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Students tell board GEAR UP LEAD builds leadership, highlight stress among peers
Summary
Three students from Burke County Public Schools described their experiences in the GEAR UP LEAD program, urged attention to student stress, and detailed college and leadership opportunities; the board temporarily lifted the three-minute limit so students could complete their assignments.
Three students representing the GEAR UP LEAD program addressed the board during public comment on Feb. 23 to describe how the program supports leadership, college exposure and peer engagement.
Jatia (Eastbrook High School, sophomore) opened with a presentation on student stress and coping. She said students often experience higher average stress than adults, cited peer-reported figures ("students rate their average stress at a 5.8" versus adults at "3.88 on a 10 scale"), and urged adults to provide listening support and healthy coping strategies. Juliana Underwood (East Park High School, sophomore) described LEAD activities—college tours across North Carolina, leadership skill-building and community projects—and said LEAD’s cohort included 48 students from six counties. A third student, Jennifer, spoke about GEAR UP opportunities for low-income students and thanked the district for supporting trips and mentorship.
Before student remarks, the board temporarily lifted the three-minute public-comment rule for these student presenters so they could deliver their school assignment without interruption; the motion was approved by voice vote (SEG 716-719).
Why it matters: Student testimony shows how federal-state-college-preparation programs like GEAR UP create direct experiences for high-school students and surfaces concerns about student stress that board and staff can address in counseling and school-support planning.
What’s next: Board members asked clarifying questions about program grade levels and school participation; students said the program serves tenth and eleventh graders and is offered across district high schools. The board asked staff to accept slide materials for the public record.
