On April 21st, Roosevelt Harris and Timmy Chase, college and careers orientators, addressed the Rotary Club of Nashua regarding College and Career navigators. Roosevelt Harris is from Chicago and attended Colby Sawyer College, newly appointed Board of Trustee member. Timmy Chase has worked at a variety of middle schools in the area and is currently faculty at Pennichuck Middle Schools.
Timmy and Roosevelt are college and careers orientators. The work under the ‘Gear Up’ grant for helping middle schools orient towards a college attendance or career focused activity. Lots of broad exploring and review of future opportunities
Gear Up Federal and state grants are competitive to attain and last 6/7 years. Funds early intervention programs, academic prep for college education, try to increase high school graduation rates, try to clarify post high school opportunities.
Flexible counselling /activities to provide fun and engaging education about future opportunities. They also educated students on post-secondary costs of college and career training. They strongly recommend early saving and developing an education fund is good.
High School activities focus on career opportunities, resume writing/building. There are 570K students enrolled and 2954 schools across 44 states in Gear UP programs. Pennichuck has 500+ students enrolled in the program
College and Career navigator should be in each school that follows students to high school and help with readiness for college. They provide advice, guidance, remedial education for those seeking college. There are 12 different NH school districts involved with Gear UP. There are about 4000 students in middle schools in the Gear Up programs. They use tip sheets, quarterly newsletters, caregiver advice and focus groups.
The measure success by comparing goals to outcomes. Try to increase math skills, attendance, graduation rates, increase college enrollment. Academic success is measured different for middle school, early high school and later high school. How does Gear UP improve college readiness? Removes barriers and educates parents and students to the college app process. They assist in all steps involved in the college application process –PSAT/SAT prep, visit schools, processes to determine interest. These efforts also apply to helping those interested in trades-based career opportunities. Gear up follows from 6th grade up thru end of high school for the Pennichuck program.
To be eligible for Gear Up the schools much have 60% of attendees eligible for subsidized lunch
A brief Q & A followed.