The Perry Community School District has welcomed a new TRIO Upward Bound and Talent Search advisor, Megan Averill, who is working with TRIO students in seventh through 12th grades on initiatives to promote high school graduation and postsecondary enrollment, following all federal TRIO guidelines.
Averill joins the Talent Search team from Sylvan Learning Center, where she served as the director of education, working with students at all grade levels and earning the Highest Educational Achievement Award out of 800 Sylvan Learning Centers.
Averill has an extensive background in education. She was also a elementary school teacher for four years, and she comes to Talent Search with more than 10 years of experience in various educational realms, including organizing community volunteer events, facilitating a bullying prevention program and initiating the Joy of Reading Literacy Foundation.
“I am thrilled to be part of the Talent Search team,” Averill said. “My entire career has been spent toward student empowerment and success, and I look forward to working with TRIO’s current and future students.”
Averill holds a B.A. degree in elementary education, a minor in literacy and endorsements in reading, ELA and coaching.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Megan to our team,” said Darcie Sprouse, TRIO Talent Search director. “Not only will she bring fresh perspective and energy to the program, but also be a great role model for our students.”
The TRIO programs began as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty and were established by the federal government in 1965 under the Higher Education Act in order to ensure equal educational opportunity for all Americans, regardless of race, ethnic background or economic circumstances.
The TRIO programs are open to all income-eligible and first-generation Americans. They were the first national college access and retention programs to address the serious social and cultural barriers to education in America.
Congress established the series of programs to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate and move on to fuller participation in American’s economic and social life. TRIO has evolved over the years and now consists of Educational Opportunity Centers, Student Support Services, Talent Search, Upward Bound and Veterans Upward Bound.
