Virginia Kerrigan

Risk & Prevention, Ed.M. 2000

Virginia has been working with the Boston GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) Project since graduating from R&P in 2000. This federal grant program supports select schools nationally and is designed to give students the tools they need to prepare for, become accepted into, and be successful in college. This particular collaboration is made up of the Boston Higher Education Partnership, the TERI College Access Program, University of Massachusetts at Boston, and the John D. O'Bryant School of Math and Science (Boston Public Schools).Virginia coordinates the financial and personnel functions for the grant as well as directs all programming with the help of her dynamic staff of ten. Current programming includes in school and after school tutoring, SAT prep, college essay writing assistance, college application assistance and college prep workshops, individualized mentoring and counseling, and bimonthly college visits. All services are provided to a cohort that has been served since grades seven and eight, who are currently juniors and seniors. Boston Public Schools is in the process of applying for six more years of funding so that staff can return to Boston middle schools beginning in academic year 2006-2007.

Virginia credits R&P with preparing her to work flexibly from the middle to high school levels and providing the preparation she needed to run a variety of student support programs. She also credits her relationship with Michael Nakkula while she was a mentor for Project IF as the life changing experience that brought her back to education. In addition, Virginia was able to receive her school guidance certification through classes taken at the Ed School. Virginia also took advantage of a trauma response certification program held by The Trauma Center, which is highly recommended to current R&P students.