We learned:
1) self-confidence
2) daily action towards our
goals and dreams
3) stay motivated
4) make a difference in the
lives of others
• DIRECTORS:
meet once a week
• Gear Up Office Visit
Action Council Board
Directors’ Communication Log
• Committee:
5or more members
Meet 2x a month
Connect and Educate WEHS GearUp Students to
college and other post secondary education.
Director Involvement
Activities of Action Council
• Gear Up Coordinator
• Calendar of Activities
• UTPA Gear Up Staff
• Gear Up Services
• Needs (Students to be
served)
Working With Others
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Mission & Objectives of the Gear Up Project
Best- for students & parents
Brainstorm ideas
Democracy system
Teamwork
Supporting GEAR UP
at Weslaco East High School
Giving Back to the
Community
RIO REFORESTATION
GEAR UP students help plant
trees and shrubs on one of the
many tracts of the Lower Rio
Grande Valley region
MILITARY SERVICE
PROJECT
GEAR UP students collect items
to donate for care packages to be
sent to troops
We Support Our Troops
 Collaborate with S.S.
teachers
 Flyers & Posters
 Address of troops:
www.anymarine.com
Contact us
Where to send
What to send
how to send
Post Office
1800-610-8734
Custodian
Appreciation
• Week of Activities:
• Monday- Banner
• Tuesday- Thank you
cards
• Wednesday- Luncheon
• Thursday- Gift Baskets
• Friday- Chocolates
Providing Support on Campus
We Support Our
Teachers
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Teachers’ Survival Kit
pencil- to help us write our future
toothpick - to help you "pick" out the good
qualities in your students & yourself
crayon - to color your day bright and cheer you up
candle - when you're up late grading papers
eraser - to remind you everyone makes mistakes
rubberband - to remind you to be flexible
Lifesaver candy - you are a lifesaver to many of your students
paperclip - to hold it all together
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Monthly (mailbox)
Mint candy- “You “mint” a lot to us. Thank you for helping us
GEAR UP for College!
Cultivating Grant Services
• 1st Friday of the month
• Lunch hour
• Collaborate with Coordinator
• Gear Up Services
* Leadership Development
* Virtual College tour
• Advertise event to students
• Snacks
We Support Our Principal
AND our Peers
• Principal
*Door: “Our Principal graduated
from HOPE College”
* Cake
• Students
* Birthday cards
* 7 Habits of Highly Effective
Teens Book
* Graduation pen
• Motivational Banners Displayed
(State Mandated Test)
*TAKS- Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills
* Ex: Ace the TAKS
• College Alphabet Posters
* See samples
Assisting During
Monthly Parent Meetings
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Distribute flyers & banners
Help set up
Assist in presentation
Clean up
Translate
Action Council Appreciation
• Brownie Points Day
* once a month
• Action Council Night Out
* Educational field trip
* Team building activity
• End-of-the Year Celebration
UTPA GEAR UP Student Conference
Video
2009 Weslaco East High School
Parent/Student Conference
Benefits of
Campus - Wide Conference
 Allows students & parents to
network with professionals
• Workshops:
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Financial aid
Scholarship opportunities
Testing
Concurrent enrollment
Post secondary education
options
• Intervention for students who are
struggling in high school
Timeline
•
4 months before
eventSet date & time
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3 months before
Recruit guest speakers
Prepare “list of questions to ask
guest speakers”
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2 months before
Finalize guest speaker list (Contact info)
Designate a “Check-In” room
Talk to teachers & students
One month prior to the event…
Send reminder letters or emails to guest speakers
1. Driving directions to school
2. Schedule for the day
3. List of questions students might ask
4. Confirmation of equipment needs
Organize “Passports” & Handbook
Create centerpieces, decors, flyers
Prepare requisitions; Request donations (food)
Promoting the Conference…
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Posters
Mail out invitation to parents
Coordinator- class
Email parents & students
Text messages to students
Calling tree for parents
(Platicadoras)
 Morning & afternoon
announcements
 Media advertisement
The day before…
– Remind students about
Parent/Student Conference
(time; assigned tasks,
questions, etc.)
– Set up rooms (décor, ppt
equipment)
– Laptops & LCDs
– Hospitality Room
– Email guest speakers
Day of the Event…
 Remind students about Conference
 Assist Guest Speakers
 Late Arrivals or No Shows:
(back up speakers; post a sign on the door)
 Assist parents to sessions
 Serve food
 Event Evaluations
Weslaco East High School
Student/Parent Conference Schedule
5:00 Presenters Arrive & Setup
5:10 Action Council Students perform assigned
tasks (Ex: Sign in sheets)
5:30 Everyone at the Cafeteria for
opening session
6:00 Students & Parents report to
sessions
8:00 Closing session: Cafeteria
Guest Speaker Packet
– Itinerary
– School Map
– Schedule of sessions
– Conference evaluation
(Provides valuable
feedback)
– Certificate of
Appreciation
Details…details…
• Hospitality Room for guest speakers
• Action Council students escort guest speakers to rooms
• Action Council Directors read a bio and introduce guest
speakers @ the beginning of each session
• Action Council students in “Kiddie College Day Care”
• Presentation
• Roles/Responsibilities of Action Council Directors
• Calendar of activities
• Student/Parent Conference templates:
- letter of invitation to parents
- guest speakers
- list of suggested questions
• Military Service templates
- flyer
- point system
WESLACO EAST Student Services
Academic Summer School
80
Career Exploration
520
Character / Cultural Events
528
College Visits
396
Community Outreach
379
Computer Assisted Lab
528
Counseling/Advising
528
Educational Field Trips
226
Job site visits
207
Leadership Development
411
Mentoring
528
Summer Camps
49
Testing
528
TI NAVIGATOR
313
Tutoring
430
Computer usage (Projects/Assignments)
528
Vernier Usage
513
Workshops/Conferences/Seminars
503
Carnegie
527
SureScore STAR
528
Campus
Cohort:
411
The University of Texas-Pan American
GEAR UP Project
1201 West University Drive
Edinburg, Texas 78541-2999
Office: (956) 292-7501
Fax: (956) 292-7503
http://www.panam.edu/dept/gearup
WESLACO EAST HIGH SCHOOL
Weslaco Independent School District
Ms. Susan Peterson (Principal)
Cynthia F. Cid (GEAR UP Coordinator)
956.969.6950 x 337 ccid@wisd.us