A 1999 grad with a degree in Social Studies Education, Julie began teaching at Tara
High School immediately after college graduation and never thought she would do anything
different. Now, she’s a leader and business owner. She and co-owner Kacy Edwards started
Career Compass in 2006 to increase the number of students in Louisiana who attend
a post-secondary institution upon high school graduation (technical, community and
four-year universities). Julie oversees the day-to-day operations of the statewide
nonprofit, and works with over 15,000 Louisiana high school seniors and 35,000 Louisiana
sixth through eleventh graders each year with college and career planning services..
I wanted to attend a school that wasn’t so big the professors didn’t know my name.
I wanted to learn as much as I could – and not get lost in the crowd.
The bonds we made in the College of Education and feeling so proud that Southeastern
had prepared me for my career as a teacher.
Dr. Margaret Gonzalez. Her love of history was so apparent and contagious. Her assignments
were true learning experiences.
My first year of teaching, I was surrounded by several other first year teachers –
and I was the only one with a degree from Southeastern. Southeastern BY FAR did the
best job of teaching me HOW to teach and relate to students. I was 100% prepared and
I know that was due to the excellent job the Southeastern professors did.
Gosh, so much. I love that following my passion to educate students has led me into
something that is helping the students of Louisiana in a much larger way than I personally
could have done in the classroom. Our organization employs over one hundred college
and career coaches across the state, which makes the footprint much larger!
How much pride I have for Southeastern!
Pay attention in your classes, get internships and experiences. Kindness goes a long
way and the janitor is just as important of a career as the CEO of a company. We need
both! Use the career center!!! Take inventories and career tests and enneagram tests
and use up the resources that are there for you to help you find the best path for
your future!
I love to spend time with my family. And I love to swim in the summer! It’s my favorite
season.
My daughter graduated high school in 2018 and started Southeastern that fall. Midway
through her junior year, my husband decided he was going to go back to Southeastern
and finish his degree! She graduated this past May (after just three years!) and he
will graduate in August!