Eric Solorio Academy High School a GEAR UP School and Partner
Solorio is an example of a high school that is working in near perfect sync with Chicago GEAR UP. Tricia Rosado, Area Manager says that it is difficult to say which service GEAR UP or the school is offering because the partnership is so well blended that it becomes a team process. This is good news for the students at Solorio who benefit from programs that are seamlessly integrated into their school experience.
Solorio Student Advocate Michelle Delgado
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Solorio Student Advocate Wesley Delgado
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Near peer mentors is a strategy that GEAR UP is employing to work more effectively with students. Recent GEAR UP grads, now college students, work with the current GEAR UP cohort to deliver college prep services. Many of these near peer mentors actually attended the high school they are now working at through GEAR UP. The result: these college students can relate easily to the experiences their young adult peers are experiencing. They know the road blocks, and they've all experienced both failures and successes, and they're happy to share their wisdom.
Using as their inspiration quotes posted all around the school, GEAR UP staff choose their favorites and then explain during a staff development session how that quote inspires them. Michelle Delgado says that she changed majors several times and as a result won't graduate from college at the same time as her friends, but she says, it's never too late. Wesley goes to a community college, which he says some people might think isn't as good as a four year college, but he sees it differently. He finds that the community college is meeting his needs.
Using as their inspiration quotes posted all around the school, GEAR UP staff choose their favorites and then explain during a staff development session how that quote inspires them. Michelle Delgado says that she changed majors several times and as a result won't graduate from college at the same time as her friends, but she says, it's never too late. Wesley goes to a community college, which he says some people might think isn't as good as a four year college, but he sees it differently. He finds that the community college is meeting his needs.
Professional Development on College Fit
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Parent Advocates Welcome Parents to the School
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Roosevelt High School and New Principal Daniel Kramer
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With a new principal on board at Roosevelt High School, the Chicago GEAR UP team use their meeting time with the Principal Kramer to review services and explore ways to support the new administration in reaching the goal of getting students to college.
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Principal Kramer attends the Saturday Hexacago Advisory Group at the Center for College Access and Success that explores gaming as a way of linking informal education to classroom learning.
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