In this series, we feature individual CAP staff members and dive into their unique perspectives on college access, education, the role of our grant programs in the community, and more. This month, we highlight Wes Calbreath, Assistant Director of College Access Services at GEAR UP. Learn more about how Wes works with school counselors to drive student success and why he wants students to get more out of their education than just their diplomas.
Tell us about yourself including your position, what you do, and how/why you got involved with CAP.
I am the Assistant Director of College Access Services at GEAR UP. If you think about GEAR UP like a school, I help with a lot of areas that school counselors and career development coordinators do. We help schools improve their student outcomes by utilizing the ASCA National Model for School Counseling. This work occurs across three domains: Academic skills, mental health, and career/postsecondary preparation. It looks a little different at middle schools versus a high school, but the common thread is preparing students for that next step.
I got involved with CAP after working for 22 years in a student-facing position. I have done a lot of school-turnaround work, worked with at-risk students, and have seen how a focus on postsecondary preparation can provide relevance and a greater sense of focus for struggling students. I wanted to share what I've learned with a broader audience than just my single school, and working with GEAR UP was a way to do that.
What would you want people to know about the grant program with which you serve?
Someone once asked me, "What do you do?" I told them "I deal in futures". I had to clarify that I was not talking about the stock market, but STUDENT futures. We want to prepare students for what's next. I've also jokingly said that my job is to "get your kid out of your basement before they are 30." That usually gets a laugh, but it's something parents can identify with. Most parents want their students to have a standard of living where they can live independently and support themselves doing something they love. That is a cause around which we can all rally.
What do you perceive to be the biggest point of pride for CAP?
My biggest point of pride is all the accomplishments of my former students. Having been a counselor in a GEAR UP-support school, my students are my legacy. Their successes will live on long after I've retired. I've been part of weddings, baby showers, and college graduations. I've written references for professional jobs, grad school, and scholarships. I've even gotten the chance to have a few former students become work colleagues. There is no financial reward that can top those things.
How have you seen the impact of CAP in our community?
I've been able to see students I've worked with graduate high school, graduate college, and come back to contribute to their communities as employable adults with valuable skill sets. Some teachers, some nurses, some small business owners, and some as tradesmen (& women) providing much needed services to their community.
Please share your thoughts on the role of CAP as it pertains to the future of education.
CAP has a large role to play in getting schools to see the big picture. We need to look beyond test scores and beyond what School Report Card grade a school gets as the ultimate goal. We need to think beyond getting kids out the door and think about what they really need to be successful adults. If we graduate them and they are struggling, did we do our job? Sure, they may have a diploma, but did they really learn what they needed to learn to be successful beyond the school yard? That's what CAP is about: success beyond the diploma.
Wes officiates a wedding for his former students.
Wes is pictured with former Watauga HS students he counseled who both recently graduated from ETSU. Chloe (on the right) is now a nurse and Gracie just got hired as an English teacher for Ashe Early College.
CAP Through our Eyes: Wes Calbreath
CAP Through our Eyes: Wes Calbreath