Orlando, Florida was the site of the 2020 NCCEP/GEAR UP Capacity Building Workshop. Five members of the Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP team joined more than 1,300 GEAR UP professionals from across the nation at the workshop designed to help new and experienced GEAR UP professionals effectively meet their project goals and objectives through professional development and strategic planning activities. The workshop is coordinated by the NCCEP (National Council for Community and Education Partnerships) and is planned in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education.

The workshops are built on key strategies organized around professional learning, and they are designed to develop the skills, knowledge and practices of GEAR UP leaders, practitioners and partners. Each element of the conference is aimed to ensure that GEAR UP professionals receive training and resources aligned to help advance the program’s success. Team members attended various workshops ranging from GEAR UP data and evaluation, college readiness, preparing students for success, parent engagement, and new ideas to engage students for success.

Area superintendents, Jeanette Smith (Eufaula) and Dr. Don Sjoberg (Poteau), attended the District Leadership Institute, an innovative program for the GEAR UP community that seeks to maximize the talent and leadership skills of district leaders serving GEAR UP students.

The trip was part of ongoing professional development provided to employees and stakeholders of Eastern Oklahoma State College’s GEAR UP—Ignite Belief grant. Eastern received a $17 million federal GEAR UP grant in 2017 and will serve more than 3,000 students in 39 area schools for seven years.