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Let’s be honest… Excel can feel like a confusing jungle of grids, buttons, and mysterious formulas. But what if we told you that you could tame the spreadsheet beast…without the stress, the head-scratching, or the 37 open Google tabs with Youtube videos? Say hello to the GEAR UP Together: Skill […]
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The mission of GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is clear: to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Working to achieve this mission is a diverse team of professionals — GEAR UP coordinators, school counselors, educators, […]
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📊 Microsoft Excel is an indispensable tool in today’s data-driven landscape. Microsoft Excel is an indispensable tool in today’s data-driven landscape. Proficiency in Excel enables education professionals to efficiently manage, analyze, and interpret data—skills essential for evidence-based decision-making and effective program implementation. 📈 When used intentionally, Excel becomes more than […]
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💡 Organizations that effectively utilize data dashboards can significantly enhance their decision-making processes, leading to improved performance outcomes (Dufault et al., 2025). Did you know? A study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that dashboards facilitate visualization and tracking of key metrics, thereby enhancing organizational performance. 📢 […]
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In October, I reviewed the new FAFSA application. In my blog post found here, I outlined all the changes the Department of Education was making in an attempt to improve the FAFSA application form. These changes by the DOE were intentional to make it easier and shorter to complete. Since […]
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Excitement does not fully explain how I felt when I received an email from Alli Torban about beta-reading her new book “Chart Spark” which just made its official debut on December 5, 2023. It was a Saturday morning, I had just poured myself a cup of coffee, and I received […]
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One of my most enjoyable Thanksgiving pastimes is meticulously crafting the perfect dinner plate. Interestingly, I’ve realized that balancing my Thanksgiving plate mirrors the delicate act of navigating the complexities of everyday life—both tend to be quite full. It’s a sentiment shared by many; our plates, whether laden with turkey […]
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I have been working in the GEAR UP space for over eight years, and prior to that I worked with educators in schools and school districts to help them use data to inform decisions. Throughout my career there has been one constant…Excel! Excel has been the primary tool that I’ve […]
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Crock-pot dinners, early morning backpack packing, soccer bags, and after school snacks ready to go! I don’t know about you, but these things must mean one thing; school is not only back in session but is in full swing! It has taken me a bit of time to get my […]
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When one school year end, we move onto the hustle and bustle of summer and before we know it, a new school year is upon us. Whether intentionally or not, the prior school year is often put behind us, only to be revisited for the APR. However, looking at enrollment […]