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What is a GEAR UP Facilitator?
The role of the Region One GEAR UP: Bridges to the Future facilitator is to implement GEAR UP initiatives at the campus level. The GEAR UP facilitator must work closely with the campus administration and ESC staff to support Partnership goals and initiatives at the campus.
The campus facilitator must play an active role in offering teachers, students, and parents the support needed to increase student academic performance toward creating a pathway to post-secondary education. The facilitator must also play a leadership role in the initiation of creative approaches supporting the partnership goals. Through this partnership, the facilitator is afforded substantial opportunities to grow professionally and encouraged to seek innovative approaches to improve student performance.
The role of the facilitator includes but is not limited to:
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Promoting GEAR UP goals and initiatives to students, parents, and teachers through innovative approaches
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Supporting and initiating methods for improving the implementation of the GEAR UP goals and initiatives
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Conducting and supporting campus-based student activities toward meeting the goals of the grant
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Monitoring student academic progress
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Maintaining student confidentiality
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Conducting parent sessions as designated by the grant
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Coordinating project-based professional development for campus teachers
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Overseeing the campus implementation of the GEAR UP Advisory Curriculum
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Participating in academic team meetings on a weekly basis
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Conducting professional development on the TEKS
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Recruiting tutors and coordinating tutor activities
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Recruiting mentors and coordinating mentor activities
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Assisting the principal with the management of the GEAR UP campus budget
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Submitting accurate GEAR UP budget reports on designated due dates
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Submitting any documents necessary to properly process budgetary GEAR UP monies
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Reporting student, parent, and teacher activities on the GEAR UP Database, Youth Services, in a timely manner
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Securing proper and accurate documentation as required by the grant.
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Maintaining accurate and complete documentation of grant initiatives, activities, and funds
- Attending required GEAR UP meetings, including the monthly facilitator meetings, technical assistance meetings, Campus/District Leadership Team Meetings.
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{gu}
Meet Your
GEAR UP Facilitator
Click on a
High School
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2009-2010 Region One ESC GEAR UP Facilitators
Debbie Regalado {vets}
Donna ISD
Donna High School
(956) 464-1800
Debbie Regalado is a GEAR UP facilitator at Donna High School. She has dedicated her life to the students of the Donna ISD school district for the past 9 years. She was a middle school social studies teacher where she served as an Academic Team Leader, History Department Chair, SBDM committee member, Branches of Excellence Chair and teacher mentor. Ms. Regalado was awarded Teacher of the Month and Teacher of the Year by her peers for the 2000-2001 school year. She received a master’s in Bilingual/Bicultural Education and Educational Leadership in 2005 from the University of Texas Pan American. She is an advocate for public school education and believes that all her students can achieve greatness.
Personal mission statement: The 6 Ls of Life
1. Expect the best - Live!
2. See the good - Learn!
3. Learn that I can make the difference - Listen!
4. Believe - Love!
5. Take pride in what I do - Legacy!
6. Recall the joy - Laugh!
Patricia Manrique {vets}
Donna ISD
Donna High School
(956) 464-1800
Lupita Tijerina {truan}
Edcouch-Elsa ISD
Edcouch-Elsa High School
(956) 262-4731 ext. 229
Bio Coming Soon!
{cynthia} Cynthia Vasquez {en}
Edinburg CISD
Edinburg North High School
(956) 316-7654 ext. 21
Cynthia Vasquez is a GEAR UP Facilitator at Edinburg North High School in Edinburg. Ms. Vasquez has served ECISD for six years. She began teaching for Valley View Junior High as a 6th grade Speech and 7th grade English teacher. She moved to ECISD to become a CATE instructor in the areas of Career Investigations and Keyboarding/Career Awareness. Ms. Vasquez is a graduate of The University of Texas Pan American with a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications. Ms. Vasquez grew up in Edinburg and is deeply dedicated to its families and their children. Before becoming a facilitator, Ms. Vasquez served as a Gifted and Talented Enrichment teacher where she taught Creative Writing and Poetry camps during the summer breaks. She has also developed curriculum for VVISD and ECISD. Ms. Vasquez is the daughter of Joe and Mary Jane Vasquez, and the mother of Danielle Vasquez.
{sandra} Sandra Garza {en}
Edinburg CISD
Edinburg North High School
(956) 316-7654 ext. 21
Mrs. Sandra Garza, GEAR UP facilitator serves Edinburg North HS students. Mrs. Garza has 19 years of educational experience. Previously she taught with the P.S.J.A. district in the areas of physical education, health education, biology, study skills, life management skills, teen leadership, and GEAR UP Advisory. She has served as a department head, SBDM school chairperson and district co-chairperson, mentor, UIL coach, athletic coach, and the Region I Anti-Bully Task Force. She was campus “Teacher of the Year” and a nominee for Disney Teacher of the Year.
She currently serves on the Edinburg North Campus Leadership Team and as a parent SBDM member. She is very involved in the Linn-San Manuel community where she is a project leader for the 4-H club and CCD teacher. Mrs. Garza is happily married to Santana Garza and has three wonderful sons: Santana Jr., 16; Samuel, 10; and Saul, 8.
“As educators, our influence on students affects not only their lives, but also the lives of their children and their children’s children.”
Maria Elena Aguirre
Hidalgo ISD
Hidalgo Early College High School
(956) 843-3160
Bio Coming Soon!
{martin} Martin Chapa {idea}
IDEA Public Schools
IDEA College Prep (Donna)
(956) 464-0203
Martin Enrique Chapa serves as the GEAR Up facilitator at IDEA College Prep in Donna, TX. Mr. Chapa has over 14 years of experience in institutions of higher education having worked in student affairs at Texas A&I University (Now Texas A&M University Kingsville - TAMUK) from 1991-1994, the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) from 1994-1995, and most recently at the University of Texas at Austin (UT) from 1995 to 2006. Mr. Chapa worked as an Upward Bound field counselor at TAMUK and UTSA guiding and advising low income and first generation students into pursuing a college education. During his career at UT, Mr. Chapa worked in student affairs, counseling, advising and retaining college freshman and transfer students of color. Mr. Chapa was heavily involved on campus and advised two Greek organizations as well as the Latino Leadership Council and the Orange & White Ball. Mr. Chapa also served on various committees including the Cesar Chavez statue committee and he chaired the Financial Aid to Students Committee. Mr. Chapa was born and raised in Kingsville, TX and received his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from TAMUK and a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration in College/University Student Personnel from the UT.
Erica Tanguma {lav}
La Villa ISD
La Villa High School
(956)262-4715 ext. 211
Bio Coming Soon!
John Villegas {lyf}
Lyford CISD
Lyford High School
(956) 347-3909
Bio Coming Soon!
Amanda Salinas {mc}
McAllen ISD
McAllen High School
(956) 632-3100
Bio Coming Soon!
{noe} Noelia Flores {tig}
Mercedes ISD
Mercedes High School
(956) 514-2100 ext. 273
Noelia Flores is a GEAR UP Facilitator at Mercedes High School, her old high school Alma Mater and home of the Mighty Fighting Tigers. She has been employed with Mercedes ISD her entire educational career. She is a graduate of The University of Texas Pan American with a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and she holds a Master’s degree in Library Science from Sam Houston State University. Noelia’s message to her students and parents is that all students are capable of attaining their dreams with a post-secondary education. “Being a GEAR UP Facilitator allows me the opportunity to expose students to college pathways and to help prepare them for a rich college experience. I am committed to improving student achievement leading to post-secondary enrollment and success.”
Mrs. Flores indicates that one of the best parts of her job is knowing that her students understand that she is there for them. She stated that the opportunity to build relationships with her GEAR UP students and parents has been very rewarding. Mrs. Flores looks forward to witnessing the Mercedes High School Class of 2011 receive their high school diploma and college acceptance letters.
Olga Cisneros {mis}
Mission CISD
Mission High School
(956) 323-5700
Bio Coming Soon!
{jim} Jim Villarreal {mis}
Mission CISD
Mission Veterans High School
(956) 323-3000
Raised in Mission and a graduate of Mission High School, Mr. Villarreal has taught in Donna, Edcouch- Elsa, and Mission. He has also worked at South Texas College promoting Concurrent Enrollment and Dual Credit programs with Rio Grande Valley school districts. Mr. Villarreal was the Site Coordinator at Mission Jr. High for the 21st Century Community Learning Center. He was also the SBDM Chair and Reading Department Chair before taking the GEAR UP Strategist position at Mission Veterans High School.
Mr. Villarreal has graduated from UT-Pan American 3 times! He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Sciences in Business Technology, a Bachelor of Arts in English, and a Master of Arts in Educational Administration.
Rita Garcia {pi}
Point Isabel ISD
Port Isabel High School
(956) 943-0030
Bio Coming Soon!
Alex Thomson {pn}
PSJA ISD
PSJA North High School
(956) 783-3300
Ricardo Lopez, Jr. {ring}
Rio Grande City CISD
Rio Grande City High School
(956) 488-6000
Bio Coming Soon!
Ricardo Ortiz {rio}
Rio Hondo ISD
Rio Hondo High School
(956) 748-1200
Bio Coming Soon!
Lupita Cantu {roma}
Roma ISD
Roma High School
(956) 849-1333 ext. 22
Bio Coming Soon!
Ida Garcia {gh}
San Benito CISD
San Benito High School
(956) 276-6000
Bio Coming Soon!
Patricia Sandoval {gh}
San Benito CISD
San Benito High School
(956) 361-6940
Bio Coming Soon!
Carlos Hernandez {sm}
Santa Maria ISD
Santa Maria High School
(956) 565-9144
Bio Coming Soon!
Cristobal {lbj} Casso
United ISD
LBJ High School
(956) 473-5100
Bio Coming Soon!
{maggie} Maggie Gutierrez {lbj}
United ISD
LBJ High School
(956) 473-5100
Ms. Gutierrez is a GEAR UP: Bridges to the Future Facilitator/Counselor. For 8 years, she was the 8th grade Career Investigations Teacher at Salvador Garcia Middle School. She has been a teacher for 8 years with United Independent School District and 4 years at a private school, teaching 2nd grade and 6th grade, Reading and Language Arts. She is a graduate of Martin High School (1985), Laredo Community College (1988), and Laredo State University (1990). In College, she was selected as the first pilot group to represent Laredo in Washington D.C. as Hispanic Student Intern with (HACU). Her hobbies are playing her clarinet.
Karla Sojak {vv}
Valley View ISD
Valley View High School
(956) 843-9222
Diana Garza {bg}
Weslaco ISD
Weslaco High School
(956) 969-6700
Bio Coming Soon!
{rachel} Rachel Mejia {zpat}
Zapata ISD
Zapata High School
(956) 765-0280
Rachel L. Mejia is the GEAR UP: Bridges to the Future Facilitator at Zapata High School. Prior to filling this position, Mrs. Mejia was employed at Zapata High School for thirteen years, where she acquired an array of experience in the field of ELA, which included teaching senior English for the past 7 years. At the teaching capacity, Mrs. Mejia had the opportunity to deal with many different students, including Special Ed, Regular Ed., G/T, and ELL students. She was also an LPAC committee member.
Furthermore, her expertise in the educational arena gave her the opportunity to mentor student teachers aspiring to become educators themselves. Additionally, she had the privilege to concurrently teach reading classes for Laredo Community College for a couple of semesters. This honor allowed her to expand her horizons, and become aware of the different needs of students aspiring to continue a higher education. Needless to say, Mrs. Mejia’s passion is interacting with students and helping them cope with the overwhelming world that they face today.
Mrs. Mejia earned a Bachelors degree with a major in English and a minor in Sociology from Laredo State University with Provisional Lifetime certification at the secondary level in 1993. She further acquired a Master of Science degree in Guidance and Counseling from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in May of 2006.
Last Modified on 12/16/2009 10:53:46 AM
