If you know me, you know that I end every discussion or presentation with, “Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!” I am a huge believer in the power and influence of social media, especially within our GEAR UP community. Before we faced this current health crisis, much of my time, personally and professionally, was dedicated to building up our GEAR UP community online and building up your toolkits to engage online successfully. Social media has the power to move mountains and can be a key…

It’s almost spring, bees are buzzing, birds are chirping, and we are all likely Zooming. Can you think of any other season like the one that we are experiencing? This new season, of re-imagining student engagement, re-establishing our professional norms, and re-working practices that we have used for years is a challenging one. As we tackle these challenges, we must remember that the skills we developed as coordinators are always in season.

I joined a GEAR UP team of determined, scrappy, and…

You might be like me, constantly searching online for keywords like “community updates”, “engaging with students online”, or “how to stay sane while working from home.” Working from home under our current conditions is a new and often uncomfortable reality. Add to that, many others are working from home, most of the students we serve are staying home, and the families we serve are struggling through this time. Given all of this, finding the right resources online can be daunting. There is an…

President Trump recently announced social distancing guidelines being extended until April 30^th. Although many anticipated this happening, hearing a formal, nation-wide announcement solidified our new reality. I shared the news with my three children, 10, 8, and 5.

Later that night, my son was struggling emotionally. He didn’t understand why. He hadn’t yet realized the implications of his current and future environment. We sat and shared about what we were feeling, what we can do to help each…

The saying “It takes a village” truly captures the essence of what family engagement in education requires.  

In my case, growing up in Puerto Rico, it was more than my parents, siblings, and grandparents.  My village included godparents, neighbors, and friends, all of whom played an active role in my education and formation.

Today, inspired by my family’s growth and the next generation, I am actively involved in the development of my nephews and nieces – and their children.  So far, I…

As I began writing about the critical information for seniors that I believe is of value at this crucial time, I could not help but first think about what it must feel like to BE a GEAR UP senior right now.

That was me during my senior year of high school, and if all of this was going on, then, as it is now, I might have been thinking:

 What exactly is social distancing? And how am I supposed to navigate the final steps of the college application process? Where am I going to find the money to…

I am not going to lie; I thrive on taking care of others and I do so over me.  The notion of prioritizing me over others is hard.  That is true of so many in our GEAR UP community.  You make your students, colleagues, and community a priority.

But, in this unique (and bizarre) period, we must pause to care for ourselves as well, if for no other reason, so that we can continue helping others.

So, what could self-care look like for us as we practice social distancing, cooped up in our homes?

1. Set…

Things are not-business-as-usual right now at work, at home, and in our day-to-day lives as we cope with the global pandemic of COVID-19. Teleworking and social distancing have created new challenges for us in the different parts of our lives and as we each find our way, here are three tips that may help toward easing this transition:

1. Establishing organization and set boundaries: when teleworking, flexibility is key. Take time to figure out how your day is going to look: think about your…

The Study Lab is a new feature to our community, offered by NCCEP, to build on your professional skills throughout the year so you have the tools you need to better serve our students and families. The Study Lab has a wide array of content spanning various  GEAR UP job roles that will help build up our community from within. 

The Study Lab was created in collaboration with GEAR UP professionals, for GEAR UP professionals. Learn more about how we developed this new program here.

We are incredibly…