Partner

Traci O. Aucoin
GEAR UP Project Director
Lafayette Parish School System, Louisiana

Traci O. Aucoin is currently the Lafayette Parish School System GEAR UP Project Director. She has worked in education for 30 years and has been part of the GEAR UP initiative for ten years. She began her career as a high school biology and physics teacher before she moved into higher education where she served the University of Louisiana (UL) at Lafayette in numerous capacities for over 20 years. Aucoin served as Director of the Alumni Association, Director of Special Projects for the President, Director of University College, and Director of High School Relations. Through her work experience at UL, Aucoin has been able to develop and sustain strong community and postsecondary partnerships and bring valuable resources and expertise to the Lafayette Parish School System GEAR UP initiative. She was selected as a Louisiana Educator Voice Fellow for 21st Century Learning for the state of Louisiana and serves as an advisory member for the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP). In January 2020, Aucoin was also elected to serve a two-year term on the Board of Directors for the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships.

Session details:

Attracting and nurturing partnerships involves having a clear mission and remaining true to that mission. The mission should be used as a filter for being strategic about where to invest time and resources. This talk focused on seeking and prioritizing partnerships and building intentional relationships within those partnerships. Long-term partnerships are typically mutually beneficial while providing the gap-resources needed to help students overcome challenges and become college ready.

Who should attend:

• State education leaders in math, science, STEM, CTE and workforce
• Education service center leaders
• University and community college faculty
• School district leaders
• Community organizations focused on STEM
• Grant writers