Check out our live interview recording on NCCEP's YouTube Channel:https://youtu.be/GtO1IyhfNRo

The Strategies for eLearning in Maine online resource, paid for by GEAR UP Maine, was created to be used as a textbook, to lower the learning curve and to teach those in the GEAR UP Community how to create rigorous and engaging classrooms while not causing an enormous amount of stress. Join me to hear firsthand from GEAR UP Maine’s Program Manager, Eleni Margaronis to gain insight and inspiration…

Each year, NCCEP requests GEAR UP Grant Directors to complete an Advocacy Information Survey utilizing data from their most recently submitted U.S. Department of Education (ED) Annual Performance Report (APR). Once received, we compile the submitted data, analyze it, and share it with stakeholders and Members of Congress. It’s a critical foundation of our advocacy work at NCCEP. 

Six years ago, I was given the opportunity to participate in a leadership academy for GEAR UP alumni. At this…

If you receive the NCCEP Digest, then you already know a little about former GEAR UP Professional of the Year, Willie Castrejon. Willie is a Family and Financial Aid Specialist with the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) GEAR UP and he is an all-star! He has completed 30 Study Lab courses and continues to demonstrate an infectious commitment to the GEAR UP community.

I was extremely excited when Willie agreed to an interview for the Quad Blog series. In addition to sharing his passion…

If you’re like me, you probably read about 250 to 300 words a minute, and that is good, because I am going to try to take just about 2 minutes of your time to explain the “Two-Minute Rule” of time management.

The “Two-Minute Rule” of time management was created by David Allen in his book, Getting Things Done. The rule simply states that “if you determine an action can be done in two minutes, you actually should do it right then because it’ll take you longer to organize it and review it than you…

Last month, you might recall that we launched a new blog series featuring seasoned GEAR UP practitioners (click here to read the kick-off interview with Teena O.). This month, we are excited to share an interview with the one and only Lois Bramwell‍. 

Admittedly, when the idea was shared with the NCCEP team, I was not surprised by the number of times that Lois Bramwell’s name came up. What can I tell you about one of my favorite GEAR UP champions? Lois is fierce. She is committed to her students…

You may have read in today’s Digest or on the NCCEP website that the NCCEP Board of Directors unanimously voted to cancel the 2020 NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference, scheduled for July 19-22, 2020 in Washington, D.C.  

Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, it is a decision that all of us at NCCEP strongly support, but we are still all disappointed. We spent the past year organizing an amazing program that drew upon the expertise, wisdom, and generosity of the GEAR UP community. Above all, we will…

When we first started seeing stay-at-home orders, school closures, and then school closures for the rest of the year, we all went through a roller coaster of emotions.

            What does this mean for us?

            What does this mean for our work?

            And ultimately, what does this mean for our students and families?

There were many things we suddenly had to navigate all at once:

• How do we stay safe?
• How do we stay healthy?
• How do we change how we work?
• How are our students…

Meteorologists are forecasting snow. Yes, you read that right. Some regions of the US are expecting snow—in Spring! While reading this, you may feel a strong desire to check weather.com. That’s ok. You’re doing something that we all do, you are consulting experts.

Looking to the experts is a skill that we develop almost out of instinct. We instinctively look for help, direction, solutions, and suggestions. It is what families do as they help students with schoolwork, it is what I do when I…