Julie Templet Scott, BA 1999

Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director, Career Compass of Louisiana

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..

Learn more about Julie:

Why did you choose to attend Southeastern?

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.

What is your fondest Southeastern memory?

The bonds we made in the College of Education and feeling so proud that Southeastern had prepared me for my career as a teacher.

Did a Southeastern professor inspire you? Who was that and how was that person inspirational?

Dr. Margaret Gonzalez. Her love of history was so apparent and contagious. Her assignments were true learning experiences.

How did your Southeastern degree prepare you for success in your career?

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.

What do you enjoy about your current position/profession?

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!

Has something about your Southeastern education surprised you since graduating?

How much pride I have for Southeastern!

What advice would you give to a driven college student about to enter the "real world"?

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!

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I love to spend time with my family. And I love to swim in the summer! It’s my favorite season.

Do you have a fun or interesting fact that you would like to share about yourself?

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!