Connect with GEAR UP Schools
GEAR UP School | GEAR UP Liaison | Contact | School Website | |
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Arlee Public Schools | Damon Cordier | e: dcordier@arleeschools.org | p: 726-3216 ext: 2305 | ||
Box Elder Public Schools | Megan Maroney | e: mmaroney@boxelder.k12.mt.us | p: 352-4195 ext: 5132 | ||
Browning Middle School | Nathan Stone | e: nathans@bps.k12.mt.us | p: 338-2725 ext: 4921 | ||
Browning High School |
Melanie Magee |
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Hardin Middle School | LaDona Yerian | e: ladona.yerian@hardin.k12.mt.us | p: 665-6343 | ||
Hardin High School | Lance Olson | e: lance.olson@hardin.k12.mt.us | p: 665-6406 | ||
Harlem Public Schools |
Crystal Doney David Murray |
e: crystald@harlem-hs.k12.mt.us | p: 353-2289 |
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Hays Lodge Pole Public Schools | Paul Condon |
e: pcondon@hlpschools.k12.mt.us | p: 548-4723 |
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Lame DeerPublic Schools | TBD | e: TBD| p: 477-8901 ext: 1217 | ||
LibbyPublic Schools | Deanna Malyevac | e: malyevacd@libbyschools.org | p: 293-8802 ext: 1951 | ||
Lodge GrassPublic Schools | Josh Stewart | e: josh.stewart@lodgegrass.k12.mt.us | p: 639-2736 | ||
PryorPublic Schools | Talitha Goes Ahead | e: talithagoesahead@pryorstaff.org | p: 259-7329 | ||
Rocky BoyPublic Schools | Sapphire Carter | e: sapphirec@rockyboy.k12.mt.us | p: 395-4474 ext: 223 | ||
St. IgnatiusPublic Schools | Alan Pule | e: apule@stignatiusschools.org | p: 745-3811ext: 265 | School page | |
St. Regis Public Schools | Jennifer Pruitt | e: pruittjennifer@stregis.k12.mt.us | p: 649-2311 | ||
SuperiorPublic Schools | Toni Labbe | e: tmlabbe@ssd3.us | p: 822-3600 ext: 117 | School page | |
Thompson FallsPublic Schools | Penny Beckman | e: pbeckman@tfalls.org | p: 827-3593 ext: 7069 | ||
TroyPublic Schools | Jessica Knapp | e: jknapp@troyk12.org | p: 295-4520 ext: 2126 |
Who do I contact with questions concerning...
Contact Kyra Kronberg |kkronberg@montana.edu | 406-389-7092
- Capacity Building Workshop, NCCEP, GEAR UP West
- Youth Leadership Academy, Youth Leadership Summit
- iTutor, Student Success Agency
- Orders & Ideas for T-shirts, Planners
- Web Updates
Contact Karen Wilson | kwilson@montana.edu | 406-449-9144
- What forms to use
- How to write a budget
- How to enter services
- What is the current rate on per diem, travel, etc.
- Amendement requests
- Training
Contact Kelly Hert | khert@montana.edu | 406-449- 9147
- How to complete budget tracking sheets
- What to include in fiscal report
- What can be used as match
Contact Maureen Bjerke| mburke@montana.edu | 406-449-9174
- Assessments - Aspire, ACT, Pre-Act, Tessera
- Student, Parent, & Educator Surveys
- Entering grades, coursework, demographics, new students, transfering students, general data uploads
Contact Travis Anderson | tanderson@motana.edu | 406-449-9139
Liaison Resources
Connect
Calendar DOWNLOAD - due dates, professional development opportunities, events & more. Scroll down for LIVE Calendar.
List of Montana High School Counselors
List of First Year Service Coordinators
Send us your PII through Secure File Transfer
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for trainings videos on ACT, Data & Service Entry, Budgets & more. To access videos click on Playlists.
Professional Development
Montana Office of Public Instruction has a large selection of learning opportunities that may align with GEAR UP objectives and be included in Implementation Plans. Use their Portal to search options
District Leadership Institute - The District Leadership Institute initiates and engages a learning community of senior-level leaders in a profound learning experience focused on creating, sustaining, and strengthening the college going culture in GEAR UP districts.” Apply today!
Youth Opportunities
- Youth Leadership Academy
- First-Year Freshman Services
- GEAR UP T-Shirt Design Contest
Travel
These forms are for state-sponsored PD events, not those included in your school IP/Budget. If you are new to the program please complete a W-9 so we may process you in our payments database.
Travel Forms for School Reimbursement (State-Sponsored Travel)
OCHE Non-Employee Travel Policy
Travel Reimbursement Cheat Sheet
Your GEAR UP school district must complete and submit this District Reimbursement form within 30 days of the event. Montana GEAR UP will reimburse expenses related to the event per State of Montana/OCHE guidelines, which include but are not limited to:
- Mileage expenses at the current state rate of one vehicle per every three participants,
- Lodging at the current state rate or the hotel conference rate if state rate is unavailable
- Meals at the current state rate not covered by the event.
Reimbursement will not be greater than the current state allowable rates, even if the district reimbursement rate is higher.
Grant Management
Technical Assistance Manual - Section 1; Section 2; Section 3; Section 4; Section 5
Liaison Responsibilities & Duties
Forms
Forms Used When Preparing Budget
Amendment Request Forms
Forms Used to Verify Attendance
4A: Tutoring Sign In Sheet.docx,
4C: Summer Attendance Record.docx
4B: Monthly Club Sign In Sheet.docx
Forms Used for Fiscal Reporting
5: Time and Effort Certification.docx
Forms Used to Establish Match
8B: Form 8 Facility and IT Maintenance Match.xlsx
Sign-in Sheets for Match
9A: Sign in Sheet Match - actual rate
9B: Sign in Sheet Match - volunteer
10A: Monthly Time & Effort Log
Forms Used for Travel
11A: District Reimbursment.xlsx
11B): Student Voucher.docx
11C): Sponsored Trips.docx
Forms Used for Team Meetings
Survey Center
Parent Consent Forms. 9/1 - Ongoing
Consent forms are necessary for the evaluation team to survey students. Because we have a new evaluator these must be completed for all students in the cohort. Once completed, the form covers the student for the entire grant period. Target Response Rate 100%
- Read Instructions
- Parent Consent Form (Paper), (Online)
Parent Survey. 3/1/2021 - 5/1/2021
The purpose of the Parent Survey is to gauge the knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of parents/guardians in order to measure and increase the effectiveness of GEAR UP at your school and around the state. The target response rate for parent surveys is 50%.
2. Survey 50% of parents.
- Print PDF versions
- Online Survey Link
3. Return paper surveys to the Montana GEAR UP office. See the instructions in Step 1 for details.
Contact Maureen Bjerke to obtain an updated list of your survey completion numbers
Educator Survey, 5/1/2021 - 6/1/2021
Administer the educator survey to all school staff at your school. The more educators you are able to reach, the more representative and informative your survey results will be.
2. Survey ALL educators.
- Print PDF (sample only)
- Online Survey Link
Contact Maureen Bjerke to obtain an updated list of your survey completion numbers
Student Survey, 3/1/2021 - 5/1/2021
We strongly encourage surveying students online. The more GEAR UP students you are able to reach, the more representative and informative your survey results will be. The target response rate for student surveys is 85%.
2. Survey 85% students.
- Print PDF
- Online Survey Link
3. Return paper surveys to the Montana GEAR UP office. See instructions in Step 1 for details
Contact Maureen Bjerke to obtain an updated list of your survey completion numbers
Senior Exit Survey, 5/1/2021 - 6/15/2021
The GEAR UP Senior Exit Survey gathers information about students' postsecondary plans and preparations. It also asks for contact information in order to get required academic course information from first-year college students and follow up with all graduates next year. The more seniors you are able to reach, the easier it will be to get this information and learn how to better prepare students for life after high school.
1.Read instructions, Senior Exit Survey Flyer, parental consent form
2. Survey ALL seniors.
3. Once all of your seniors have completed the survey, please email Maureen Bjerke to get the results for your school.
College Visit Survey
The GEAR UP College Visit Survey is used to determine the effectiveness of college visits for student perceptions of careers and college options.
1. Survey ALL students who go on a college visit.
2. Email Maureen Bjerke to get the results for your school.
Toolkits
Transitional Year Student/Family Handouts
Virtual Meetings Best Practice
7th Year Services:
Firstyear services are vital to the success of GEAR UP studentsand should be started the moment a student enters the programs. While not all of these ideas may be possible or the right fit for your school, below is a list of ideas for building a successful and sustainable 7th Year program at your school. First, connect with the following campus GEAR UP programs
- Provide Info and Resources
- Conduct a workshop, set aside class time, and/or have dedicated counseling time to cover important topics such as;
- support services on college campuses
- choosing classes and academics in college
- budgeting and money management
- getting involved and finding friends
- homesickness
- what to bring
- Build Relationships
- Have a senior night where students can meet with alumni, from the college they will attend if possible, and ask them questions. Invite representative from the schools to attend.
- Host a summer send off picnic or BBQ
- Plan first-month-of-school visits to campuses where multiple students are enrolled. Host a dinner or other event at which your alumni can reconnect and share their experiences. (Bonus ideas: drop off care packages and collect college addresses.) As your cadre of college students grows, develop a program to have on-campus “buddies,” pairing a first-year student with sophomores, juniors, or seniors who graduated from your high school.
- Maintain Communication
- Conduct a Senior Exit Survey to determine what plans your seniors have for life after high school. Also, use this as an opportunity to collect contact information.
- Use a service such as Signal Vine to send reminders about actions to take after high school.
- Create a “class of 20XX” group on Facebook in which students can engage their friends and you can offer encouragement, tips, and reminders.
- Send monthly post cards containing study skill tips & tricks or pertinent reminders and an encouraging note from high school students and/or staff.
- Assign a counselor or volunteer mentor (based at the high school) to all first year college students. This person is responsible for touching base with the student at regular intervals, potentially with a task-oriented purpose.
- Extend existing mentoring programs into the first year of college.
- Develop a “Friends of XX School” program in communities where several of your students attend college. Assign these adult “friends” to your alumni and task them with being someone the student can turn to when in need of assistance, support, or advice
- Involve Alumni
- When on campus visits, invite alumni to share a meal with middle/high school students. Gather a group of 3-5 and ask them to host a panel discussion about life as a college student.
- Invite alumni to return to the middle/high school during their fall/winter/spring breaks. They can offer informational sessions in the college center, sit on a panel about college life, or visit a class to talk about their experiences.
- Host a Holiday Party for recent alumni at the start of winter break. Include a celebration of success after the students’ first finals. Invite alumni from 5- 10 years out to talk about their current lives/careers. Use this as an opportunity to build connections based on career interests.
- Organize a Homecoming Tailgate specifically for recent alumni, especially those who are attending college. Celebrate community and provide a forum for alumni to talk about their experiences – include talking about challenges and possible solutions.
- Send Care Packages, curated and packed by current students, parent organizations or the alumni association, to college freshmen. Include something to remind them of home, something to help them with their studies, a fun treat they can share, and an encouraging note.
- Engage Parents
- Develop a parents’ group that brings together parents of seniors and first-year college students; encourage an agenda that provides support for both.
- Send Parent Newsletters with information about how to help support students while they are away.
- Host parent workshops at key points in a student’s transition to college to help parents deal with the changes in their children – first weeks away, coming home for break, etc.
Parents and Students
While having a strong GEAR UP program is important, the most vital support of a new college student will come from his or her family. Many students and families don't know what they can do to more effectively navigate the transition from high school to life after high school. Ideally, preparation for post secondary education should begin well in advance of the actual occurrence. Below is a check list of some basic actions parents and students can take to be better prepared for the transition:
- Visit the college together.
- Attend as many workshops at the high school as possible.
- Reach out to resources at the college.
- Talk together about budgeting and money management.
Live Calendar
GEAR UP Schools Map
Scroll over the blue labels to view liaison contact information. Tribal Colleges listed with a maroon icon.