Strengthening School-Provider Partnerships: NY GEAR UP 2025 Conference Workshop

At the 2025 NY GEAR UP Conference, Educator Empowerment Center Founder & Owner, Shinair K. Francis, led an interactive workshop focused on strengthening partnerships between service providers and schools. Drawing on her expertise as an Academic Dean and Master Teacher in NYC Public Schools, she guided participants through hands-on activities centered around analyzing school mission and vision statements, aligning external programs with district priorities, and using real-world case studies to build sustainable, high-impact partnerships.

Each attendee received a copy of her latest publication, the L.I.N.C. Playbook: Building Bridges Between Schools and Programs, a practical resource for enhancing (L)earning (I)mpact through (N)etworked (C)collaboration. This session equipped GEAR UP providers with actionable strategies to ensure their services meet the evolving needs of school communities across New York State.