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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.
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