APA Compliance Updates

January 2023 -  Lisa Brunson, Compliance Director

Utah State University conducts a Risk Assessment annually on our GEAR UP program at West Valley 3. The Risk Assessment is based on a multi-criteria rubric that includes program, financial, and data activities related to over 22,600 student service hours provided during the recent school year. Risk Outcomes are measured as follows: 

• Low-Risk 0-14 points
• Medium-Risk 15-30 points
• High-Risk 31-45 points
• Very High-Risk >45 points

We just received our Risk Assessment outcome for SY2021-22, and I am excited to report that American Preparatory Academy received a Perfect Score of 0 Points!  USU GEAR UP Program Director Joni Slater thanked us for "APA's impeccable work…. We appreciate and value our partnership and look forward to continuing to serve and support your students and families." 

Compliance Grants Manager, Divya Ganapathy, was the gentle but tenacious manager of our GEAR UP program at APA for over five years and was responsible for leading the successful execution of the work plan, budget, and data outcomes that were measured on this assessment. She recently moved on to other opportunities, but would concur that one of the most remarkable things about this score is that it required consistent, sustained support from many staff to succeed. In no particular order, here are some of the team members who contributed to this success (many of whom are pictured):

• GEAR UP Grants manager (Divya Ganapathy)
• WV3 Counselors who drive many work plan activities (Tammy Okelberry, Lizzy Petherbridge, Learnell Wesley, and Cami McDonald)
• 9-12th grade WV3 Administrators who help create and support the Site Coordinator and Counselors in accomplishing the work plan (Craig Peterson, Matt Hymas, Jake Winegar, Al Ramirez, Tammy Okelberry)
• 9-12th grade WV3 Ambassador Team (Gina Jeppson, Sarah Olsen, and Maddi Tapp)
• GEAR UP Site Coordinators (Brittany Shields, Mikey Unsworth, and then Jackson Ockey)
• Afterschool Collegium Hall Coordinators/Directors (Curtis Lee, Derek McKee, and then Mikey Unsworth)
• Afterschool mentors in Collegium Hall
• College Access Advisor (Tyler Yeaman and now Lauren Hatch)
• Many teachers volunteered as advisors for afterschool clubs, and others worked hours beyond their contract time to help our students and contribute to our in-kind match requirement
• The Sistema Afterschool team, which works collaboratively with and supports our Afterschool Director on several projects
• Our GEAR UP budget coordinator (Paul Brabants)

From the beginning of our relationship with USU and under the initial leadership of Rob Guido, our first Site Coordinator, and Kim Dudley, our first Grants Manager, the GEAR UP Program at American Prep has been built on a legacy of serving student needs and being "model" grant partners to USU, "consistently exceed[ing] expectations" (Aug 2, 2017 email). With the New Year, we welcome our new GEAR UP Grants Manager, Grant Poulsen, who is taking on the GEAR UP grant. This will be an additional responsibility to his other grants and data wizardry assignments with the Compliance team. 

Congratulations to All – Past and Present – who have contributed to GEAR UP's success!