Board of Directors

Kacy Edwards, Executive Director/Program Facilitator
Kacy Edwards received a B.A. in History from LSU and Alternate Certification in High School Social Studies from LSU in 1997. In December 2005, she received a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Louisiana State University. She taught high school social studies at Tara High School for eight and a half years.

Julie Scott, Executive Director/Program Facilitator
Julie Scott received a B.A. in Social Studies Education from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1999. She has taught high school social studies at Tara High School for eight years. She has been awarded both an ADF grant to promote innovation in the classroom and a Best Buy grant to help the displaced students of Katrina and Rita.

Roxson Welch, Chairman of the Board
Roxson Welch is the educational outreach coordinator for East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor/President Melvin "Kip" Holden's office. She is also a former teacher in East Baton Rouge Parish and has received the honor of Louisiana State Teacher of the Year.

Julio Melara, Board Member
Julio Melara is the president and co-owner of the Baton Rouge Business Report, and is the publisher of both 225 and LA Next magazines.

Nancy C. Dougherty, Board Member
Nancy Dougherty is a senior partner with the firm Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips L.L.P. Her practice is concentrated in the area of higher education law.

Jennifer Parks, Board MemberJennifer Parks is the co-owner of The Learning Tree, a successful nursery and preschool.  She is a former teacher in East Baton Rouge Parish.

The overall college-going rate for public high school graduates in Louisiana for the Fall 2008 semester was 46%.

Currently only about 13% of Louisiana high school students obtain post-secondary degrees within six years of graduation.

98% of the students Career Compass worked with last year either applied to and/or were accepted to a post-secondary school