Stability in Motion 

Description: Listen as Mary Bier, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC), discusses what military-connected children need most to thrive amid constant change. Drawing on both professional leadership and lived experience as a military parent, she reflects on the importance of stability, belonging, and prepared adults. This conversation offers parents and educators thoughtful insight into how consistent support helps military kids learn, lead, and feel grounded wherever they go. 

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the USAA Foundation.    

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.  

Bio:  Mary Bier, President & Chief Executive Officer of MCEC

 Mary Bier, MBA, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC). A seasoned leader with more than 20 years of experience in business strategy, organizational leadership, and community engagement, she brings a dynamic vision to MCEC’s mission of ensuring every military-connected child has access to quality educational opportunities.  

As a military spouse and parent, Bier has firsthand insight into the unique challenges and strengths of military families. This lived experience fuels her passion for advocating for military-connected students, ensuring they receive the educational support and opportunities they deserve.  

Bier’s professional background spans both the corporate and nonprofit sectors, where she has successfully led high-impact initiatives, built collaborative partnerships, and served as a subject matter expert on veteran and military family issues. She has been invited to the White House to share insights on military-connected programs, testified before the New York City Department of Veteran Affairs, and facilitated expert panels on military family well-being.  

Prior to joining MCEC, Bier held leadership roles in business strategy, customer success, and military initiatives, where she was instrumental in scaling operations, optimizing talent development, and fostering inclusive organizational cultures. Her ability to translate strategic goals into actionable outcomes has driven mission impact across multiple organizations.  

At MCEC, Bier is committed to expanding the organization’s reach, deepening partnerships, and championing the needs of military-connected children. Under her leadership, MCEC will continue to be a trusted resource for families, educators, and policymakers dedicated to supporting military students on their educational journey.  

Bier holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on Management and Organizational Behavior and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from California Lutheran University.  

She resides with her family in Madison, Wisconsin.  

Baileigh Levée is a military spouse, mom, and personal blogger. She discusses how her military family has navigated holiday celebrations and traditions over the years, while living all over the world. She shares tips and resources for creating new holiday traditions and making it fun for the whole family.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Air and Space Forces Spouses’ Club of Washington, D.C. To learn more, visit https://www.afoscdc.com/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Baileigh Levée

Growing up in small town Louisiana, though we proudly boasted a local Air Force Base, I had little to no knowledge of military service or the military lifestyle.  My experience was likely the same as most Americans: It was a story my dad told, an old image of my grandfather in a uniform, it was comforting and the source of pride.  But yet, it was distant and irrelevant to me as a kid.

In life, expect the unexpected.

I met my now Marine as a freshman in college, and together we have been married 15 years with three children. Therefore, the military lifestyle is ALL they know. While their birth certificates are part of their origin story, if you ask them where they are from, they will quickly answer, “everywhere.”  East coast to west coast and now with two duty stations in foreign countries, our family motto is “home is where we are together.” 

Becoming a wife and mother in a lifestyle that was unchartered territory for me has been both thrilling and humbling. There are many days when I cannot believe that this is my life, as it is such a departure from the small town where I grew up. The challenges I’ve faced have challenged everything I know. Through the highs and lows, from every address, my experience as a military spouse and mother has been my greatest adventure and accomplishment. I have found personal joy and a creative outlet in sharing our story and experiences in the hopes that it stands as a way for us to relate to others, as well as an opportunity to virtually take our family and friends along with us. No matter where we go, we have found these principals to be universal:

• Home is people, not places.
• Value those things that have no price tag.
• No grit, no pearl.

www.LeveesinLondon.com

Resources:

Activity Advent Calendar Template

https://www.leveesinlondon.com/_files/ugd/71da9b_53714a40cd8d48beafa747d95777399d.pdf

BigFuture’s mission is to ensure every student has free resources to plan for life after high school.  Listen as Greg Rafal, Director of BigFuture Program Implementation at College Board, shares how they are focused on supporting all students plan for their future.  He also discusses the importance of consistent college and career guidance for our military-connected students, and how BigFuture is helping do just that.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Naval Officers’ Spouses’ Club Washington, D.C. To learn more, visit  https://www.noscdc.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

The College Board

https://www.collegeboard.org/

BigFuture

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/

Student Search Service

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/student-search-service

Greg Rafal is the Director of BigFuture Program Implementation at College Board. In this role, his focus is to increase K-12 and caring adult awareness of BigFuture and to lead the BigFuture Live virtual community event strategy. Prior to his role at College Board, he worked in higher education. Most recently he was at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business where he oversaw global programs for undergraduate and MBA students.  He also worked in international student admissions and student affairs at several other institutions.  He received his MA in International Education and Training from American University and BA in Spanish/Political Science from Christopher Newport University. Greg is originally from northern Virginia and is based in Washington, DC.

The Purple Star School program is designed to help schools respond to the educational and social-emotional challenges military-connected children face during their transition to a new school.  Listen as Pete LuPiba, “Founder of Purple Star Schools” discusses how the Purple Star Program is supporting military-connected students and families thrive.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Mountain Home Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://www.mountainhomeosc.org/

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Ohio Department of Education

https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Other-Resources/Military-Resources/Schools/Purple-Star-Award

Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3)-Ohio

https://mic3.net/state/ohio/

National Advocate for Purple Star Schools

Pete LuPiba is Ohio’s (MIC3) Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commissioner. Initially appointed in 2012 and duly reappointed by the Honorable Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio in 2019. LuPiba serves as Deputy Director for the Office of Budget and Management in the State of Ohio. LuPiba formerly served as Public Affairs Officer at the Department of Education, 2007-2019.

LuPiba founded the Purple Star School Award for Military family-friendly schools in 2015-2017. Purple Star is in 40+ States (*with 4,100+ Schools), including Virginia, Alaska, South Carolina, Florida, California, Texas, Idaho, Washington State, and New Hampshire – with 600 Purple Star Schools across Ohio. LuPiba was honored to serve as a key advisor and the Master of Ceremonies as Ohio formally launched the Collegiate Purple Star initiative as led by Governor Mike DeWine, and Chancellor Randy Gardner, and the Department of Higher Education.

In November of 2022, fellow Ohioans, state MIC3 leaders around the country, and Governor Mike DeWine nominated LuPiba to be honored in the 30th Anniversary Class of the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. This Hall of Fame includes Ulysses S. Grant, Neil A. Armstrong, and John H. Glenn. In February of 2023, Adjutant General of the Ohio Army and Air National Guard; Major General John C. Harris, Jr. commissioned LuPiba as an Honorary Buckeye Colonel.

LuPiba coordinated the effort to eliminate the professional educator licensure fee for teachers and coaches and administrators who have served or are serving in the Armed Forces’ Uniform – including the spouses of active-duty personnel. As of 2023, Military families in Ohio have saved more than $365,000.

In 2017-2018, LuPiba developed a state-wide Military Signing Day ceremony for those young men and women choosing to join the Armed Forces to begin their career, including through the Branch Service Academies and ROTC Scholarships at Universities and Colleges. At the 2023 Ceremony, Ohio hosted more than 300 attendees in the State’s capital of Columbus at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum.

LuPiba served active-duty, enlisted United States Navy – deploying with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11 to Iraq in 2006. LuPiba completed his duty in the Armed Forces while attached to the Reserves – serving with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 26.

LuPiba is an Alumnus of The Ohio State University and the University of Southern California. LuPiba is married to technology evangelist and cybersecurity expert, Jennifer. The LuPibas reside in greater Columbus with their five children; Sally, Corazon, Lincoln, Grant, and Washington.

Partners in PROMISE is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to Protect the Rights of Military children in Special Education and disability communities to ensure they receive equal access to an education.  Listen as Dr. Jenna Kremkow and Carla Wyrsch discuss how the PROMISE advocates for military children with special and exceptional needs.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Luke Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://www.lukespousesclub.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Partners in PROMISE

https://thepromiseact.org/

Partners in PROMISE Special Education & EFMP Binder 

https://thepromiseact.org/binder/

Educator Report

https://thepromiseact.org/educators-report-partners-in-promise-2022-research-findings/

Jenna Kremkow is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Elmhurst University. She completed her MS and PhD at The Pennsylvania State University with an emphasis in autism, augmentative and alternative communication, child language disorders, and stakeholder training and perspectives. Clinically, Jenna has worked as a speech-language pathologist in elementary schools, outpatient clinics, and early intervention settings.

Jenna teaches courses in augmentative and alternative communication, autism, language disorders in children, and research methods. One of her research areas focuses on the experiences of military families with children with autism and the use of technology to improve communication outcomes and quality of life for children with autism and their families. Her goal is to use research to support data-driven recommendations and policy changes to improve special education services for military families.

Carla Wyrsch is the spouse of a retired United States Marine and mother of two. She has devoted her career to educating and advocating for children with disABILITIES. Her experience spans a variety of settings, including residential treatment facilities, military bases, public schools, and the Lerner School for Autism at the Cleveland Clinic. Currently, she is a School Operations Director with MIYO Health. In addition to her work with MIYO Health, Carla enjoys volunteering with Best Buddies of Greater Memphis, the Organization for Autism Research, and Partners in PROMISE as a content creator and advisory board member.

Dr. Daniel Perkins and Dr. Jennifer Karre discuss the importance of policy in supporting military-connected students and families.  Listen as they examine the implementation of four policy initiatives: Advance Enrollment (AE), the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3), the Military Student Identifier (MSI), and the Purple Star School program.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the West Point Spouses’ Club.  To learn more, visit https://westpointspousesclub.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness

https://militaryfamilies.psu.edu/

Evaluation of State Implementation of Supportive Policies to Improve Educational Experiences and Achievement for K-12 Military Children

https://militaryfamilies.psu.edu/projects/view/speak-military-children/

Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission

https://mic3.net

Military Student Identifier

https://militarychild.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-104-MSI-Position-Statement_20250103-1.pdf

Military Child Education Coalition

https://www.militarychild.org

Daniel F. Perkins, Ph.D., is a Professor of Family and Youth Resiliency and Policy at Penn State University and also the Director and Principal Scientist of the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State, a university-wide applied research center.  Dr. Perkins has been designing and evaluating strengths-based family and youth development programs in 4-H and Cooperative Extension and leading complex projects for over 25 years. His work involves teaching, research, and outreach through the Penn State Cooperative Extension Service. One of his primary areas of focus is in fostering the well-being of military service members, veterans, and their families through the Clearinghouse. In his role as Principal Scientist, he is able to facilitate the translation of science into action by providing comprehensive, science-based programs and technical assistance to professionals working with military service members, veterans and their families.

Jennifer Karre, Ph.D. is a Research & Evaluation Scientist at the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State. Her Ph.D. is in Developmental Psychology. For over a decade, her role at the Clearinghouse has centered around program and policy evaluation. She has worked on evaluations of programs and policies for Service Members and their families related to fathering, parenting, child and youth development, child and youth educational support, couple relationships, reintegration after deployment, financial readiness, and emergency preparedness. 

Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) are foundational to a child’s healthy development and well-being.  Listen as Dr. Elizabeth Hisle-Gorman and Dr. Binny Chokshi discuss promoting PCEs and how the Healthy Outcomes From Positive Experiences (HOPE) model supports strengthening families.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Team Seymour Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://www.teamseymourspouses.com/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Healthy Outcomes From Positive Experiences (HOPE)

https://positiveexperience.org/

Hidden Heroes- Elizabeth Dole Foundation

https://hiddenheroes.org/

Operation Purple Camp- National Military Family Association

https://www.militaryfamily.org/programs/operation-purple/operation-purple-camp/

The Military Child Well-being Toolkit

https://www.militarychild.org/resource/wellbeing-toolkit/

Military OneSource

https://www.militaryonesource.mil/non-medical-counseling/

Dr. Hisle-Gorman is Director of the Military Family Research Division and Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics. She began her career as a social worker working in neighborhood development efforts in Washington, DC to support and strengthen families to prevent family violence and overcome hardship. However, a move to a military town with her active-duty military spouse, re-focused her on work with military families. She served as a Child Protective Services officer in Onslow County, North Carolina and worked extensively with military families. After completing her Ph.D. in Social Work at the University of Maryland, Dr. Hisle-Gorman taught and worked in community development and was the senior author on one of the first articles to document the clinical effects of military deployment on children. She subsequently moved to USUHS to expand its research portfolio exploring the effects of military life on children. Her research interests are focused the impact of past military deployment on military children, effects of parental injury and family violence on pediatric health and mental health, and healthcare usage trends in military pediatrics. However, she has also worked on projects examining autism in children, indicators of immunization completion, neonatal health, care for transgender individuals, healthcare disparities, and the effects of medications on children. Dr. Hisle-Gorman has significant experience working with the Military Health System Data Repository and conducting retrospective research studies about military-connected children using the MDR. Dr. Hisle-Gorman most enjoys mentoring medical students, residents, and junior faculty on research projects, and teaching them the research process on an individual basis.

Dr. Binny Chokshi is a general pediatrician, with a focus on adolescents and young adults. Dr. Chokshi's research and education interests are focused on understanding the impact of early life stressors on health across the life course. To mitigate the effects of trauma and stress on children, Dr. Chokshi advocates for a trauma-informed approach to healthcare. She has developed web-based e-modules to train outpatient pediatricians in responding to childhood adversity with a trauma-informed care approach and has also trained medical students and residents at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. In a prior role at Children's National Hospital, she also worked with hospital leadership to develop hospital wide trauma-informed practices. In her current role at USUHS, Dr. Chokshi examines how military specific factors may impact child and and family health, with a current focus on how social determinants of health such as food security impact military child health.  Dr. Chokshi is also passionate on promoting positive childhood experiences, to foster healthy development in children and counter the impacts of stressful experiences.  Dr. Chokshi has a vested interest in medical education and completed Masters in Education at the George Washington University School of Education and Human Development. On a national level, Dr. Chokshi serves on the Expert Leadership Team for the American Academy of Pediatrics project “Building Capacity for Trauma-Informed Pediatric Care”. 

Dr. Emily Goodman-Scott discusses Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and the importance of the school counselors’ role in meeting the needs of all students. She highlights the benefits of universal mental health screenings in educational settings and how buy-in and support is critical to successful implementation.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from Hanscom Spouses Club. To learn more, visit https://hanscomsc.org/index.html.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Resources:

School Counselors for MTSS:

https://www.schoolcounselors4mtss.com/

Anti-Racism Counseling in Schools and Communities by Cheryl Holcomb McCoy

https://imis.counseling.org/store/detail.aspx?id=78181

Supporting All Students: Multitiered Systems of Support from an Antiracist and Critical Race Theory Lens

https://www.schoolcounselors4mtss.com/_files/ugd/7ddd06_87e7df0c2f1649649b039fb7277fa320.pdf

Bio:

Dr. Emily Goodman-Scott is an Associate Professor, Graduate Program Director, and School Counseling Coordinator at Old Dominion University, in VA, where she teaches the next generation of school counselors. Before that, she spent several years working as an elementary school counselor, a special education teacher, and in multiple mental health settings counseling youth.

Dr. Goodman-Scott is passionate about researching, writing, and presenting on school counseling topics, including MTSS. She’s presented across the U.S., offering trainings, keynotes, pre-conferences, and district-partnerships. She is the lead editor of the book, A School Counselor’s Guide to MTSS (2019, Routledge), and with colleagues authored Making MTSS Work, published by ASCA (2020).

After nearly 10 years as a board member for the Virginia School Counselor Association, Dr. Goodman-Scott served as Chair of the VSCA Board (2019-2020) and is presently the co-chair of the Research Committee. She co-coordinates a national network of school counseling faculty, was president of the Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling (2020-2021), and represented Virginia at several White House School Counseling Convenings under First Lady Michelle Obama.

She recently was elected to the American Counseling Association governing council (2022-2025). She is on the editorial review board for multiple journals related to school counseling, including ASCA’s Professional School Counseling journal. Finally, she is proud to be a recipient of the 2020 American Counseling Association Research Award, and the 2018 Insiders Business: “Top 40 Under 40” recognition.

She lives in Virginia with her spouse and three spunky young children. On the weekends you can find her at a nearby park, leading Girl Scouts, or making brunch with her family.

You can follow her on Twitter: e_goodmanscott.

“Are the kids okay?” Mental health in children and teens has been at the forefront of topics for concern, especially since the pandemic. Ross Szabo discusses the importance of mental health education in schools, and how we can normalize talking about it in our everyday conversations.       

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from Academy Spouses' Club https://www.usafaasc.org/ and Randolph Spouses’ Club https://randolphspousesclub.membershiptoolkit.com/home.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Resources:

https://humanpowerproject.com/

Bio:

Ross Szabo Talking about emotions can be a challenge, but Ross’s brutally honest, relatable and humorous approach puts audiences at ease as they confront a difficult topic.

When Ross was a freshman in college, everything on the surface seemed to be fine. He was making friends, getting good grades and had a fun social life. However, no one could have imagined how many emotions he was suppressing. Ross was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 16, was hospitalized for attempting to take his own life during his senior year of high school, and like so many other freshman, just wanted to fit in. He tried to hide what he was feeling to convince everyone that everything was ok, but that can only last for so long. Ross’s story resonates with the millions of college students who are putting on a happy face to hide their true emotions.

Ross uses tasteful humor and insights to help participants understand common mental health conditions and individual differences. He also covers warning signs that students can look for in their friends and peers, as well as resources that can provide guidance in these sensitive situations.

Ross is NOW the CEO of the Human Power Project. He is an award-winning mental health speaker, writer, trainer and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. Ross has spoken to more than 1 million students about the importance of mental health and provided a positive example to empower them to seek help. He received the 2010 Didi Hirsch Removing the Stigma Leadership Award, 2012 Changing Minds Award and had his advocacy work entered into the Congressional Record. He is the co-author of Behind Happy Faces; Taking Charge of Your Mental Health and a blogger for The Huffington Post.

Dr. Kimberly Dickman discusses the impact of loneliness and why it is an epidemic across the United States.  She also shares the importance of having meaningful connections and how those connections influence our overall well-being.   

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Vance Spouses' Club https://www.vancespousesclub.com/ and Peterson, Schriever, Cheyenne Mountain Spouses’ Club https://www.pscspousesclub.org/.   

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

Show Notes: 

Resources: 

Dickman, K. (2024, July). Loneliness: The New Global Pandemic. On the Move. Summer 2024 

https://militarychild.org/news-and-publications/ 

Bio: 

Dr. Kimberly S. Dickman serves as an assistant professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy Center for Character and Leadership Development (CCLD), where she leads the Healthy Relationship Education and Emotional Intelligence branch of the Development Division in the Center. CCLD’s mission is to advance the understanding, scholarship, practice, and integration of character and leadership development, resulting in cadets and permanent party prepared for service to the nation. 

Dr. Dickman is a licensed clinical professional counselor and certified educator. She began her work in education for the Department of Defense in 1991. During her 20+ years of civilian service she has performed at the Wing and Headquarters Air Force level before coming to USAFA. Of note is her work in the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program where she focused on education, analysis, and prevention science. Her extensive experience allows her to serve at USAFA as faculty and lead in topics such as healthy relationships, emotional intelligence, positive psychology, prevention science, human sexuality, and leadership development. She teaches Human Sex, Reproduction, and Sexuality in the Biology Department and Applied Positive Psychology in the Behavioral Science and Leadership Department.  

Dr. Dickman is widely recognized and is frequently requested to present across the DoD and on a national scale. 

"Connections are at the heart of growth".  Listen as Dr. Brent Wolf, school principal and lifelong educator discusses the importance of meaningful connections in building relationships.  Connecting with students, parents, and educators creates a true foundation for growth. 

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Wiesbaden Community Spouses’ Club, Inc., and Ramstein Officers’ Spouses' Club. To learn more, visit https://wiesbadencommunityspousesclub.wildapricot.org/ and https://www.ramsteinosc.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

2025 MCEC Global Training Summit

https://militarychild.org/event/gts/

Brent Wolf has taught students in elementary and middle school for sixteen years before stepping into his role as the Principal at Derby Hills Elementary School in Derby, Kansas. For over a decade, he has taught as an adjunct professor at Baker University, Southwestern College, Wichita State University, and Cowley College. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Leadership Studies from Southwestern College, as well as a Master’s degree in Education from Baker University, Doctoral Coursework from Kansas State University, a Building-level Administrator Certificate from Pittsburg State University, and a Doctorate in Educational Administration from Southwestern College.

South Central Kansas has always been near and dear to Brent’s heart. He taught 3rd through 8th grade in Winfield, KS. Following those years, Brent moved into an Instructional Technology Specialist position for two years. After eight years teaching middle school English in Derby, KS (suburb of Wichita), Brent moved into the role as Building Principal at Derby Hills Elementary. This is his 5th year in that role.

Brent’s honors include making the first-ever website for Winfield Public Schools with his students through the GenY program. In 2015, Brent was named the KAKE News Golden Apple Award Recipient. In 2017, Brent was Derby Public School’s Secondary Teacher of the Year. That year, he also was named Region IV Teacher of the Year. He was a finalist for Kansas Teacher of the Year. Brent also was named a Spotlight Faculty Member at Baker University’s School of Professional and Graduate Studies. Brent serves on several committees through the Kansas State Department of Education. Brent currently is a member of the Higher Education Review Committee which accredits Kansas colleges’ education programs. He also serves as District 9-10 member of the Commissioner of Education’s Advisory Council. Brent is a newer member of the Kansas Teacher Recruitment and Retention Committee Member. Brent was the chair of the committee that wrote the ELA standards for PreK-12 in 2017. Brent was recently inducted into the Southwestern College Educators’ Hall of Fame.

Brent’s longest service period has been as a member and Vice President of the Winfield’s Board of Education. Brent served nine years and worked with hiring three superintendents, managing two bond issues, and tackling one global pandemic.

Human Performance Resources by CHAMP (HPRC) is a team of scientists and specialists who utilize research to develop evidence-based resources to help service members and their families to achieve total fitness.  Listen as Dr. Lauren Messina discusses the #GotMySix campaign and its focus on social connections and relationship building to help support military families maintain overall fitness.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the USAA Foundation.  

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

#GotMySix

https://www.hprc-online.org/total-force-fitness/gotmysix

Human Performance Resources by CHAMP

https://www.hprc-online.org/

Lauren A. Messina, PhD, LCMFT, DipACLM is a Senior Scientist supporting the Human Performance Resources by CHAMP (HPRC-online.org) team at the Uniformed Services University. With her clinical and research experiences, Lauren is a subject-matter expert in relational health, family well-being, social connections, behavior change, and holistic approaches to well-being. She is a Diplomate with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and a certified Health and Well-being Coach by Wellcoaches ©.

Dr. Messina is an Assistant Professor in the School of Medicine and the College of Allied Health Sciences at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. She is also an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Maryland, College Park. Dr. Messina has a master’s degree and clinical license in Couple and Family Therapy and a doctoral degree in Family Science from the School of Public Health at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Listen as Dominic Cirincione, a Military Family Advocate, discusses the unique challenges faced by military students of Reserve Component families.  These “Hidden Children” many times go unnoticed because of their non-traditional military lifestyle.  Dominic shares the importance of identifying these students and providing specialized systems of support.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the USAA Foundation.  

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

2025 MCEC Global Training Summit

https://militarychild.org/event/gts/

Dominic Cirincione is a motivational speaker, Military Family Advocate, and certified career coach who specializes in quality of life for geographically dispersed Military Families. As a decorated combat veteran, military spouse, and father, Dominic brings unique perspectives gained from his experience to organizations dedicated to supporting military families, empowering agencies to unleash the untapped potential of unique demographics and truly make a difference across the DoD enterprise. Using real-world examples, top level research and storytelling, Dominic sheds light on how the invaluable talent each person brings to your organization can positively impact our military families around the world.

Dominic has earned several significant awards to include Ten Outstanding Young Americans (TOYA) that he shares a fraternity with other recipients such as John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Bill Clinton, and Vice Presidents Al Gore, Dan Quayle, and Richard Cheney to name a few. He has also been awarded the DoD Reserve Family Readiness Award three times in six years. Dominic’s career has been a model of service recognized with awards and decorations, and he has been a speaker for over 100K Deploying Soldiers and Families and has presented the importance of Building Healthy Military Communities to the US Senate. Dominic shows each audience how to reconnect with what matters most so they can achieve any result, all while serving America’s Greatest Customers.

Artificial intelligence is quickly transforming the educational landscape.  AI offers immersive learning experiences, opportunities for enhanced engagement, and increased accessibility for students in the classroom.  Listen as Dr. Ann H. Lê discusses how AI is changing education and how school systems can learn to embrace this technology.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Sheppard Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://sheppardspousesclub.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

AI Tools:

Khanmigo

https://www.khanmigo.ai/

Magic School

https://www.magicschool.ai/

Eduaide

https://www.eduaide.ai/

Gradescope

https://www.gradescope.com/

Curipod

https://curipod.com/

Speechify

https://speechify.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooh4FHBTOh4GidnMpckbi5XKM8sfkHS4qwRUI_cZoU4_mEPx11X

Dr. Ann H. Lê is a visionary Special Education Consultant and advocate with over two decades of service and leadership in education. Through her consulting practice, Lê Consulting, she partners with families, educators, and institutions to improve outcomes for students with disabilities by offering expert guidance in areas such as behavior intervention, inclusive practices, and compliance.

Her career spans a wide range of roles, including special education teacher, educational diagnostician, ARD facilitator, behavior specialist, and Assistant Director of Special Education, each grounded in a deep commitment to equity, access, and student-centered practices. 

Dr. Lê holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education from Sam Houston State University, as well as a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Neuroscience, Pre-Law, and Pre-Medicine from Baylor University. In addition to her academic credentials, Dr. Lê is a certified Principal as Instructional Leader and Educational Diagnostician, and holds multiple Texas educator certifications, including in English as a Second Language (ESL), General Education, and Special Education.

A published author and sought-after speaker, Dr. Lê has presented on topics ranging from restorative practices and mental health to school discipline and leadership. She serves on several doctoral dissertation committees and advisory boards, including those at Sam Houston State University and Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges education, public policy, and health, making her a trusted voice across sectors.

In recognition of her impact, Dr. Lê was named the 2023 Distinguished Educator of the Year by Sam Houston State University, where she also served as the honored commencement speaker. While she currently serves as Manager of the Highly Mobile and At-Risk Student Programs Unit at the Texas Education Agency—overseeing initiatives such as the Military-Connected Students Program and Purple Star Campus Designation—her insights on this podcast reflect her personal and professional experiences as an educator.

Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed during this session are solely those of Dr. Ann H. Lê and do not represent the stance of the Texas Education Agency.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network’s mission is to raise the standard of care and improve access to services for traumatized children, their families and communities throughout the United States.  Listen as Dr. Gregory Leskin, Rio May del Rosario, and Irene Ohsaka discuss trauma events, child traumatic stress, and what support looks like after experiencing a trauma.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the USAA Foundation.  

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

https://www.nctsn.org/

Military and Veteran Families

https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/populations-at-risk/military-and-veteran-families

2025 MCEC Global Training Summit

https://militarychild.org/event/gts/

Dr. Gregory Leskin is licensed clinical psychologist and serves as Director, NCTSN Military and Veteran Families and Children Program and the Academy on Child Traumatic Stress at the UCLA/Duke University’s National Center for Child Traumatic Stress. Dr. Leskin directs the NCTSN/DoD Academy on Child Trauma, an online training and social media platform developed to train DoD Family Advocacy Program staff clinical skills related to child trauma and behavioral health prevention for military families and children. Previously, Dr. Leskin has worked as a Clinical Researcher and Director of Clinical Training at the National Center for PTSD, Stanford University and the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. He completed a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) post-doctoral fellowship at the National Center for PTSD at the Boston VA Medical Center.  Dr. Leskin has written, consulted, and lectured on a number of clinical topics, including risk factors facing military-connected children, combat-related PTSD, impact of deployment on families and children, and promoting psychological resilience and well-being. He is the primary developer for the MiTi Kids program bringing together Military Informed and Trauma informed Principles for organizations to serve the needs of military and Veteran Families.

Irene Ohsaka, PMP, has over 6 years of experience in training and development. Ms. Ohsaka serves as the Training and Operations Manager for the NCTSN Academy on Child Traumatic Stress (Academy) at the UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress. She received her Bachelor of Science in Clinical Psychology at the University of California, San Diego. In the past, she trained over 13,000 employees and leaders in psychological safety and has experience working in longitudinal clinical research on brain development and child health. In recent years, Ms. Ohsaka has collaborated closely with the Department of Defense (DoD) and the National Center on the Sexual Behavior of Youth (NCSBY) to develop trainings and resources on problematic sexual behavior in children and youth for military personnel and families.

Rio May del Rosario is a licensed Social Worker with nearly 20 years of experience. Ms. del Rosario serves as the Assistant Program Director for the NCTSN Military and Veteran Families and Children (MVFC) and the NCTSN Academy on Child Traumatic Stress (Academy) at the UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress. She received her Bachelor of Art in Psychology and Health: Science, Society, and Policy at Brandeis University and her Master of Social Work at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College-CUNY. Prior to joining the Academy in 2014, Ms. del Rosario held various positions at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office Victim Services Unit in Brooklyn, New York serving victims and survivors of child maltreatment, domestic violence, and sexual assault. She also worked as a sexual assault crisis counselor with the Rape Treatment Center at UCLA Health, Santa Monica Medical Center.

Listen as Dr. Eric Flake, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician, discusses Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and how it affects children and teens.  He shares some common misconceptions about ADHD and how parents can best support a child with this diagnosis.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the USAA Foundation.  

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)

https://chadd.org/

Eric Flake, M.D., is a developmental-behavioral pediatrician and retired USAF Colonel. He currently works for the Henry Jackson Foundation and is contracted as the clinical director for a telehealth neurodiversity clinic centered at the Uniformed Services University (USU). He created the Developmental-Behavioral Family Readiness Center for the Department of Defense (DoD) and founded the only DoD Autism Center - JBLM Center for Autism Resource, Education, and Services (CARES). He attended the military medical school (USUHS), graduating in 2001.

Dr. Flake is an Associate Professor at the USU and the University of Washington. He currently serves in the American Academy of Pediatrics and on the science advisory board for the Military Child Education Coalition. Dr. Flake's passion is celebrating the strengths and resiliency of neurodiverse children. He has published numerous articles and presentations regarding childhood resilience, autism, and the psychosocial effects of deployment on children.

Homeschooling offers an opportunity to tailor a child’s education to their individual needs and interests.  For many military families it also provides a learning experience that is flexible and stable.  Listen as Natalie Mack discusses the importance of supporting social-emotional growth at home, while providing an environment for a military child to thrive.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the USAA Foundation.  

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Military Homeschoolers Association

https://militaryhomeschoolers.org/

HSLDA

https://hslda.org/

Natalie Mack is an author, TEDx speaker, and experienced twenty-three years military home educator. She is known for her words of encouragement and advocacy for homeschooling. She is known for her motto- “Let’s Get It Done” which encourages homeschoolers that you can homeschool to college successfully! Natalie is a retired Navy chaplain’s spouse and mom of five: four college graduates and a 12th grader. ​

She owns Homeschool Natalie Mack which provides homeschool educational consultations and speaking services. Natalie is also the founder of Military Homeschoolers Association which hosts the podcast: Base2Base Military Homeschooling. Additionally, Natalie is the Military Community Outreach Coordinator for HSLDA. ​

Natalie’s published works include the book 101 Tips for Homeschoolers available on Amazon and several magazine articles.

Student 2 Student (S2S) is a peer-to-peer student-led program that brings military and civilian students together to welcome new students, create a positive environment for all, support educational opportunities, build connections through service, and ease transitions. Listen as Briana discusses how S2S supports students by building a community through connections.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Tinker Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://www.tinkerspouses.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

MCEC Student 2 Student

https://militarychild.org/programs-and-initiatives/student-2-student/

Briana is a 17-year-old senior at Union Pines High School in Cameron, NC. This is the 6th school she has attended. Although moving is difficult, Briana enjoys meeting new people and making connections.  

She has an older brother, Benjamin, and although he plays soccer in Germany, they are very close. Briana plays soccer, competes in indoor and outdoor track and is an active member of the Leo and S2S clubs at Union Pines. 

After graduation, Briana will be running track at the University of Kentucky. Her parents are excited for road trips! Briana’s father, Guy, has been an active-duty Army nurse for almost 27 years. 

There are approximately 2.3 million children and youth under the age of 18 living with a wounded, injured, or ill service member and/or veteran.  Caregiving youth show strength, courage and love for their families.  Listen as Audrey tells her story of being a military child and her experience as a caregiver. 

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the USAA Foundation.  

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Caregiving Youth Student Leadership Program

https://militarychild.org/programs-and-initiatives/caregiving-youth-student-leadership-program/application-requirements/#top-content

Audrey is 16 years old and a 10th grade student from San Antonio, Texas. She is a competitive archer and a member of her school’s varsity girls golf team.  She is the youngest of three siblings and had the opportunity to attend the Spring 2025 MCEC Caregiving Youth Student Leadership Program.

In this podcast, you’ll hear my conversation with one of last year’s Call for the Arts Spotlight Winners: Kyler.  Listen as he discusses how creating and producing music has given him the opportunity to express his feelings of growing up a highly-mobile child. Congratulations once again to all the 2024 CFA winners!

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Dyess Spouses’ Club and Mildenhall Spouses’ Association.  To learn more, visit https://www.dyessspousesclub.com/ and https://www.mildenhallspousesassociation.com/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Calling all artists, grades K-12: The 2025 Call for the Arts contest is NOW OPEN. Submissions will be accepted through April 30, 2025, and must be postmarked by this day.  Good luck to every budding artist, we look forward to being amazed. See contest guidelines and link to entry form on our website: https://militarychild.org/programs-and-initiatives/the-call-for-the-arts/

Kyler’s 2024 MCEC Global Training Summit Performance

https://youtu.be/dsvEmapYLQk?si=NpRhPeO29oNj2Z4W

Kyler has been a military child for more than a year now.  He is a 17-year-old sophomore, and has two siblings that live with him. His father is in the Army, and he loves him very dearly. One of his favorite hobbies is producing music.  He has been officially producing music for around two years and enjoys every part of it!

We are excited to share this episode on the extraordinary lives of military children who have been recognized as the Operation Homefront 2025 Military Child of the Year® recipients from the National Guard, Space Force, Navy, and Army families. Join us as Emily, Natalia, Mason, and Maribel share stories of resilience and appreciation for growing up in military families.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Maxwell-Gunter Spouses’ Club To learn more, visit https://www.maxwellgunterspousesclub.com/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Operation Homefront

https://operationhomefront.org/

Military Child of the Year Award Recipients

https://operationhomefront.org/military-child-of-the-year/

Emily, the Operation Homefront 2025 Military Child of the Year for the National Guard is 18, and the daughter of Rebecca and Juan Carlos Baldeosingh, an Army National Guard sergeant who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.  Her stepfather, retired Marine Sgt. Maj. Skip Amaker, served 26 years. His tenure included five deployments to Iraq and one to Afghanistan.

Emily was 2 when her mother received the news on June 29, 2009, that Juan Carlos was among four North Carolina guardsmen killed in Iraq when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. He first served in the Marine Corps but transitioned to civilian life and, in 2008, joined the Guard.  Being part of a Gold Star Family has shaped Emily.

“I have grown up with the utmost respect for our country and those who serve to protect our freedom,” she said. “My family has always made it a top-tier priority to stay hopeful and stay positive through everything.” 

Natalia, the Operation Homefront 2025 Military Child of the Year for the Space Force, finds opportunity in the challenges that face military families.  Natalia, 17, is the daughter of Maria Tapia and Chief Master Sgt. Jay Harris, who has served in the Air Force and Space Force since 1995. He is currently senior enlisted leader at Vandenberg Space Force Base.  

Natalia understands the hardships of changing friend groups and adapting to new cultures after attending ​​12 schools and enduring seven PCS moves that have taken the family to five states and ​​​​one foreign country.  At first, she saw the constant change and upheaval as a disadvantage. However, her perspective changed, and she learned to value resiliency.  

“I chose to shift my mindset, and now I appreciate the ​​ 12 supportive schools, ​​12 reliable friend groups, and seven different places that I can proudly call home,” she said. “Every one of these experiences has profoundly influenced my journey, instilling in me a deep appreciation for resilience and the importance of building meaningful connections.” 

Mason, the Operation Homefront 2025 Military Child of the Year for the Navy, earned a bachelor’s degree before most of his peers finished high school. He reached the accelerated milestone while balancing academics with caregiving responsibilities at home.  Mason, 19, is the son of Melissa and Chief Warrant Officer Jason Mosher of Marysville, Washington. Jason, a 20-year veteran of the Navy, serves as N6A at Commander Naval Surface Group Northwest and is based at Naval Station Everett.  

The family has made four PCS moves, including two to Japan, and Mason’s father has been away on deployments, patrols, and missions at sea for 97 months.  

A homeschool student, Mason excels despite challenges of dysgraphia, a learning difference that affects written work and motor skills. He graduated high school at 16 and completed his associate degree from Liberty University four months later. He kept up the pace, and less than two years later graduated cum laude from Liberty University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and advertising. 

Maribel is Operation Homefront’s 2025 Military Child of the Year for the Army is founding and presiding over a youth volunteering organization when her family was stationed in Japan, serving with the Red Cross, and dedicating herself to improving childhood literacy are just a few of the reasons.  She is 17, lives in Kentucky where her father, Lt. Col. Nicholas Sikes, is stationed at Fort Knox. Her mom, Audrey Sikes, homeschools Maribel and her four younger siblings.  

In considering colleges, along with the usual items like location, financial aid, and aligning majors, Maribel must consider her food allergies and whether she can access allergen-free food stations. Her allergies and medical conditions are why she wants to study supply chain management and attend school in the Southeast. 

“I want to ensure that other kids will not be worried about where their next meal is coming from because the grocery store is out of the right allergy-friendly foods,” she said. “With a degree in supply chain…I will be able to make a difference in other people’s lives by providing enough safe food for them.” 

Full biographies can be found at

https://operationhomefront.org/2025-military-child-of-the-year-award-recipients/?internal_medium=internal&internal_source=banner&internal_campaign=thd-oh-25-03-internal-mcoy-traff&internal_content=D2503W61SB&sourceid=1153486.

Student 2 Student (S2S) is a peer-to-peer student-led program that brings military and civilian students together to welcome new students, create a positive environment for all, support educational opportunities, build connections through service, and ease transitions. Listen as Kiani shares her story, and how S2S became a source of support and comfort beyond her time as a new student.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the USAA Foundation.  

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

MCEC Student 2 Student

https://militarychild.org/programs-and-initiatives/student-2-student/

Military OneSource

https://www.militaryonesource.mil/benefits/confidential-counseling/

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:  https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988  

National Center for PTSD

https://www.samhsa.gov/resource/dbhis/national-center-ptsd

U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Mental Health

https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/index.asp

https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ptsd/next-step.asp

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_veterans.asp

Kiani is 17, in the 11th grade, and her dad served in the Army.  She has a dog named Daisy and enjoys playing basketball and video games in her free time.  Kiani has moved twice as a military-connected child.  She plans on joining the Army Reserves, participating in ROTC in college, and continuing to play basketball.

In our latest episode, we shine a light on the exceptional lives of military children who have been recognized as the Operation Homefront 2025 Military Child of the Year recipients from the Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force families. Join us as Isabella, Ian, and Sophia share their heartfelt stories of resilience, adventure, and gratitude that come with growing up in military families.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Fort Bliss Spouses’ Association. To learn more, visit https://www.thefbsa.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Operation Homefront

https://operationhomefront.org/

Military Child of the Year Award Recipients

https://operationhomefront.org/military-child-of-the-year/

Isabella, the 2025 Operation Homefront Military Child of the Year® for the Marine Corps, values the unique culture of the military community. 

A junior at Swansboro High School in North Carolina, she makes it her mission to welcome new students. Isabella, 17, lives in Hubert, North Carolina, with her mother and stepfather, Amanda and Chris Price. She has four siblings.  

“Being a military child who is now permanently in Swansboro, I get to not only relate to these new military kids, but help ease their transition into their new environment,” she said. 

Her parents served a combined 42 years in the Marine Corps. Her mother, a staff sergeant, deployed three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and humanitarian missions. She retired after 20 years.  

Her father, Gunnery Sgt. Brian J. Smith, retired from service after 22 years and eight deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He was awarded a Purple Heart after suffering injuries in Afghanistan. He died in 2023 at the beginning of Isabella’s sophomore year of high school after being diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic cancer. 

“My father who was the epitome of hard work and dedication to his career,” she said. “I strive daily to be as committed as he was in everything I aspire to accomplish.”  

Isabella is on track to earn an associate degree before graduating high school. She’s considering several universities in North Carolina for completing a bachelor’s degree before going to law school. She aspires to a career in the political field.  

Ian, Operation Homefront’s 2025 Military Child of the Year® for the Coast Guard, has achieved academic success that will help propel him to his goal of becoming a civil engineer, all while mentoring other students. 

Ian, 17, is a senior at I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, where he is currently his class valedictorian, the first Black male student to hold the position in a decade. He will graduate with an associate degree from Tidewater Community College a month before his high school graduation. 

Ian is the son of retired Lt. Michael Lindo and Michelle Effatt. Michael served for 27 years active duty in the Coast Guard, deploying for a total of 10 years conducting counter drug and migrant interdictions in the Caribbean, before retiring in 2019. His father lives in Georgia while Ian and his mom live in Virginia. 

“My father’s dedication and commitment to serving our country for so many years is something I deeply admire,” Ian said. “His loyalty and sacrifice for our nation have shaped who I am. It’s not just about the uniform; it’s about the values he instilled in me—discipline, resilience, and a strong sense of duty.”

“I’m really passionate about designing systems that can improve lives, especially in underserved areas,” Ian said. “I’ve always believed that infrastructure like roads and bridges plays such a crucial role in connecting people, improving safety, and supporting everyday life.” 

Ian is currently deciding among several universities, including Virginia Tech and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, to major in civil engineering.  

Sophia, Operation Homefront’s 2025 Military Child of the Year® for the Air Force, has learned to embrace life following the death of her father in 2023 after he served his country for 17 years. 

Sophia, now 17, was 15 years old when her father, Master Sgt. Anthony Pinero, passed away tragically… She lives at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany with her mom, Sheena Pinero, an executive services specialist and her younger sister. 

As a military child, Sophia experienced 37 months of her father’s deployment and five changes of station. Moving most recently to Germany meant leaving friends and family even farther away than usual, but Sophia responded with resiliency, helping plan trips around Europe with her mom and sister. 

“Of all of the bases that I have been stationed at, Ramstein Air Base has been the best,” Sophia said. “I have never felt as connected to the people around me as I do here. Whether it is pitching mail at the post office with active-duty personnel or recognizing volunteer excellence in the community, Ramstein Air Base has always felt like one big, connected family.” 

Sophia is considering pursuing a career in engineering or medicine. She wants to attend the United States Air Force Academy or a university with a strong Air Force ROTC program, and she hopes to become an officer in the Air Force.  

Full biographies can be found at

https://operationhomefront.org/2025-military-child-of-the-year-award-recipients/?internal_medium=internal&internal_source=banner&internal_campaign=thd-oh-25-03-internal-mcoy-traff&internal_content=D2503W61SB&sourceid=1153486.

The Purple Star School program is designed to help schools respond to the challenges military-connected children face during their school transitions.  Listen to Mr. Hovet Dixon, Jr., and Mr. Jason Fowler discuss how schools, districts, and community organizations are working to support military families.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from Alabama State Department of Education State Fund. 

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Alabama State Department of Education- Purple Star Schools

https://www.alabamaachieves.org/al-pssp/

South Carolina Department of Education-Purple Star Schools

https://ed.sc.gov/districts-schools/student-support/family-community-engagement/family-and-community-engagement/military-information/

Military Child Education Coalition-Purple Star Schools

https://militarychild.org/programs-and-initiatives/purple-star-schools/#:~:text=The%20Purple%20Star%20School%20program,workforce%2C%20and%20life%2Dready

The South Carolina Department of Veterans' Affairs

https://scdva.sc.gov/

Hovet Lee Dixon, Jr. currently serves as a high school principal in Huntsville, Alabama. He is a proud graduate of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University several times over, holding degrees in Elementary Education and Education Administration and Supervision. Principal Dixon has almost 25 years of teaching and leadership experience collectively, and prides himself on advocating for the communities he serves. 

In his capacity as principal, Principal Dixon has earned various recognitions on the local, state, and national levels for his commitment to his school community and progressions, having most recently been named the Alabama Association of Elementary School Administrators District X's Outstanding Elementary Administrator of the Year. Much of his focus has entailed providing a warm and inviting learning environment for our military families and communities. Principal Dixon values his longstanding partnership with MCEC. 

He has been married to a fellow educator for 24 years and is the father of two adult daughters and a high school son. Their pride and joy is their American Bully named Ace. 

Jason Fowler (Jay) joined the South Carolina Department of Veterans' Affairs in October of 2022 as the Military Affairs Coordinator. Jason retired from the South Carolina Army National Guard AGR program in February 2018 after 25 years of service to the country, culminating as the First Sergeant of the 43rd Civil Support Team (SCARNG). 

Jason served both on active duty in the Army and dedicated almost 15 years of his career to assist Federal, State, Local, and Tribal authorities as a member of the South Carolina Army National Guard’s highly distinguished and decorated 43rd Civil Support Team (CST). He served on the National CST Training Working Group as the Personnel, Senior Enlisted Advisor and was the quarterly Senior Enlisted speaker for the CST Pre-Command Course in Washington DC. Upon retirement he has spent much of his time as a contractor for L2 Defense Group, training with and evaluating the CSTs nationwide alongside US Army North.

Assigned to the Military Affairs Division at SCDVA, Jason works on Quality-of-Life Issues such as Military Child Education, Military Child Care, Military Spouse Employment and provides Base Support to the military installations that are located in South Carolina and Fort Eisenhower just across the state line. The Military Affairs Division strives to sustain and enhance the military presence in South Carolina.

Jason is currently enrolled in the Master of Arts History program at Arizona State University and has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from American Military University in Homeland Security. Jason is a member of several Veterans’ based organizations and enjoys volunteer work in his community.

In this podcast, you’ll hear my conversation with three of last year’s Call for the Arts Middle School Winners: Claire, Amaris, and Annabelle.  Listen as they discuss their beautiful works of art as an expression of their military experiences. Congratulations once again to all the 2024 CFA winners!

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Randolph Spouses’ Club.  To learn more, visit https://www.randolphspousesclub.com/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Calling all artists, grades K-12: The 2025 Call for the Arts contest is NOW OPEN. Submissions will be accepted through April 30, 2025.  Good luck to every budding artist, we look forward to being amazed. See contest guidelines and link to entry form on our website: https://militarychild.org/programs-and-initiatives/the-call-for-the-arts/

Claire is 13 years old and currently in 8th grade.  She stays busy with figure skating, cross country and track, and Civil Air Patrol.  She is the second of four children born to Air Force parents.  She has moved 6 times with another move on the horizon in Summer 2025.

Amaris is in 8th grade, and her dad serves in the Army.

Annabelle is now 15 years old and in the 9th grade. Her father is an Air Defense Officer in the Army. She has two younger siblings, Audrey and Joey. Annabelle also has two “fur brothers”, Rusty and Archie. She is a competitive swimmer and keeps busy with both high school and year-round club swimming. She has moved 7 times thus far while her father has been active duty.

Listen as Dr. Brooke Rice, Vice President of Curriculum and Work-Based Learning at NAF, discusses the changing landscape of college and career readiness for high school students.  She shares NAF's innovative approach to transform the high school experience through, "Exposure to career options and opportunities to build upon one's aspirations, to develop future ready skills, and create critical workplace connections".

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Fort Gregg-Adams Spouses’ Club.  To learn more, visit https://www.gaspousesclub.com/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

NAF

Dr. Brooke Rice leads the charge for increasing equity and access to high-quality work-based learning and career-connected curriculum for high school students across the country as the Vice President of Curriculum and Work-Based Learning at NAF. Throughout her career, she has worked at the local, state, and national levels to create resources, provide training, and implement programs to help students achieve their career goals and connect them to businesses who are looking for innovative ways to skill their future talent pipeline.

The MCEC Call for the Arts program invites military-connected children from all over the world, representing every branch of service, to share interpretations through art of what it means to be a military-connected child.  Listen as one of our 2024 Call for the Arts high school winners, Genevieve, shares how she expresses herself through art. 

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Ramstein Officers’ Spouses’ Club.  To learn more, visit https://www.ramsteinosc.org/ 

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

Show Notes: 

Resources: 

Calling all artists, grades K-12: The 2025 Call for the Arts contest is NOW OPEN. Submissions will be accepted through April 30, 2025.  Good luck to every budding artist, we look forward to being amazed. See contest guidelines and link to entry form on our website: https://militarychild.org/programs-and-initiatives/the-call-for-the-arts/ 

Bio: 

Genevieve is 18 years old and is a 12th grader.  She loves to draw, paint, and crochet.  She also loves her dog, Penny. After graduation she plans to attend California State University, Fullerton and study Social Work. 

Dr. Daniel Perkins and Dr. Jennifer Karre discuss the importance of policy in supporting military-connected students and families.  Listen as they examine the implementation of four policy initiatives: Advance Enrollment (AE), the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3), the Military Student Identifier (MSI), and the Purple Star School program.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Hurlburt Spouses’ Club.  To learn more, visit https://hurlburtspousesclub.com/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness

https://militaryfamilies.psu.edu/

Evaluation of State Implementation of Supportive Policies to Improve Educational Experiences and Achievement for K-12 Military Children

https://militaryfamilies.psu.edu/projects/view/speak-military-children/

Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission

https://mic3.net

Military Student Identifier

https://militarychild.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-104-MSI-Position-Statement_20250103-1.pdf

Military Child Education Coalition

https://www.militarychild.org

Daniel F. Perkins, Ph.D., is a Professor of Family and Youth Resiliency and Policy at Penn State University and also the Director and Principal Scientist of the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State, a university-wide applied research center.  Dr. Perkins has been designing and evaluating strengths-based family and youth development programs in 4-H and Cooperative Extension and leading complex projects for over 25 years. His work involves teaching, research, and outreach through the Penn State Cooperative Extension Service. One of his primary areas of focus is in fostering the well-being of military service members, veterans, and their families through the Clearinghouse. In his role as Principal Scientist, he is able to facilitate the translation of science into action by providing comprehensive, science-based programs and technical assistance to professionals working with military service members, veterans and their families.

Jennifer Karre, Ph.D. is a Research & Evaluation Scientist at the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State. Her Ph.D. is in Developmental Psychology. For over a decade, her role at the Clearinghouse has centered around program and policy evaluation. She has worked on evaluations of programs and policies for Service Members and their families related to fathering, parenting, child and youth development, child and youth educational support, couple relationships, reintegration after deployment, financial readiness, and emergency preparedness. 

MCEC’s 2024 Call for the Arts received hundreds of entries from across the globe and every branch of service, with creative expressions of strength, bravery, pride, and community. In this podcast, hear my conversation with three of last year’s Elementary School Winners: Aurora, Jack, and Lucia. Seeing and hearing the world from the perspective of a child is inspiring and will brighten your day. Congratulations once again to all the 2024 CFA winners!

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Kirtland Spouses Club.  To learn more, visit https://kirtlandspousesclub.com/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Calling all artists, grades K-12: The 2025 Call for the Arts contest is NOW OPEN. Submissions will be accepted through April 30, 2025.  Good luck to every budding artist, we look forward to being amazed. See contest guidelines and link to entry form on our website: https://militarychild.org/programs-and-initiatives/the-call-for-the-arts/

Aurora is 12 years old and in 6th grade. Her father is active-duty Army. So far, she has moved four times. Aurora is the oldest of 6 kids and loves to draw, read graphic novels, bake, and hang out with her friends. 

Jack is 12 years old and was born in Landstuhl, Germany, while his dad, a U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. (now retired) was flying out of Ramstein Air Force Base. Jack now lives in Hawaii, where he’s a 6th grader.  Jack loves playing soccer, surfing, mountain biking, and getting creative with his art. At home, he’s got a small flock of chickens, including his favorite pet rooster, T-Rex.

Lucia is 11 years old and in the sixth grade. Her dad serves in the Army, and they have moved 7 times in the last 10 years. Lucia is the oldest of four kids. She loves reading, writing, drawing, acting, and singing. 

Military children will experience on average 6-9 school transitions during their K-12 education, and some of these transitions may happen during the school year.  Listen as Dr. Jenny Cogbill discusses moving in the middle of the school year and the impact it has on students.  She shares valuable tips on how to best support these military children.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Fort Gregg-Adams Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://www.gaspousesclub.com/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Military OneSource

https://www.militaryonesource.mil/resources/millife-guides/changing-schools/

Military Spouse

https://www.militaryspouse.com/military-life/pcs/6-survival-strategies-for-pcsing-mid-year-with-milkids/

Dr. Jenny Cogbill received a B.S. in Psychology from Virginia Tech, a M.Ed. in Counselor Education from East Carolina University, and a Doctorate in Education in Leadership and Learning in Organizations from Vanderbilt University.

She began her career in teaching and counseling in K-12 schools and then moved to higher education as an adjunct professor in psychology and sociology. She began working with The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) in 2013 as a Parent to Parent Trainer and then transitioned to Professional Development in 2015. She continues to work for MCEC as an educator while also serving as the Liaison to the Science Advisory Board and working as a school counselor in North Carolina.

Since 1996, she has helped lead Soldier and Family Readiness Groups and has held leadership positions in multiple military-connected organizations. As an active-duty Army spouse of nearly 30 years, mom of three military children, one of whom is now serving in the Army, she is passionate about advocating for military children, their education, and for their families. 

DoDEA’s mission is to "Educate, Engage, and Empower military-connected students to succeed in a dynamic world". Listen as Kathleen Facon discusses DoDEA’s grant programs and how they are being implemented in communities to support military-connected students. 

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Wright-Patterson Officers’ Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://wrightpattersonosc.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

DoDEA

https://www.dodea.edu/

DoDEA Grant Program

https://www.dodea.edu/education/partnership-and-resources/dodea-grant-program

Kathleen Facon is the Chief of the Educational Partnership and Resources Division within the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA).  Kathleen (Kathy) Facon is responsible for leading DoDEA’s efforts to champion quality educational opportunities for military children in public schools by supporting military-connected local educational agencies (LEAs). Additionally, she is responsible for overseeing the policy and management of the Non-Department of Defense School Program (NDSP), which provides support and funding for the education of authorized command-sponsored dependents of military members and Department of Defense civilian employees assigned to overseas areas without DoDEA schools.

For nearly 30 years, Ms. Facon has served in various capacities in support of military child and youth development, early education, national accreditation systems, partnerships, parent education and involvement, curriculum programming, youth education support and exceptional family member programs. She has held leadership positions at the Marine Corps Headquarters in Virginia and on Marine Corps and Army installations in California and Germany.

Ms. Facon, a native of California, received a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development from California Polytechnic State University–San Luis Obispo and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota. Ms. Facon has been awarded the Commander’s Medal for Civilian Service and the Army Achievement Medal for Superior Civilian Service. Also, Ms. Facon has received twice, commendation from the Department of Navy for civilian service.

The Purple Star School program is designed to help schools respond to the educational and social-emotional challenges military-connected children face during their transition to a new school.  Listen as Pete LuPiba, “Founder of Purple Star Schools,” discusses how the Purple Star Program is helping military-connected students and families thrive.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Scott Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://www.scottspouseclub.com/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Ohio Purple Star Schools

http://www.ohiopurplestar.org/

Ohio Department of Education

https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Other-Resources/Military-Resources/Schools/Purple-Star-Award

Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3)-Ohio

https://mic3.net/state/ohio/

National Advocate for Purple Star Schools

https://militarychild.org/programs-and-initiatives/purple-star-schools/

Pete LuPiba is Ohio’s (MIC3) Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commissioner. Initially appointed in 2012 and duly reappointed by the Honorable Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio in 2019. LuPiba serves as Deputy Director for the Office of Budget and Management in the State of Ohio. LuPiba formerly served as Public Affairs Officer at the Department of Education, 2007-2019.

LuPiba founded the Purple Star School Award for Military family-friendly schools in 2015-2017. Purple Star is in 40+ States (*with 4,100+ Schools), including Virginia, Alaska, South Carolina, Florida, California, Texas, Idaho, Washington State, and New Hampshire – with 600 Purple Star Schools across Ohio. LuPiba was honored to serve as a key advisor and the Master of Ceremonies as Ohio formally launched the Collegiate Purple Star initiative as led by Governor Mike DeWine, and Chancellor Randy Gardner, and the Department of Higher Education.

In November of 2022, fellow Ohioans, state MIC3 leaders around the country, and Governor Mike DeWine nominated LuPiba to be honored in the 30th Anniversary Class of the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. This Hall of Fame includes Ulysses S. Grant, Neil A. Armstrong, and John H. Glenn. In February of 2023, Adjutant General of the Ohio Army and Air National Guard; Major General John C. Harris, Jr. commissioned LuPiba as an Honorary Buckeye Colonel.

LuPiba coordinated the effort to eliminate the professional educator licensure fee for teachers and coaches and administrators who have served or are serving in the Armed Forces’ Uniform – including the spouses of active-duty personnel. As of 2023, Military families in Ohio have saved more than $365,000.

In 2017-2018, LuPiba developed a state-wide Military Signing Day ceremony for those young men and women choosing to join the Armed Forces to begin their career, including through the Branch Service Academies and ROTC Scholarships at Universities and Colleges. At the 2023 Ceremony, Ohio hosted more than 300 attendees in the State’s capital of Columbus at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum.

LuPiba served active-duty, enlisted United States Navy – deploying with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11 to Iraq in 2006. LuPiba completed his duty in the Armed Forces while attached to the Reserves – serving with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 26.

LuPiba is an Alumnus of The Ohio State University and the University of Southern California. LuPiba is married to technology evangelist and cybersecurity expert, Jennifer. The LuPibas reside in greater Columbus with their five children; Sally, Corazon, Lincoln, Grant, and Washington.

Listen as Dr. Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth discusses the importance of conducting research of military and veteran families to improve their overall well-being.  She discusses the Military Family Research Institute’s Operation Military Experience, a nationwide study that looks at the experiences of families who have faced a parental deployment. 

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the USAA Foundation.  

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

The Military Family Research Institute

https://www.mfri.purdue.edu/

Operation Military Experience

https://opme.mfri.purdue.edu/

Dr. Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth is a Distinguished Professor of Human Development and Family Science at Purdue University, where she directs the Military Family Research Institute, which she co-founded, and serves as Director Emerita of the Center for Families. Dr. MacDermid Wadsworth holds an M.B.A. in Management and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Human Development and Family Studies from The Pennsylvania State University.

Her primary research interest is the relationship between work conditions and family life, with special focus on military families. She is an author of over 140 articles and chapters. Her research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health; the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Agriculture; state governments; and numerous private philanthropies.

Dr. MacDermid Wadsworth is a recipient of the Work Life Legacy Award from the Families and Work Institute and a fellow of the National Council on Family Relations, from which she also received the Felix Berardo Scholarship Award for Mentoring (2018) and the Burgess Award for continuous and meritorious contributions to theory and research in the family field (2022). She has served on federal advisory committees for the National Academies of Science and the Department of Defense and has testified in Congress on multiple occasions regarding military and veteran families. 

In 2016, Purdue University received the Kellogg Award from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and the Higher Education Civic Engagement Award from the Washington Center in recognition of the work of the Military Family Research Institute. Dr. MacDermid Wadsworth is a recipient of the Morrill Award, Purdue University’s highest faculty honor, for outstanding career achievements that have had an impact on society and has been named a “Top Ten Extraordinary Contributor” among work-family researchers worldwide.

Partners in PROMISE is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect the rights of military children in special education and disability communities to ensure they receive equal access to education.  Listen as Dr. Jenna Kremkow and Carla Wyrsch discuss how the PROMISE advocates for military children with special and exceptional needs.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Tinker Spouses Club. To learn more, visit https://www.tinkerspouses.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Partners in PROMISE

https://thepromiseact.org/

Partners in PROMISE Special Education & EFMP Binder 

https://thepromiseact.org/binder/

Educator Report

https://thepromiseact.org/educators-report-partners-in-promise-2022-research-findings/

Jenna Kremkow is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Elmhurst University. She completed her MS and PhD at The Pennsylvania State University with an emphasis in autism, augmentative and alternative communication, child language disorders, and stakeholder training and perspectives. Clinically, Jenna has worked as a speech-language pathologist in elementary schools, outpatient clinics, and early intervention settings.

Jenna teaches courses in augmentative and alternative communication, autism, language disorders in children, and research methods. One of her research areas focuses on the experiences of military families with children with autism and the use of technology to improve communication outcomes and quality of life for children with autism and their families. Her goal is to use research to support data-driven recommendations and policy changes to improve special education services for military families.

Carla Wyrsch is the spouse of a retired United States Marine and mother of two. She has devoted her career to educating and advocating for children with disABILITIES. Her experience spans a variety of settings, including residential treatment facilities, military bases, public schools, and the Lerner School for Autism at the Cleveland Clinic. Currently, she is a School Operations Director with MIYO Health. In addition to her work with MIYO Health, Carla enjoys volunteering with Best Buddies of Greater Memphis, the Organization for Autism Research, and Partners in PROMISE as a content creator and advisory board member.

Dr. Kimberly Dickman discusses an epidemic of loneliness across the United States and the impact that it's having on mental health.  She also shares the importance of developing meaningful connections, and how those connections influence our overall well-being.  

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the USAA Foundation.  

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Dickman, K. (2024, July). Loneliness: The New Global Pandemic. On the Move. Summer 2024

https://militarychild.org/news-and-publications/

PERMA Theory of Well-Being

https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu/learn-more/perma-theory-well-being-and-perma-workshops

Barbara Fredrickson: How Love and Connection Exist in Micro-Moments

https://psychology.unc.edu/2021/11/30/barbara-fredrickson-explains-how-shared-positive-emotions-make-us-happier-healthier-and-more-connected/

Dr. Kimberly S. Dickman serves as an assistant professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy Center for Character and Leadership Development (CCLD), where she leads the Healthy Relationship Education and Emotional Intelligence branch of the Development Division in the Center. CCLD’s mission is to advance the understanding, scholarship, practice, and integration of character and leadership development, resulting in cadets and permanent party prepared for service to the nation.

Dr. Dickman is a licensed clinical professional counselor and certified educator. She began her work in education for the Department of Defense in 1991. During her 20+ years of civilian service she has performed at the Wing and Headquarters Air Force level before coming to USAFA. Of note is her work in the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program where she focused on education, analysis, and prevention science. Her extensive experience allows her to serve at USAFA as faculty and lead in topics such as healthy relationships, emotional intelligence, positive psychology, prevention science, human sexuality, and leadership development. She teaches Human Sex, Reproduction, and Sexuality in the Biology Department and Applied Positive Psychology in the Behavioral Science and Leadership Department. 

Dr. Dickman is widely recognized and is frequently requested to present across the DoD and on a national scale.

September 15th through October 15th is National Hispanic American Heritage Month, celebrating the contributions of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation.  Listen as Dr. Jessica Meléndez-Carrillo, a lifelong educator, discusses the importance of embracing a cultural community with understanding, respect, and support.  In addition, she shares best practices for supporting military-connected students and their families.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Air and Space Forces Spouses’ Club of Washington DC. To learn more, visit https://www.afoscdc.com/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

2022 Demographics Profile of the Military Community

https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24177791/2022-demographics-report.pdf

https://www.militaryonesource.mil/data-research-and-statistics/military-community-demographics/

Economic and International Development Population Demographics- City of El Paso

https://www.elpasotexas.gov/economic-development/economic-snapshot/population-demographics/

Texas Education Agency Purple Star Campus Designation

https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/other-services/military-families/purple-star-campus-designation

Congressman Silvestre and Carolina Reyes Elementary School

https://res.canutillo-isd.org/

Canutillo Independent School District

https://www.canutillo-isd.org/

Dr. Jessica Meléndez-Carrillo serves as Principal at Congressman Silvestre and Carolina Reyes Elementary School in El Paso, Texas in the Canutillo Independent School District. Dr. Meléndez-Carrillo has worked in public education for 20 years working with students ranging from PreK through 5th grade as well as teaching college courses. Over the years, she has served as a teacher, instructional coach, curriculum district coordinator and assistant principal. She is a proud graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso where she received her bachelor's and a master’s degree. In 2018, she was selected as the National Assistant Principal of the Year for Texas by TEPSA (Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association) and in November 2021, El Paso Inc., a local magazine, named her as the top 5 school principals in the region.

Dr. Meléndez-Carrillo currently serves on the Executive Board of El Paso TALAS (Texas Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents) as the President-Elect. In June 2022, she was invited to attend Harvard University as part of the Raise Your Hand Texas cohort to focus on School Turnaround Leadership. In December 2022, she graduated from West Texas A&M University with a doctorate in educational leadership focusing on teacher retention and leadership. She has been invited to participate in national webinars as a guest speaker such as NAESP (National Association of Elementary School Principals) and Principals of Success to share her educational journey and work in public education.

Under her leadership, Congressman Silvestre and Carolina Reyes Elementary School has been awarded the Texas Education Agency Purple Star designation, being the first school in the Westside area of El Paso to earn this designation, due to their work commitment to meeting the unique needs of military-connected students and their families. Additionally, the school has earned the recognition of a Best Elementary School in 2024 by the U.S. News and World Report and the Honor Roll School designation by the Educational Results Partnership.

As an educator and transformational leader, Dr. Meléndez-Carrillo believes education is the opportunity equalizer and advocates for equitable education for all students providing a culture of excellence and giving a voice to the voiceless.

Technology has had an incredible impact on how we live and work in the world today.  Our access to videos, websites, and social media platforms are just at our fingertips.  But does digital media usage affect our mental health?  Listen as Dr. Justin Rowberry discusses the impact that this usage has on our mental, emotional, and behavioral health… especially for our kids.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Luke Spouses' Club and Tyndall Spouses Club.  To learn more, visit https://www.lukespousesclub.org/ and https://www.tyndallsc.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Resources:

Justin R. Rowberry, MD leads an innovative health program designed to provide developmental, behavioral, and mental health care to remote or underserved locations across the world.  Dr. Rowberry ensures timely delivery of needed remote care through a combination of virtual video visits, specialty provider extender training, and provider travel, improving health care for those who need it most.

The topic of mental health continues to be a priority in our world today.  Listen as Ashley Jensen discusses why our emotional, psychological, and social well-being are so important.  She also shares how the Cohen Veterans Network is helping support our military-connected families.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Fort Bliss Spouses’ Association. To learn more, visit https://www.thefbsa.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Cohen Veterans Network

https://www.cohenveteransnetwork.org/

National Alliance on Mental Illness

https://www.nami.org/

Foulkes, L. (2024, January 4).The adolescent mental health mess. Medium.

https://lucyfoulkes3.medium.com/the-adolescent-mental-health-mess-c93f23f8ed56

Ashley Jensen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has been serving children and families with complex behavioral health diagnosis and relational distress for over thirteen years. As a clinician, she developed specialties in Trauma-Focused CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), Solution-Focused Therapy, parent coaching, and evidence-based practices. Ashley has extensive experience as a Clinical Supervisor and Service Director of non-profit behavioral health services provided via clinic-based settings, home-based wraparound services, and crisis response teams. As a Senior Manager of Clinical Practice at Cohen Veterans Network, Ashley's aim is to drive innovation in clinical leadership and spark creativity in child and family therapy.

Dr. Patricia Jennings discusses the importance of supporting our educator’s mental health and well-being, especially those that work with our military-connected students.  She introduces us to CARE for Teachers (Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education), a professional development program designed to help teachers with stress management and rediscover the joys of teaching.

This podcast is made possible by our partnership with The National Child Traumatic Stress Network and their generous support. To learn more, visit  https://www.nctsn.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

CARE for Teachers (Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education)

https://care4teachers.org/

Compassionate Schools Project

https://www.compassionschools.org/

Patricia A. Jennings M.Ed., Ph.D. is an internationally recognized leader in the fields of social and emotional learning and mindfulness in education. A Professor of Education at the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia, her research places a specific emphasis on teacher stress and how it impacts the social and emotional context of the classroom, as articulated in her highly cited theoretical article "The Prosocial Classroom." Jennings led the team that developed CARE, a mindfulness-based professional development program shown to significantly improve teacher well-being, classroom interactions, and student outcomes in the largest randomized controlled trial of a mindfulness-based intervention designed to address teacher stress. CARE research has been validated by What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) and the CARE program is recommended by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) for supporting teachers’ well-being. She is a co-author of Flourish: The Compassionate Schools Project curriculum, an integrated health and social and emotional learning program. She is the author numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and chapters and several books including Mindfulness for Teachers: Simple Skills for Peace and Productivity in the Classroom and Mindfulness in the Pre-K-5 Classroom: Helping Students Stress Less and Learn More. Earlier in her career she spent 22 years as a teacher, school leader, and teacher educator.

We were delighted to be able to sit down with Lucy a year after our first conversation.  Listen as she discusses her recent PCS, how it feels to start all over again as the new kid, and how her love of music helps during those challenging times.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Mountain Home Officers’ Spouses’ Club and Naval Officers’ Spouses’ Club Washington, D.C. To learn more, visit  https://www.mountainhomeosc.org/ and https://www.noscdc.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

If you would like to hear part of Lucy’s original song and listen to her discuss her experiences growing up a military child, we have shared the link to our earlier podcast.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hello-my-name-is-lucy/id1386801038?i=1000626814063

Lucy is a 14-year-old military child.  Her father is in the US Navy and she just completed her fourth move!  Last year, Lucy was a member of the National Junior Honor Society and held the Parliamentary position.  She was captain of her school’s dance team, a member of the jazz band, and was asked to sing the National Anthem at the opening season of softball.  She loves to sing, dance, and write her own songs.  She is a kind and compassionate daughter, sister, and friend.  This year she will be starting high school as a freshman at Jamestown High School in Williamsburg, Virginia and is looking forward to making new friends.  

Student 2 Student is a peer-to-peer student-led program that brings military and civilian students together to welcome new students, create a positive environment for all, support educational opportunities, build connections through service, and ease transitions.  Listen as Emily discusses how her S2S is helping new students start the school year with a great support network.  

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Maxwell Gunter Spouses’ Club and Mountain Home Officers’ Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://www.maxwellgunterspousesclub.com/ and https://www.mountainhomeosc.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

My name is Emily, and I am a Senior at Fort Campbell High School, KY. My step-dad serves in the Army, and I am proud to be a military kid! However, unlike most of my friends I did not grow up in the military, my mom married my step-dad only four years ago! Since then I have had the privilege of being a member of my school's Student 2 Student program, helping new students navigate moving and adjusting to a new environment. I am super involved at school and have been on the Varsity Volleyball team all four years! Additionally, I am a part of the National Honors Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Book Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and I manage the Track and Field team. However, my biggest passion is helping others feel loved and safe, which is why I hope to pursue a career in nursing and midwifery after high school. 

Listen as Scott Arcuri, Vice President of Field Operations at Operation Homefront discusses their mission to build strong, stable, and secure military families.  They provide relief and recurring family support programs, including events like the Back-to-School Brigade, Holiday Meals for Military, and Star-Spangled Babies.  Operation Homefront is truly focused on helping military families not just survive but thrive. 

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Military Spouse Association of Camp Pendleton. To learn more, visit  https://www.msa-cp.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Operation Homefront

https://operationhomefront.org/

Back-to-School Brigade

https://operationhomefront.org/back-to-school-brigade/

Family Events

https://operationhomefront.org/events/

“Our military families face constant change, uncertainty, and separation, yet they willingly devote their lives to service. We owe them an enormous debt of gratitude, and it’s an honor to come alongside them to help when they need it most.”

Scott Arcuri joined Operation Homefront as Vice President of Field Operations in January 2023 after serving a distinguished 32-year career in the Air Force. He spent the majority of his time in uniform as a personnel officer and he commanded units in Korea and in South Carolina. Scott held a variety of staff and leadership positions during his career, including Director of Personnel for U.S. Air Forces in the Middle East, and later in Europe and Africa; two tours at the Air Force Personnel Center; and three tours at Headquarters Air Force at the Pentagon. His career was devoted to leading, developing, and assisting Airmen and their families across the globe and he is passionate about continuing that work at Operation Homefront. Scott holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a master’s degree from Central Michigan University, Air Command and Staff College, and Air War College.

Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) are foundational to a child’s healthy development and well-being.  Listen as Dr. Elizabeth Hisle-Gorman and Dr. Binny Chokshi discuss promoting PCEs and how the Healthy Outcomes From Positive Experiences (HOPE) model supports strengthening families.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Ramstein Officers’ Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit  https://www.ramsteinosc.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

MCEC Global Training Summit

Don’t miss Dr. Hisle-Gorman and Dr. Chokshi’s presentation at the Global Training Summit.

Virtual Session, Thursday, August 1, 2024

Promoting Positive Childhood Experiences in Military Connected Children and Youth

Promoting healthy child development necessitates a focus on positive childhood experiences (PCEs).  Though military life can provide children with a bounty of resources and opportunities, military children also routinely experiences the stressors associated with military life, such as parental separation and frequent moves.  Promoting PCEs in military children can help to buffer the impact of the unique challenges for military connected children and adolescents and can support their academic and future success.  This interactive workshop will first review the connection between adversity, positivity, and wellbeing, then discuss the four building blocks of the Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences (HOPE) model, and conclude with an opportunity for participants to discuss PCEs as they relate to military children, including a discussion of relevant community and advocacy organizations, whose programs promote PCEs in military children and adolescents.

https://www.militarychild.org/event/gts/gts-register/

Healthy Outcomes From Positive Experiences (HOPE)

https://positiveexperience.org/

Hidden Heroes- Elizabeth Dole Foundation

https://hiddenheroes.org/

Operation Purple Camp- National Military Family Association

https://www.militaryfamily.org/programs/operation-purple/operation-purple-camp/

The Military Child Well-being Toolkit

https://www.militarychild.org/resource/wellbeing-toolkit/

Military OneSource

https://www.militaryonesource.mil/non-medical-counseling/

Dr. Hisle-Gorman is Director of the Military Family Research Division and Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics. She began her career as a social worker working in neighborhood development efforts in Washington, DC to support and strengthen families to prevent family violence and overcome hardship. However, a move to a military town with her active-duty military spouse, re-focused her on work with military families. She served as a Child Protective Services officer in Onslow County, North Carolina and worked extensively with military families. After completing her Ph.D. in Social Work at the University of Maryland, Dr. Hisle-Gorman taught and worked in community development and was the senior author on one of the first articles to document the clinical effects of military deployment on children. She subsequently moved to USUHS to expand its research portfolio exploring the effects of military life on children. Her research interests are focused the impact of past military deployment on military children, effects of parental injury and family violence on pediatric health and mental health, and healthcare usage trends in military pediatrics. However, she has also worked on projects examining autism in children, indicators of immunization completion, neonatal health, care for transgender individuals, healthcare disparities, and the effects of medications on children. Dr. Hisle-Gorman has significant experience working with the Military Health System Data Repository and conducting retrospective research studies about military-connected children using the MDR. Dr. Hisle-Gorman most enjoys mentoring medical students, residents, and junior faculty on research projects, and teaching them the research process on an individual basis.

Dr. Binny Chokshi is a general pediatrician, with a focus on adolescents and young adults. Dr. Chokshi's research and education interests are focused on understanding the impact of early life stressors on health across the life course. To mitigate the effects of trauma and stress on children, Dr. Chokshi advocates for a trauma-informed approach to healthcare. She has developed web-based e-modules to train outpatient pediatricians in responding to childhood adversity with a trauma-informed care approach and has also trained medical students and residents at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. In a prior role at Children's National Hospital, she also worked with hospital leadership to develop hospital wide trauma-informed practices. In her current role at USUHS, Dr. Chokshi examines how military specific factors may impact child and and family health, with a current focus on how social determinants of health such as food security impact military child health.  Dr. Chokshi is also passionate on promoting positive childhood experiences, to foster healthy development in children and counter the impacts of stressful experiences.  Dr. Chokshi has a vested interest in medical education and completed Masters in Education at the George Washington University School of Education and Human Development. On a national level, Dr. Chokshi serves on the Expert Leadership Team for the American Academy of Pediatrics project “Building Capacity for Trauma-Informed Pediatric Care”. 

BigFuture’s mission is to ensure every student has free resources to plan for life after high school.  Listen as Greg Rafal, Director of BigFuture Program Implementation at College Board, shares how they are focused on supporting all students plan for their future.  He also discusses the importance of consistent college and career guidance for our military-connected students, and how BigFuture is helping do just that.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Sheppard Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit  https://sheppardspousesclub.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

MCEC Global Training Summit Pre-Summit Professional Development

Don’t miss Greg Rafal’s session at the Global Training Summit.

Distinguished Lecture Session, Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Where Students Can Own Their Future

In 2021, the College Board published research that showed students were 25% more likely to attend college and 31% were more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree after connecting with colleges and scholarship programs through the College Board Student Search Service™. Using the College Board BigFuture School mobile app can help students plan for college and career options after high school, and even empower students to drive their own conversations with colleges and scholarship providers across the country by joining the Student Search Service™. Learn from the Director of the BigFuture Program Implementation himself, Gregory Rafal, on how to find and support military-connected students with free tools and resources that can help them get ready for their next big adventure.

https://www.militarychild.org/event/gts/gts-register/

 The College Board

https://www.collegeboard.org/

BigFuture

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/

Student Search Service

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/student-search-service

Greg Rafal is the Director of BigFuture Program Implementation at College Board. In this role, his focus is to increase K-12 and caring adult awareness of BigFuture and to lead the BigFuture Live virtual community event strategy. Prior to his role at College Board, he worked in higher education. Most recently he was at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business where he oversaw global programs for undergraduate and MBA students.  He also worked in international student admissions and student affairs at several other institutions.  He received his MA in International Education and Training from American University and BA in Spanish/Political Science from Christopher Newport University. Greg is originally from northern Virginia and is based in Washington, DC.

"Every child deserves love, acceptance, and respect."  In this powerful discussion, Keygan Miller from The Trevor Project shares the organization’s mission to support and empower LGBTQ+ youth.  The conversation highlights the importance of education, acceptance, and creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals, especially in the military community.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

MCEC Global Training Summit Pre-Summit Professional Development

Don’t miss our four pre-summit sessions focusing on Mental Health and Well-being, Monday, July 29, 2024: Promoting Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems for Military-Connected Students, Mental Health Risk Factors and Suicide Prevention for Military Families, Improving School Climate to Promote the Mental Health of Military-Connected Youth, Pioneering Progress: Exploring Promising Practices of the DoDEA Grant Program for Military-Connected School Communities https://www.militarychild.org/event/gts/gts-register/

The Trevor Project

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/trevorspace/

Keygan Miller is the Director of Public Training for The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people. Keygan oversees design and facilitation of public trainings to advance Trevor’s life-saving suicide prevention work and teach audiences to be strong allies for LGBTQ+ youth. Prior to this work, Keygan was an Advocacy Manager at The Trevor Project, and they served as an Intervention Specialist for Cincinnati Public Schools. Keygan received a Master of Arts in Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Cincinnati as well as a Master of Education and Human Development in Education Policy from The George Washington University.

Resilience is often described as our ability to “bounce back” as we are faced with challenges.  Our military-connected youth live a highly mobile lifestyle and developing resiliency skills can assist in navigating the unique challenges of this life.  Listen as Dr. Rachel Millstein and Stacie Fredriksson discuss programs that provide opportunities for youth to build these skills.  

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Naval Officers’ Spouses’ Club of San Diego. To learn more, visit  https://noscsandiego.com/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

MCEC Global Training Summit

Don’t miss Dr. Millstein’s and Ms. Fredriksson’s presentation at the Global Training Summit.

Virtual Session, Thursday, August 1, 2024

Resilient Youth for Military-Connected Children

Resilient Youth is a six-session virtually-delivered program developed by the Massachusetts General Hospital Child Resiliency Program and Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, offered by Home Base at Massachusetts General Hospital.  We have been able to reach youth across the country to teach relaxation, coping, and communication strategies through this innovative program.  Youth and parent feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, instructive, and pre-post intervention data are currently being collected.  The program is expanding as we seek to be able to offer this educational program as a preventive measure to help military youth cope with their unique stressors.

https://www.militarychild.org/event/gts/gts-register/

Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Mass General Brigham Program

https://homebase.org/

https://homebase.org/programs/new-england-programs/resiliencyprograms/

Dr. Rachel Millstein serves as the Clinical and Research Co-Director of the Mind Body Health team at Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program. Since 2020, Dr. Millstein has been providing program development and oversight of Home Base Resiliency programming in collaboration with the MGH Benson Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine. Her clinical skills as a SMART and Resilient Warrior/Family/Youth group leader along with her documented research and data analysis background have helped lead the program’s growth. In the Co-Director role, she provides clinical oversight and research management for the services provided at Home Base in the Mind Body Health Services directorate. 

Stacie Fredriksson has been at Home Base for more than 5 years and currently manages the Family Support Team which provides peer support and resiliency programming.   A veteran herself, Stacie served 14 years in the Air Force on active duty as an intelligence officer before transferring to the Air Force Reserves where she served the last 9 years of her career at USCYBERCOM before retiring in 2016.   Stacie is married to her husband, also an Air Force veteran and together they have two children and two dogs who keep them both busy and focused on the importance of living each day to the fullest!  A native of Texas, Stacie has adapted to New England and enjoys spending time outside, cooking, reading and traveling.    

Dr. Elizabeth Connors and Dr. Samantha Reaves discuss the impact that data has in developing a comprehensive school mental health support system.  They address the importance of having system and individual level data to assess the quality of programs and services, and how to utilize that data to make improvements.

This podcast is made possible by our partnership with The National Child Traumatic Stress Network and their generous support. To learn more, visit  https://www.nctsn.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

MCEC Global Training Summit Pre-Summit Professional Development

Don’t miss our four pre-summit sessions focusing on Mental Health and Well-being, Monday, July 29, 2024: Promoting Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems for Military-Connected Students, Mental Health Risk Factors and Suicide Prevention for Military Families, Improving School Climate to Promote the Mental Health of Military-Connected Youth, Pioneering Progress: Exploring Promising Practices of the DoDEA Grant Program for Military-Connected School Communities https://www.militarychild.org/event/gts/gts-register/

National Center for School Mental Health

https://www.schoolmentalhealth.org/

National Center for Safe Supportive Schools

https://www.ncs3.org/

School Health and Performance Evaluation System

https://theshapesystem.com/

Elizabeth H. Connors, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and Associate Professor at the Yale Department of Psychiatry. She directs the Yale Program on Implementation Consultation and Research (https://medicine.yale.edu/psychiatry/consultationcenter/research/school-mental-health-implementation-consultation-research/) and is a co-founder of the Yale Measurement-Based Care Collaborative (https://medicine.yale.edu/psychiatry/research/programs/clinical_people/mbccollab/). Elizabeth is also a core faculty member with the University of Maryland National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH, https://www.schoolmentalhealth.org/) and is a co-developer of The SHAPE System national performance standards and free online quality improvement resources for comprehensive school mental health systems (see https://theshapesystem.com/). Elizabeth conducts research, evaluation, training and consultation with school systems, community organizations and healthcare organizations to promote equitable access to high quality mental health supports.

Elizabeth’s father and brother are US Navy Veterans, and she grew up in the Florida panhandle where many of her friends and community members were active duty, veterans or military-connected.

Dr. Samantha Reaves is an Assistant Professor at the National Center for School Mental Health. She is an experienced school mental health clinician and researcher who often provides technical assistance to school, district, and state leaders around their school mental health quality improvement efforts. Her personal research interests lie at the intersection of mental health and education. She often investigates how school or family factors influence student outcomes in underserved communities.  As a clinical-community psychologist, she believes great prevention work can be done and realizes the importance of strengthening the systems children are nested in to promote wellbeing. She is committed to supporting schools, at multiple levels, to improve policies and procedures around student socioemotional functioning.  In her work at the NCSMH she primarily supports the Partnering for Student Wellness project, the SOR parenting program evaluation, and the National Quality Initiative.

In our latest episode, we were honored to have Lisa Howard delve into the critical topic of mental health within the military community.  Lisa open-heartedly shares her personal family experiences, emphasizing why having open conversations is vital to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Team Seymour Spouses' Club. To learn more, visit  https://www.teamseymourspouses.com/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

MCEC Global Training Summit

Don’t miss Lisa’s presentation at the Global Training Summit.

Virtual Session, Thursday, August 1, 2024

Building Your Personal and Community-Based Toolbox of Resources

Children don’t say,” I had a hard day. Can we talk?” They say, “Will you play with me? or Stay out of my room.” Discover fresh ways to communicate with military youth especially when the parent/educator is concerned with mental/behavior health challenges. Learn what steps to take if concerns need to be alleviated and what resources are available. (Registration for our Virtual Session will open June 25, 2024).

https://www.militarychild.org/event/gts/gts-register/

The Barry Robinson Center

https://www.barryrobinson.org/

Lisa Howard has been a military spouse for 28 years.  She served as both an enlisted Soldier and officer within the United States Army Reserve from 1986 to 1998.  Lisa earned a Master of Social Work in 1999 from Savannah State University.  She has two children: Lucas (23, adopted in 2002 from Baku, Azerbaijan) and Madeline (22, born in Germany).  Her family has relocated 13 times for Army assignments- twice to Germany. 

Currently, Lisa is the Vice President, Government Affairs & Community Engagement for The Barry Robinson Center where shares the mission of BRC with the military community through multiple formats.

During the 28 years of active-duty service with her spouse, she has been an active member at the unit and community level.   Lisa has the honor and privilege of holding a volunteer position as an Army Arlington Lady at Arlington National Cemetery. 

Lisa loves to hike in the Shenandoah Valley, cheer for the Green Bay Packers, and bring the family together at the “Howard Hideaway”.

The Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) addresses key educational transition issues encountered by children of military families.  But what does implementation of the Compact look like?  Listen as Shelly Ramos, Senior Director of the Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division at the Texas Education Agency and MIC3 Texas State Commissioner, shares three unique case studies and solutions that illustrate how MIC3 works to assist in successful education-related transitions.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Scott Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit  https://www.scottspouseclub.com/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

MCEC Global Training Summit

Don’t miss Lindsey Dablow, Training and Operations Associate (MIC3), presenting two sessions at the Global Training Summit.

Distinguished Lecture Session, Tuesday, July 30, 2024

MIC3 201: Case Studies and Implementing the Compact

The format of the Compact 201 Training is an interactive session focused on discussing case studies to demonstrate the correct implementation of the Compact. Participants will learn of the legal provisions related to education that protect military children as they transition interstate between public and Department of Defense Education Activity schools. Participants will discuss Compact gray areas and learn about Commission resources and best practices for military families, school districts, and states.

Virtual Session, Thursday, August 1, 2024

MIC3 101: Addressing Key Educational Transition Issues

The National Office facilitates the MIC3 Compact 101 Training. Participants will gain an understanding of the legal provisions related to education that protect military children as they transition interstate between public and Department of Defense Education Activity schools. The Compact 101 Training provides participants with a working knowledge of the Compact, state structure and implementation, rules and regulations, and how the Compact supports military students. (Registration for our Virtual Session will open June 25, 2024).

https://www.militarychild.org/event/gts/gts-register/

The Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3)

https://mic3.net/

https://mic3.net/mic3training-net/

Shelly Ramos serves as the senior director of the Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division at the Texas Education Agency. Ms. Ramos provides statewide leadership for the implementation of new legislation and State Board of Education mandates for K-12 education, including the state curriculum standards known as the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or TEKS, the Texas Virtual School Network, Mathematics Achievement Academies, and Civics Training Program as well as high school graduation requirements. Ms. Ramos has served as the commissioner designee from Texas for the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) since 2016. 

Prior to joining the Texas Education Agency, Ms. Ramos worked in educational publishing developing products for social studies teachers and students. She also served as a classroom social studies teacher for eleven years.  

Dr. Sharon Hoover discusses the importance of prioritizing the mental health and well-being of students in schools, and how multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) provide a framework that supports the “whole child”.    

This podcast is made possible by our partnership with The National Child Traumatic Stress Network and their generous support. To learn more, visit https://www.nctsn.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

MCEC Global Training Summit Pre-Summit Professional Development

Don’t miss our four pre-summit sessions focusing on Mental Health and Well-being, Monday, July 29, 2024:

• Promoting Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems for Military-Connected Students 
• Mental Health Risk Factors and Suicide Prevention for Military Families
• Improving School Climate to Promote the Mental Health of Military-Connected Youth
• Pioneering Progress: Exploring Promising Practices of the DoDEA Grant Program for Military-Connected School Communities

https://www.militarychild.org/event/gts/gts-register/

National Center for School Mental Health

https://www.schoolmentalhealth.org/

National Center for Safe Supportive Schools

https://www.ncs3.org/

School Health and Performance Evaluation System

https://theshapesystem.com/

Sharon A. Hoover, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Hoover is Co-Director of the National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH, https://www.schoolmentalhealth.org/) and Director of the National Center for Safe Supportive Schools (NCS, https://www.ncs3.org/). She leads national efforts to support states, districts, and schools in the adoption of national performance standards of comprehensive school mental health systems (see https://theshapesystem.com/).

Dr. Hoover has led and collaborated on multiple federal and state grants, with a commitment to the study and implementation of quality children’s mental health services. Creating safe, supportive, and resilient schools has been a major emphasis of Dr. Hoover’s research, education, and clinical work. She has worked for two decades, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Education, and the World Health Organization to train state and community education and behavioral health leaders and professionals in multi-tiered systems of support for mental health and psychological trauma. Dr. Hoover is a co-developer and international trainer for two widely used, evidence-based school interventions, the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) and Supporting Transition Resilience of Newcomer Groups (STRONG).

“The things that make me different make me, me”.  Don’t Hide It, Flaunt It (DHIFI) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance acceptance, understanding, tolerance and mutual respect for an individual’s visible or invisible differences.  Listen as Meg Zucker shares her story and how she believes we should all embrace what makes us unique.   

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Fort Liberty Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit  https://www.fortlibertyspousesclub.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

https://donthideitflauntit.org/

https://donthideitflauntit.org/project-flaunt-hub/

https://megzucker.com/

Born Extraordinary: Empowering Children with Differences and Disabilities

Author: Meg Zucker

https://news.va.gov/130375/free-resource-for-military-project-flaunt/

Meg Zucker is the Founder and President of Don’t Hide It, Flaunt It (DHIFI), a non- profit organization dedicated to advancing acceptance, understanding, tolerance and respect for people’s visible or invisible differences, and the author of Born Extraordinary: Empowering Children with Differences and Disabilities (published by TarcherPerigee/Penguin Random House). Meg was born with Ectrodactyly, a genetic condition which results in her having shortened forearms, one finger on each hand and one toe on each foot and which she passed on to two of her children. A Wall Street lawyer with over twenty years of experience in the field of anti-money laundering, Meg was inspired to start DHIFI when her oldest child was bullied in elementary school because of his physical difference. For the past seven years, DHIFI has partnered with Scholastic Inc. to provide Social Emotional Learning/ empathy programming to students nationwide.

Meg has combined her skills as a prominent anti- money laundering speaker and her personal experience to become an inspirational and impactful speaker to audiences ranging from students and faculty in schools to community groups and Fortune 500 corporations. Her speeches have reached millions of people across the country, and she has empowered attendees to celebrate their visible and invisible differences, create cultures of inclusion and spread empathy.

Sharing her message of empathy and empowerment, Meg has been featured on TODAY (NBC) and My Extraordinary Family (The Learning Channel). Meg is profiled in the 2021 book The Female Lead: We Rise By Lifting Others. Meg’s articles have appeared in primary national print media and magazines such as USA Today, Parents magazine and The Forward.

It’s that time of year...PCS season.  Military families move on average every 2-3 years, and this constant moving can be very stressful.  Listen as Amy Shick, a seasoned military spouse, discusses how her family has navigated multiple moves and gives tips on making them a little easier. 

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Mountain Post Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit  https://www.mpsc.us/ 

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) 

https://www.militarychild.org/ 

MIC3 

https://mic3.net/ 

Military Student Consultants (MSCs) 

https://www.militarychild.org/programs-and-initiatives/military-student-consultants/ 

Military OneSource 

https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/search?program-service=12/view-by=ALL 

https://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-pcs/moving-personal-property/ 

Amy Shick has been a military spouse for 29 years and mother to three children ages 22, 20, and 16. She loves this crazy Army life and has embraced many volunteer roles, PCSs (13) and deployments (6).  

Join us as we sit down with three school liaison professionals, who share insights into how they serve as a vital bridge between military-connected families, educational institutions, and communities. Discover the comprehensive support offered to ensure the academic, social, and emotional success of students navigating the unique challenges of military life.    

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Texas Education Agency. To learn more, visit https://tea.texas.gov/.  

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

Show Notes: 

Resources: 

Army  

hqschoolliaison@army.mil 

Marine Corps  

hqmc.slp@usmc.mil  

Navy  

NavyHQSchoolLiaison@us.navy.mil  

Air Force  

afsvc.daf.slo@us.af.mil  

Space Force  

afsvc.daf.slo@us.af.mil  

Military OneSource 

https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/search?program-service=12/view-by=ALL 

Bio: 

Dr. Stephanie Borrowman is currently the Army School Liaison/Transition Specialist with the Army Headquarters Installation Management Command (HQ IMCOM) G9, Child and Youth Services (CYS). She also has extensive experience in the public school system as a teacher, coordinator, and most recently as a special education director. She earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership in 2015, and her Master’s degree in Special Education in 2009. She is also an Air Force veteran, a military spouse, and has raised four children in installations all over the world.  

Lacey P. Allen is the Department of the Air Force (DAF) Regional School Liaison Specialist for the East Region at the HQ Air Force Services Center (AFSVC), HQ Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC), Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. She oversees operations in the following states AL, CT, DE, FL, GA, KY, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, and WV. As the headquarters program specialist for the School Liaison Program, she supports personnel at installations within multiple Major Commands which encompasses PreK-12 Education, Public Schools on Military Installations (PSMI), and the Military & Family Life Counseling Program (MFLC). In addition, she serves as the liaison between education community stakeholders, families, state, federal, or host nation education leadership, Installation Commanders, and MAJCOM Commanders to build a platform for enhanced educational opportunities and navigate the direct link between PreK-12 Education and mission readiness. As the subject matter expert, Mrs. Allen serves as the advisor to the Installation Commanders regarding PreK- 12 education to ensure military-connected students are provided opportunities to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally as they face global educational challenges and transitions.  

Horace Franklin Jr. is the CNIC Child and Youth Education Services (CYES) School Liaison Program (SLP) Manager.  He spent four years in the classroom before returning to school to complete an additional Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Trinity University. Upon completion, he served nine years as an Elementary and Middle School Principal in the San Antonio Independent School District. He relocated to Maryland and spent four years as the School Liaison at Naval Support Activity Bethesda and Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. He served as the Naval District Washington Regional School Liaison from 2017-2023. Horace is a servant leader committed to fostering collaboration, ensuring program effectiveness, and continuously advancing the mission and goals of Child and Youth Education Services.  

He resides in Clinton, Maryland, with his wife Theda (20-year Air Force retiree) and his three children (Devante, Felicia, and Horace III). When he is not at work or spending time with his family, Horace is on his bike. He is an avid cyclist, having logged thousands of miles throughout Texas and the East Coast. 

In our latest episode, Rachel and McKenna discuss the often-challenging world of mental health within military families.  From navigating the complexities of PTSD to fostering open communication and understanding, they share invaluable insights and personal experiences that many can relate to.  

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Military and Civilian Spouses’ Club of Fort Irwin. To learn more, visit https://mcscftirwin.org/.  

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

Why is Dad So Mad? 

Author: Seth Kastle Illustrator: Karissa Gonzalez-Othon 

Why is Mom So Mad? A Book About PTSD and Military Families 

Authors: Seth and Julia Kastle Illustrator: Karissa Gonzalez-Othon 

Wounded Warrior Project 

https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ 

Elizabeth Dole Foundation 

https://www.elizabethdolefoundation.org/ 

Military OneSource 

https://www.militaryonesource.mil/military-basics/wounded-ill-injured-and-caregivers/ 

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:  https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988   

Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741741  

National Center for PTSD 

https://www.samhsa.gov/resource/dbhis/national-center-ptsd 

U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Mental Health 

https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ptsd/next-step.asp 

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_veterans.asp 

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network 

https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/populations-at-risk/military-and-veteran-families 

McKenna is an 8th grader born and raised in the beautiful state of Montana. She lives with her mom and dad, an older brother, and a younger sister and brother. McKenna's dad is a retired combat Army and Air Force Veteran. He was deployed to OIF 2005-06 and was injured by multiple IED strikes. McKenna's work of art "The Tale of Two Lives" depicts the transition between combat and the civilian world and how some aspects bleed over from one into the other.  McKenna has always loved creating!  

McKenna's grandfather is a well-known artist, with works of art in the National Archives and many years of drawing the Airman of the Year portraits for the USAF. Aside from her natural talent, McKenna has been able to sit and learn from her grandfather. 

Besides art, McKenna is also musically gifted. She is currently in the honors choir at school. McKenna also enjoys playing cello and is in the 8th grade honors orchestra.  McKenna is also currently the point guard for her undefeated basketball team. She plays volleyball, runs hurdles, throws discus, and participates in high jump, and long jump.  Her current plans for when she "grows up" is to become a pediatrician and get to build upon her love of taking care of others.  Her mom and dad are especially proud of all that she has already accomplished in her young life and look forward to all the amazing things she has yet to create and achieve in the future.  

Rachel is the wife of a medically retired Army/USAF Veteran, and mom to four children, ranging in age from 15-5.  Rachel was a military child herself, having a father that retired from the USAF after 24 years of active-duty service. Rachel grew up all over the United States and across the world. She has loved the opportunities to learn and experience so many different people and cultures. Rachel is her husband's primary caregiver.  Along with all the hats she wears taking care of her family, Rachel is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). She owns a private practice providing mental health counseling to a variety of clients with a wide array of needs. Rachel also works to help parents involved with family services learn skills to improve their lives once their families are reunified.  In addition, Rachel works with hospice, providing grief and bereavement services for the local community.  She can often be found singing, crafting, camping, and is a true crime junkie!  Rachel's favorite thing is to spend time with her family and laugh as often as possible. 

Nicholas shares his journey from a military upbringing to pursuing his dreams in aviation.  Discover the impactful role of S2S programs, the value of kindness, and the essence of civic service.  A story of leadership, ambition, and the skies ahead! 

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Davis Monthan Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://davismonthansc.org/. 

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

Frances Hesselbein Student Leadership Program 

https://www.militarychild.org/programs-and-initiatives/frances-hesselbein-student-leadership-program/ 

Student 2 Student 

https://www.militarychild.org/programs-and-initiatives/student-2-student/ 

My name is Nicholas, I am 16-year-old Sophomore from San Diego California. Currently, I am stationed overseas at Sigonella in Italy, and I am the President of my high school’s S2S.  I am currently working with my S2S program on a project that would better my school’s culture by spreading positivity. In 2023, I attended the Frances Hesselbein Leadership Program where I won the Suzy Carlton Student Leadership and Civic Responsibility Award.  

Military kids will experience on average 6-9 school transitions from kindergarten to high school graduation. They live a unique lifestyle filled with many adventures. Listen as Cory, a military child all grown up, shares his story and the impact growing up in a military community has had on his life. 

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Mildenhall Spouses’ Association. To learn more, visit https://www.mildenhallspousesassociation.com/. 

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

Cory Petko is a 24-year-old Senior Security Analyst with a dedication to keeping systems safe and promoting security awareness. As the son of a retired Navy Senior Chief, he deeply understands the unique challenges of a military child and has a strong appreciation for our service members. He currently works at a defense contractor, working to protect their systems and digital assets, and plays a vital part in supporting the company's mission to supply critical equipment to our men and women in uniform. 

We are excited to share this episode on the extraordinary lives of military children who have been recognized as the 2024 Military Child of the Year recipients from the Air Force, Army, National Guard, and Space Force families. Join us as Noelani, Allison, Caleb and Taylor share their incredible stories of resilience and appreciation growing up in military families. 

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Edwards Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://www.edwardsspouses.com/. 

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

Show Notes: 

Resources: 

Operation Homefront 

https://operationhomefront.org/ 

Military Child of the Year Award Recipients 

https://operationhomefront.org/2024-military-child-of-the-year-award-recipients/ 

Bio: 

Noelani is Operation Homefront’s 2024 Military Child of the Year® for the Air Force. 

The 16-year-old aspiring composer and performer is a junior at Brennan High School in San Antonio, Texas.  Noelani is the daughter of Gail and Air Force Col. Melchizedek “Kato” Martinez, a Purple Heart recipient who served for 29 years and retired in July 2021. Gail died in 2016 in a terrorist attack at the Brussels airport, which left Noelani, then 9, her dad, and three siblings seriously injured.  As a military child who experienced six permanent changes of station, Noelani’s world was broadened.  “It’s amazing to be able to make friends from various places in the world and share our experiences,” she said.  

Allison is Operation Homefront’s 2024 Military Child of the Year® for the Army. 

She learned the value of empathy and began envisioning her future as a pediatric surgeon when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 13. Allison, 18, is a senior at Grafton High School in Yorktown, Virginia.  She is the daughter of Maria and Sgt. Maj. Daniel Candelario, whose military service spans 26 years across the Army, Marines, and Air Force Reserves. Currently serving in Kuwait, Sgt. Maj. Candelario has been deployed for a total of seven years of Allison’s life. Her brother also serves in the Army, highlighting a strong family tradition of military service.  Allison was a freshman when her journey from breast cancer patient to survivor began. The experience, she said, became the foundation of her commitment to shaping a kind, compassionate future.  

Caleb is Operation Homefront’s 2024 Military Child of the Year® for the National Guard. 

He is 19 years old and holds a love of science that has propelled him to already complete three years of college, first at community college then at University of Colorado Boulder (CU), as well as conduct a humanitarian project in Nepal.  He is the son of National Guard Col. Shawn Hatch and Army veteran Marie Hatch. His mother served five years before honorably discharging in 2005 as a captain from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. His father has served since 1999. Caleb has an older sister and a younger brother and sister.  Caleb’s resiliency has shown through the difficulties of 38 months of parent deployments along with his handling of medical issues – being diagnosed with diabetes and celiac disease. His interest in science has helped him cope with his health hardships.  

Taylor is Operation Homefront’s 2024 Military Child of the Year® for the Space Force. 

Taylor, 18, is the daughter of Space Force Col. Mia Walsh and Air Force veteran Mark Walsh. Mark retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2014 from the Air Force after 18 years of service, choosing family stability over continued deployments and separations. The Walsh family has experienced six permanent changes of station throughout their military journey.  Currently, Taylor’s mother is serving in Los Angeles, California, while her father stayed in Arlington, Virginia, so Taylor could finish school. She is a senior at Washington-Liberty High School. Taylor has enjoyed growing roots in Arlington, a city that is home to many service members and their families. 

Full biographies can be found at https://operationhomefront.org/2024-military-child-of-the-year-award-recipients/. 

Delaney, a remarkable military child, shares her experiences attending 8 schools, including 3 middle schools in 3 years. Adapting to constant change shaped her perspective, while realizing everyone faces challenges during transitions. She also shares insights from the Student 2 Student (S2S) program, highlighting its impact in supporting new students.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Randolph Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://www.randolphspousesclub.com/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Frances Hesselbein Student Leadership Program

https://www.militarychild.org/programs-and-initiatives/frances-hesselbein-student-leadership-program/who-is-frances-hesselbein/

Delaney is an 11th grader at Burkburnett High School in Burkburnett, Texas.  She is active in her Student to Student (S2S) organization, is a softball player, has participated in UIL Academics, and a member of the National Honor Society.  Delaney was selected as a winner of the 2024 Frances Hesselbein Student Leadership Program at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.  

In our latest episode, we shine a light on the exceptional lives of military children who have been recognized as the 2024 Military Child of the Year recipients from the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard families. Join us as Charlotte, Isabella, and Lindsay share their heartfelt stories of resilience, adventure, and gratitude that come with growing up in military families.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Hurlburt Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit http://www.hurlburtspousesclub.com/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Operation Homefront

https://operationhomefront.org/

Military Child of the Year Award Recipients

https://operationhomefront.org/2024-military-child-of-the-year-award-recipients/

Charlotte is Operation Homefront’s 2024 Military Child of the Year for the Coast Guard.

Charlotte, 18, is a high school senior in Washington, D.C., where she resides with her parents, Sarah and U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Jason Tama, and her 16-year-old sister.

Charlotte views military life as a series of adventures, having participated in unique experiences such as marching with Coasties in the New York City Veterans Day parade and viewing Fourth of July fireworks from the deck of a Coast Guard ship in New York Harbor. During her father’s career, Charlotte has experienced six permanent change of station moves, which have taught her the importance of diving into new situations with confidence.

Charlotte believes that engaging in school, sports, extracurricular activities, community service, and faith-based groups is crucial for making connections and feeling at home in new places. “Getting involved…will help you form connections in your new community and make a new place feel more like home,” she said.

Isabella is Operation Homefront’s 2024 Military Child of the Year® for the Marine Corps.

The 17-year-old senior resides in Temecula, California, volunteers with a local peer court program that offers juveniles a hands-on understanding of the judicial system, including roles from juror to attorney. She also cultivates her knowledge of the law through her school's Mock Trial team and an internship at a local law firm.

Isabella is the daughter of Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Arrieta, an aircraft mechanic instructor with the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit North Island, and Denise Arrieta, who works as an alternative education clerk. Isabella has a 12-year-old sister.

One of her most cherished memories is of pinning her father’s uniform during his last promotion ceremony, a moment that underscored the pride she feels for her family’s military service and the sacrifices that come with it.

“I was so proud to be his daughter,” Isabella recalled. She equally admires her mother for her role in supporting the family through financial challenges and periods of separation due to her father’s deployments. Isabella credits her mother’s strength and resilience for forming the foundation of her own character and achievements.

Lindsay is Operation Homefront’s 2024 Military Child of the Year® for the Navy.

Lindsay, 18, is the daughter of Navy veterans Shaun and Keri Carstairs. Shaun retired as a captain after a distinguished career of 25 years, and Keri served for 13 years, achieving the rank of commander before her honorable discharge in 2011. Both parents have medical backgrounds, with Shaun working as an emergency physician, and Keri as a pediatric emergency physician and healthcare executive. Lindsay has an older brother, Ian.

Despite her parents’ medical expertise, the diagnosis of Jeavons Syndrome when Lindsay was 8 years old presented significant challenges. The disease was difficult to control. Epilepsy was not just a physical hardship for Lindsay but also a mental and emotional challenge. She worried about what her classmates would think of her each time an ambulance came to the school because of her seizures.

Lindsay’s early adversities inspired her to co-found a local International Children's Advisory Network (iCAN) chapter at Rady Children’s Hospital, where she was a patient.  “I am proud to have started (a chapter) for my community,” Lindsay said. “I dedicated many hours to establishing our chapter. I learned to stay organized and improved my public speaking skills while talking to peers about iCAN and at advocacy events.”

Full biographies can be found at https://operationhomefront.org/2024-military-child-of-the-year-award-recipients/.

Dive into the latest episode, as Andrea Motley Crabtree shares her groundbreaking journey from joining the Army in 1977 to becoming the first Black female deep-sea diver across all U.S. military branches and the U.S. Army’s first female deep-sea diver.  Conquering intense training, her story of perseverance and the power of support will inspire you.  This is truly a story of courage and determination. 

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

Show Notes: 

Bio: 

Andrea Motley Crabtree, Ret. U.S. Army Master Sergeant enlisted in May 1977 and served through April 1998.  Her MOS were 35E series, Signal Corps/Ordnance and 00B Deep Sea Diver, Second Class, Engineer.  She entered the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) in February 1977 to May 1977 (PV1).  Then was shipped from Detroit MEPS to Basic Training at Ft McClellan, Alabama in May of 1977, and then graduated in July 1977 E 1st Battalion 1st Brigade (PV2).  Attended Advance Individual Training (AIT) Ft. Belvoir, Virginia 35E20 and 35E30 Senior Special Electrical and Electronic Device Repairman August 1977 to January 1978 (PFC).  Then participated in Hometown Recruiting Program USADRC January to February 1978. 

Duty stations: 513th Maintenance Battalion 3rd ACR Ft Bliss, Texas February 1978 to May 1979 (SP4), 614th Maintenance Battalion Attachment 71st Maintenance Battalion Nuremberg, Germany July 1979 to May 1980 (SP5).  Reenlisted for Ft Ord California to get SCUBA certified.  Then stationed with Co A 707th Maintenance Battalion 7th Infantry Division Ft Ord California June 1980 to September 1981.  Fourth permanent duty station. 86th Diving Detachment 30th Engineer Battalion Ft Belvoir Virginia Oct 81 to Jan 83. Petroleum Distribution Systems Pohang Korea January 1983 to January 1984 (SSG).  511th Diving Detachment 30th Engineer Battalion Ft Belvoir, Virginia January 1984 to 1985 reclassified.  HHC USAG, 313 SIG CO, then to HHC USAG, G1, Ft Hood Texas 1985 to 1986.  DA selected for recruiting duty.  TDY To Ft. Benjamin Harris for recruiting school and graduated May 1987.  Recruiting duty. Newburgh Recruiting Battalion, Newburgh New York June 1987 to July 1988.  Ft. Gordon, GA for ANOC August 1988 to December 1988.  HQ&A 360th Signal Battalion, 15th Signal Brigade, Ft. Gordon GA. Assigned as instructor November 1988 to March 1990. Drill Sergeant School, Ft. Jackson, SC. January 1990 to March 1990.  Assigned as Drill Sergeant C Co. 360th Signal Battalion, 15th Signal Brigade, Ft. Gordon, GA March 1990 to March 1992.  HHC 17th Signal BN. APO, AE 09225 April 1992 to December 1993.  HHC USAG Ft. Carson, Colorado January 1994 to October 1995. Headquarters & Headquarters, 307th Signal BN. Camp Carroll Korea, APO Area Pacific 96260 February 1996 to September 1996. HHC DISCOM, 101st Airborne Division (AASLT), Ft. Campbell, Kentucky 42223, FORSCOM September 1996 to April 1998. 

Certified by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) and the National Association of SCUBA Diving schools (NASDS).  But then turned down promotion to Staff Sergeant to be eligible for dive school.  Enroute to Ft Rucker Alabama, assigned there for UCMJ while TDY to United States Navy Diving & Salvage Training Center Panama City Beach, Florida. In October 1981 arrived at dive school, failed swim test.  She was given one week to practice, and retake swim test, but failed second swim test. She disenrolled herself and this allowed for the opportunity to come back to school later, as flunking out would not allow a return to the course. In October 1981 assigned to HHC 30th Engineer Battalion Ft. Belvoir Virginia home of the 511th Diving Detachment, and 86th Diving Detachment. She went swimming every day to improve her time.  In November 1981 TDY Ft Eustis, Virginia to attend two-week diver pre-screen course.  January 1982 went back to dive school and in April 1982 graduated.

She has also participated and medaled in the National Senior Games in shot put, discus, javelin, and table tennis.  She loves Pickleball and tries to play five days a week. Her picture hangs at the U. S. Army Women’s Museum at Fort Gregg Adam’s, the painting of her by Henry Taylor hangs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Before We Could Fly: An Afrofuturist Period Room, Tavares Strachan did a piece titled: In Plain Sight, Distant Relatives a piece at displayed at the Marian Goodman Gallery. She was a consultant for the book Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan. She is included in the book The Only Woman by Immy Humes, (A book that spotlights 100 historical photographs of lone woman hidden among groups of men). Who’s Who of American Women, Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders in America. Member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, and her Website: www.reddiverdown.com.

She owned and operated Crabtree & Sons Lawn Maintenance, Inc., substitute taught for two years, and studied computer science at Aiken Technical College.  She has three sons and a grandchild on the way.  Andrea is also a two-time cancer survivor.

Peggy Davis shines a light on the transformative power of sports for women.  From personal development, to building resilience and fostering diversity, discover how athletics empower women and girls to excel in life.  Take a listen to this inspiring conversation.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

Virginia State University 

https://www.vsu.edu/ 

https://govsutrojans.com/ 

NCAA 

https://www.ncaa.org/index.aspx 

NCAA Eligibility Center 

https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/ 

NCAA Demographics Database 

https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2018/12/13/ncaa-demographics-database.aspx 

Peggy Davis 

In her 20th year at the helm of the Virginia State University Athletics Department, Associate Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, Peggy Davis continues to enhance a proud legacy of caring and concern leadership. Her influence in competitive excellence has guided the Trojans to over twenty NCAA Division II tournament appearances as well as twenty-six CIAA Championships Titles, twenty CIAA Divisional Titles, and forty-four Coach of the Year honors.    During her tenure, the Trojans have won the C.H. Williams All-Sports Award (men) on eleven occasions and the Loretta Taylor All-Sports Award (women) on six occasions. The awards are given to the top male and female athletic programs within the conference, based on championship finishes.    The Trojans have not only experienced significant success on the competitive surface, but have also established all-time benchmarks academically under Davis’ guidance. The Trojans posted its highest Graduation Rate and Academic Success Rate in school history since the inception of the measure. VSU Athletics was recognized by the NCAA and honored as part of the Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence. In 2020 the Athletic Department was recognized by the NCAA as the recipient of the NCAA Division II Award of Excellence.    Davis is a three-time, Hall of Fame honoree (at Virginia State University, Howard Payne University and Bastrop High School). Alongside her Hall of Fame honors, Davis was awarded the 2021 MOAA Distinguished Service Award. This award acknowledges and honors the effort of individuals who have given service to MOAA and strive to promote understanding and appreciation of diversity in its multitude of forms.  She has been named Athletic Director of the Year by the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) seven times. She is also a two-time honoree of the Jeannette A. Lee Administration Achievement Award. Davis has been recognized on two separate occasions as one of the Top 25 Outstanding Women in Higher Education & Beyond, by Diverse Magazine, as well as being named the Under Armour SE Region for Division II Athletics Director of the Year. Davis served as the Interim Commissioner of the CIAA during the search for a Commissioner.  She was the first female to lead the 12-member historic athletic conference.    Her career at VSU has been dedicated to encouraging hard work and producing results. She has overseen numerous athletic facility improvements on the campus, beginning in 2004 and continuing today. The largest facility improvement to date is the $84 million Multipurpose Center which opened in February 2016. In 2022 Rogers Stadium took on a different look with the addition of field turf followed by a new NCAA certified track. In 2023 four sports programs were added (Men and Women’s Lacrosse; Men and Women’s Soccer).    She has and continues to serve on numerous NCAA and CIAA Committees to include the NCAA Mental Health Advisory Board. She has served as President of the Executive Board with the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) and committee member on the NCAA Division II Legislation Committee. She is also a current member of the Women Leaders in College Sports (WLS) as well as the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).     A native of Bastrop, Texas, Davis received her undergraduate degree from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, TX. She received her Master’s Degree from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX. Davis and her husband, Thomas, have two daughters. 

Leah King, President and CEO of United Way of Tarrant County, epitomizes what it means to be a servant leader. She shares her experiences growing up as a military child, learning how to adapt to change while embracing different perspectives, and ultimately, the importance of “making the place you choose to live better.”   

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Air Force Officers’ Spouses’ Club of Washington DC. To learn more, visit https://www.afoscdc.com/. 

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

Show Notes: 

United Way of Tarrant County 

https://www.unitedwaytarrant.org/ 

Unstoppable Women 

https://www.nbcdfw.com/about-nbc-5/community/unstoppable-women-leah-m-king/3222490/ 

Bio: 

Leah M. King, CFRE

President and CEO 

United Way of Tarrant County 

Leah M. King serves as President and CEO of United Way of Tarrant County, a leading nonprofit organization that has worked to improve the lives of those in Tarrant County and throughout North Texas for 100 years. In her role, Leah is responsible for leadership and vision development of the organization as well as fiscal oversight, growing financial support, developing processes and new initiatives, facilitating cross-departmental and partner collaboration, and promoting a positive, multi-cultural environment. 

During Leah’s time as CEO, United Way of Tarrant County has invested tens of millions of dollars in the Tarrant County community through direct service programming, volunteer efforts, donor designations, agency allocations, and the distribution of federal and state grants. In the last two years, United Way of Tarrant County has continued to increase the number of people supported, which swelled to nearly one quarter of the county’s population during the pandemic. 

Prior to her appointment as president and CEO in November 2019, Leah served as executive vice president and Chief Operating Officer of United Way of Tarrant County. In this role, she helped define the strategic vision and direction for United Way’s annual giving campaigns, donor relations, community investment, volunteer engagement and the Day of Action program, a rally for the community to support those with the highest needs. With Leah’s leadership, United Way of Tarrant County is focused today on addressing significant challenges facing Tarrant County residents including community health, community response, financial literacy, and education and learning. Leah is a founding member of the United Way of Tarrant County’s Women United group and has served as its Women’s Fund development committee chair. 

As a community advocate, Leah is an elected official and serves as president of the board of directors at the Tarrant Regional Water District.  She is a board member at the Fort Worth Club, Baylor All Saints Hospital, and T3 (Tarrant To & Through) and United Ways of Texas.  She also is an active member of the Fort Worth (TX) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated. Additionally, she serves on the President’s Advisory Council for Texas Wesleyan University and the Texas A&M Community Engagement Advisory Committee.  

Since 2020, she has been named by Fort Worth Magazine as one of the Top 400 of Fort Worth’s Most Influential People. She also was recognized with the 2022 Opal Lee Trailblazer Award by Unity Unlimited, Inc. Leah currently resides in Fort Worth with her husband, Barry.  

The MCEC Call for the Arts program invites military-connected children from all over the world, representing every branch of service, to share interpretations through art of what it means to be a military-connected child. In this podcast, I spoke with one of the 2023 Call for the Arts high school winners: Reagan. Her artistic expressions of herself and her life as a military child tell an incredible story.  

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Air Force Officers’ Spouses’ Club of Washington DC and Keesler Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://www.afoscdc.com/  and http://www.keeslerspousesclub.org/. 

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

Show Notes: 

Calling all artists, grades K-12: The 2024 Call for the Arts contest is OPEN. Good luck to every budding artist, we look forward to being amazed. See contest guidelines and link to entry form on our website: 

https://www.militarychild.org/programs/the-call-for-the-arts 

Resources: 

Book: Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World 

Author: Penelope Bagieu 

United Through Reading 

https://unitedthroughreading.org/ 

Bio: 

Reagan is a senior at Flour Bluff High School. While her mother has retired after 20 years of service, Reagan still fondly remembers the days visiting her at work and reading the books she sent from overseas. She's currently president of her school's National Art Honor Society, and treasurer for Thespian Troupe 4053. Reagan is also active in the National Honor Society, as well as in Mock Trial as her team's courtroom artist. She loves exploring different avenues of art- painting, writing, and acting are some of her favorite pastimes! She is excited to pursue a career in the animation industry after she graduates. 

Historically Black Colleges and Universities have a history and legacy dating back hundreds of years. Dr. Cortez Dial discusses the foundation of HBCUs, the opportunities they have provided Black Americans, and their impact on America’s higher education system.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Air Force Officers’ Spouses’ Club of Washington DC. To learn more, visit https://www.afoscdc.com/

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Show Notes:

Resources:

White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities

https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/

FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Highlights a Record of Championing Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-highlights-record-championing-historically-black-colleges-and-universities-hbcus

HBCU Connect

https://hbcuconnect.com/

Bio:

Over a twenty-nine-year career with the Department of the Army (DA), Mr. Cortez K. Dial has held challenging positions in Human Resources, Professional Development, and Education with increasing executive responsibility. His career has been characterized by key assignments in personnel management, personnel services, and the formulation of programs, policy, professional development, and teaching. In his last military position as The Director of Family Programs, he was responsible for the formal education, development, and preparation of 17 (colonel and civilian equivalent) students for the broad responsibilities of future senior leadership in the Department of Defense, Joint, or combined organizations within the federal government. As a seminar leader (faculty member) at the United States Army War College, he prepared and presented a graduate-level core curriculum focusing on command, leadership, management, ethics, equal opportunity (EO), equal employment opportunity (EEO), diversity, and decision making at strategic levels.  He also served as a US Army War College point of contact for appropriate government agencies, private organizations, and educational institutions in the areas of human resources, family education, family support and service programs, along with personnel management, diversity management and human relations.  For these areas of concentration, he was the Army War College liaison with the Joint Staff, Department of Army (DA), Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Personnel Command (PERSCOM), Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI), and the Soldier Support Institute (SSI). Lastly, he was the officer in charge of the annual three-day trip to Washington D.C. for over 350 senior military officers, International Fellows, and DA Civilians with the mission and organizational goal of gaining first-hand knowledge of executive and strategic leadership in government as they visited over seventy-five Members of Congress and more than fifty different departments, embassies, and agencies.

He continued his professional development with formal training, membership in societies, and participating in Department of Defense (DoD)-sponsored forums addressing Human Resources and Professional Development. He is a graduate of the 2002 Pennsylvania Education Leadership and Policy Centers Fellowship Program while continuing to be a guest lecturer on Human Resource Policy and Organizational Culture. On April 5, 2003, he gave an extensive presentation to Senators, Bill Frist, George Allen, Rick Santorum, and Jim Kyl on changing organizational culture. He regularly lectures and facilitates workshops on diversity and organizational culture at The Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute and he was one of the editors of the chapter on “Civilian Personnel” found in the U.S. Army War College publication, How the Army Runs. Additionally, he published two articles describing organizational culture: “Mentoring: A Road Paved with Good Intentions,” and “One Team, One Fight.” He is a recipient of the Army’s Legion of Merit Award for distinguished service in the human resource field as Deputy Chief of Staff Personnel, Eight

United States Army. On August 10th, 2003, he became the Director of Residence Life at Virginia State University, was promoted to Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs in 2004. For the next nine years he served as the Presidents Chief of Staff before becoming an Associate Professor in the Mass Communication Department in the fall of 2014, retiring in July of 2017.

Major General, U.S. Army (Retired) Michael Harrison shares his personal experiences and stories from attending an HBCU to an impressive 34 years of military service and beyond.  His journey illustrates a life of service and giving back to the community. 

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi 

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Hickam Officers’ Spouses' Club. To learn more, visit https://hickamosc.wildapricot.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Show Notes: 

Bio: 

Major General, U.S. Army (Retired) Michael T. Harrison, Sr. was born at Fort Eustis, VA and raised in Surry County, VA where both his paternal and maternal families trace their lineage back seven generations. He is a proud husband, father, grandfather, and soldier. Harrison served in the U.S. Army in CONUS & OCONUS for 34 years retiring in 2014 as a Major General. During his active-duty years, he led and commanded military units from the Lieutenant to Major General level in peace and war. Since active-duty retirement, he has led an international security company and worked as a consultant for an information technology consulting firm where he coached and mentored a political appointee at the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. He has also served as a contractor for the Department of African Affairs in the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC.  

He currently spends his time following his love: coaching and mentoring young men and women in and out of the military. He is very active in his community where he leads a Feeding Homeless Families project for the Williamsburg Rotary Club and serves on the Legal Redress Committee for the York James City Williamsburg NAACP. He is a life member of Disabled Veterans of America, the Surry Historical Society, the Military Officers Association of America, and the Howard University Alumni Association.  

He is the recipient of several awards and decorations to include the U.S. Army’s Distinguished Service Medal, the Bronze Star, the Order of the Rising Sun Award presented by the Government of Japan, the Order of Bahrain Award (Class III) presented by the Emir of Bahrain and the Williamsburg, Virginia Rotary District 7600 Foundation Service Award.  

Understanding the diverse needs of military-connected families of color is crucial in creating a sense of belonging and a welcoming environment.  In this podcast, we explore the unique perspective of a spouse and mother from her personal experiences within the military community.  We hope to bring awareness and understanding to such an important topic.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the. To learn more, visit Ramstein Enlisted Spouses’ Association, https://www.resa-rab.com/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Attiyya Ingram is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She graduated, with honors, from Hampton University with a B.S. degree in Accounting. As a committed servant leader, Attiyya prioritizes volunteering wherever she goes and strives to make a positive difference. Professionally, Attiyya is an entrepreneur focused on helping members of the military community become financially fit. Her proudest titles are the spouse of an active duty Marine and mother to three young adults. She has first-hand experience of both the challenges and rewards of military life!

We are revisiting an episode where Lucy discusses her experiences as a military child and how she navigates being the new kid at school (again!). Lucy is also the Middle School Spotlight Winner in the MCEC 2023 Call for the Arts contest, for her beautiful song, #Life of a Military Kid, and talks about her love of music, and how life inspires her songwriting. 

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Daughters of the American Revolution.  To learn more, visit https://www.dar.org/. 

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

Show Notes: 

Calling all artists, grades K-12: The 2024 Call for the Arts contest is NOW OPEN. Good luck to every budding artist, we look forward to being amazed. See contest guidelines and link to entry form on our website: 

https://www.militarychild.org/programs/the-call-for-the-arts 

Bio: 

Lucy is a 13-year-old 8th grader at Horace O’Bryant Middle School.  Lucy is a proud military kid and has lived in St. Charles, Missouri; Jacksonville, FL; Rota, Spain; and Key West, FL.  Lucy loves all things musical and plays the ukulele, guitalele, and guitar.  She will be joining her school’s jazz band this year.  Lucy is a member of her school’s dance team and helps her coach with choreography.  She loves all things musical and can often be found singing, dancing, and writing songs for hours at a time.  Lucy is a member of the National Junior Honor Society and maintains excellent grades.  She is a loving sister, a kind friend, and a wonderful daughter! 

Resources: 

Military and Family Life Counseling 

https://www.militaryonesource.mil/non-medical-counseling/military-and-family-life-counseling/ 

Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families. Jenny Valderas discusses how their programs and resources serve the entire family… because when military families are strong, our communities are strong, and America is strong.    

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Cannon Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://www.cannonspousesclub.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Operation Homefront 

https://operationhomefront.org/ 

Military Child of the Year Award 

https://operationhomefront.org/military-child-of-the-year/ 

Jenny Valderas is Operation Homefront’s Senior Director of Family Support Services. She has worked with the organization for more than a decade and in her current role, Valderas oversees the planning and execution of programs that address the unique needs and challenges faced by America’s military families, including the delivery of school supplies and holiday meals, and celebrating expectant parents and exceptional military children.  

Beyond her professional capacity, Valderas is also a military spouse, providing a distinct personal connection to the military community and Operation Homefront’s mission to create strong, stable, and secure military families.  

Valderas received a Bachelor of Arts from George Mason University.  

A lot is asked of military families, and sometimes a simple form can feel like a violation of privacy. Understanding why information is requested and how that information is used – and protected – is critical to ensure resources and benefits reach those they are intended for. Recently, MCEC’s Parent Webinars featured What is MSI and Impact Aid. This podcast recaptures Nikki’s conversation with Lori Phipps and Nanette Pigg, subject matter experts on these two data collectors.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Texas Education Agency. To learn more, visit https://tea.texas.gov/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Military Student Identifier

https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/other-services/school-support

Impact Aid Program

https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-formula-grants/impact-aid-program/

National Association of Federally Impacted Schools

https://www.nafisdc.org/impact-aid-resources/about-impact-aid/

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

https://www.ed.gov/essa?src=rn

School Liaison programs

https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/search?program-service%3D12%2Fview-by%3DALL

Military Family Life Counseling (MFLC)

https://www.militaryonesource.mil/non-medical-counseling/military-and-family-life-counseling/

MIC3

https://mic3.net/

Lori A. Phipps is Chief of the Department of the Air Force School Liaison Program Division at the HQ Air Force Services Center (AFSVC), HQ Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC), Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. She is responsible for providing managerial and operational oversight of the School Liaison Program, which encompasses PreK-12 Education, Public Schools on Military Installations (PSMI), and the Military & Family Life Counseling Program (MFLC). In addition, she oversees the education, development, and training program for the School Liaison Program Managers, $2M Educational Community Outreach programs, and 71 PSMIs. Her program provides support to over 770K military-connected families, 34K schools, community stakeholders, and installation support services for Commanders, Schools, and installation personnel across all Air Force Commands, the U.S. Space Force, the Air Force Reserve, and the Air National Guard as well as all joint service component families. Division is an advocate at the State/National Level for legislation benefiting military-connected students, dedicated to ensuring equitable access to quality education, support services, and resources.

Prior to her current position, Mrs. Phipps served as the Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland School Liaison Program Manager supporting over 35,000 military-connected students in forty-two school districts. Her efforts resulted in legislation to ensure the state was in compliance with the Military Interstate Compact as well as early registration and homeschool student support. In addition, she has served as a Youth Specialist, providing youth development capabilities through a system of quality, available, and affordable programs.

Prior to her Civilian positions, Mrs. Phipps served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force. During her active-duty career, she served as a Security Forces member and was selected as the first Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Instructor for the Air Force. She was appointed the Installation Crime Prevention Manager and held other leadership positions.

Nanette Pigg began her career in Child and Youth Services in 1998, she has worked in a variety of roles in child development and education.  When she first heard about the School Liaison program, she decided that was the job she had been training for her whole career.   Nanette served as the SLO for Fort Cavazos for three years before moving to Installation Management Command in San Antonio.  In her current role, she serves as the School Program Manager with operational oversight of the Army’s School Liaison Officer program.  Nanette is a proud Army spouse, she and her husband Barry raised 3 daughters who experienced firsthand the challenges of transitioning to new schools every few years.   They have 8 grandchildren, 2 great-grandsons, and two German Shepard’s.  

Dr. Becky Porter discusses meeting the needs of military-connected families through programs and initiatives such as our Military Student Consultants, and advocacy of Purple Star Schools through the new and popular MCEC 360 Summits. We also look ahead to what the new year holds.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Fort Gregg-Adams Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://www.gaspousesclub.com/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

MCEC 360 Summits

The MCEC 360 Summit is a community-wide, multi-faceted event that brings insight and understanding for the unique challenges and needs of military-connected students. The 360 model includes components for students, parents, and youth-serving professionals and is tailored to the needs of each community. https://www.militarychild.org/360summits

Military Student Consultants

Military Student Consultants (MSCs) are highly specialized education professionals who provide personalized concierge support directly to students, parents, or professionals who serve military-connected families. An MSC personally responds to every phone call or submission on our MCEC website at https://www.militarychild.org/MSC

Professional Learning Community ECHOs

Find a community of learners to help you support the needs of military-connected kids using the Project ECHO® model. Our Purple Star Readiness ECHOs are being held now through May 2024 and meet monthly online. The benefits of ECHO include collaboration, idea sharing, and problem-solving with subject matter experts and peers. Join a cohort today at https://www.militarychild.org/purplestarschools#echo

Dr. Becky Porter joined MCEC® as the President and CEO in 2019 following her retirement from active duty service with the U.S. Army.

Becky is a 1983 Distinguished Military Graduate from the University of Washington and holds a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in clinical psychology from Fielding Graduate University. She earned her Master of Arts in counseling psychology from Chapman University and a Master of Science in national security and strategic studies from the National War College. She also earned an executive certificate in nonprofit management from the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy in 2020.

She is a board-certified clinical health psychologist, a fellow of the American Psychological Association, and a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit. Her awards and recognition include: The Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Military Psychology, the Legion of Merit (3 awards), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal (6 awards). Additionally, she also holds the Army Surgeon General’s “A” Proficiency Designator as recognition of her significant contributions to the U.S. Army Medical Department.

Becky’s military career spanned more than 30 years, and she served in all three components of the U.S. Army with the Washington National Guard, the U.S. Army Reserves, and on active duty. She retired at the rank of colonel. She is a Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and former special assistant to the U.S. Army’s 34th Chief of Staff, Gen. Eric Shinseki.

Her assignments included: Germany; Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii; the Pentagon; the United States Military Academy; Walter Reed Army Medical Center; and the Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical, Bethesda, Md.

She commanded the Dunham U.S. Army Health Clinic, Carlisle, Pa.; the DiLorenzo TRICARE Health Clinic at the Pentagon; and Public Health Command Europe.

Becky and her husband John, also a retired U.S. Army officer, live near Fort Cavazos, Texas.

MCEC’s 2023 Call for the Arts received hundreds of entries from across the globe and every branch of service, with creative expressions of strength, bravery, pride, and community. In this podcast, hear my conversation with three of last year’s Elementary School Winners: Everleigh, Isaac, and Annabelle. Seeing and hearing the world from the perspective of a child is inspiring and will brighten your day. Congratulations once again to all the 2023 CFA winners! 

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Fort Gregg-Adams Spouses' Club. To learn more, visit https://www.gaspousesclub.com/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

Show Notes: 

Calling all artists, grades K-12: The 2024 Call for the Arts contest is NOW OPEN. Good luck to every budding artist, we look forward to being amazed. See contest guidelines and link to entry form on our website: 

https://www.militarychild.org/programs/the-call-for-the-arts 

Bios: 

Everleigh is 8 years old and in the 3rd grade. Her dad is in the Army, and she has one little brother named Killian. Her hobbies are drawing, painting, listening to music, relaxing, playing video games and watching TV. She recently moved to South Korea in November, and this was her first time moving.  

Isaac is 10 years old and in the 5th grade.  His dad is in the Navy. He has two siblings: a 7-year-old sister Elaina and a 12-year-old brother Lucas.   His hobbies are drawing and sketching, reading, soccer, basketball, playing outside, exploring where he lives and new places, building historical dioramas with Legos, being with friends and family, learning, history, playing piano, and learning alto saxophone.  He has moved 3 times. 

Annabelle is 9 years old living in Germany with her parents, 6-year-old sister Leanna, and two dogs. Her dad is active-duty Army currently stationed in Bavaria. Annabelle’s favorite things are drawing, soccer, tomatoes, and wearing shorts. She has moved 4 times, living in Georgia, Tennessee, Nevada, and Germany. Tennessee has been her favorite!  

No matter what holiday you and your loved ones celebrate – Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or any other – this time of year can bring about high levels of stress.  Rollie Sampson shares tips for stress management during the holidays, while still finding joy in the season.    

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Ramstein Officers’ Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://www.ramsteinosc.org/. 

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

Show Notes: 

Bio: 

Rollie Sampson, is the Military Student Well-Being Manager for the Military Child Education Coalition. Based outside Fort Liberty, Rollie joined the MCEC family after spending five years as the Military Liaison Counselor (MLC) for Moore County Schools in Carthage, NC. In her previous role, Rollie supported over 3,500 military-connected students, supervised the district’s Student 2 Student (S2S) programs, provided professional development for school administrators and staff, and managed the district’s Impact Aid Program.  Rollie is also a certified school counselor, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA), and National Certified Counselor (NCC) and works with young adults in her counseling private practice in NC.  

On a personal level, Rollie is a military family member and has spent her entire life connected to the Army as a military child, Veteran, and military spouse. Like many military-connected children, she attended eight schools before high school graduation and has had 34 different home addresses! She and her husband are both from multi-generational military families and with strong ties to the Army. They met when Rollie attended a 30-day training exercise in Germany and dated long distance until their marriage two years later. They now have three adult children and their trusty sidekick, Maggie the dog. She lives in Southern Pines, NC with her husband, a retired military officer who served 29 years in the Army.  

Resources: 

https://www.militaryonesource.mil/resources/millife-guides/stress-management/#:~:text=By%20taking%20long%2C%20slow%20breaths,music%20or%20read%20a%20book. 

https://www.samhsa.gov/blog/supporting-your-mental-health-during-holi

The Purple Star School program is designed to help schools respond to the educational and social-emotional challenges military-connected children face during their transition to a new school.  Marie McGarry and Catherine Cotovsky share their perspective as parents on the impact that Purple Star schools can have on our military-connected children.   

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Texas Education Agency. To learn more, visit https:  https://tea.texas.gov/.  

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

Show Notes: 

Bio: 

Marie McGarry, M.Ed., is an educator, military spouse, and proud Mom to two military-connected teens. Marie earned a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction focusing on literacy education from Lesley University in her home state of Massachusetts. She was an elementary classroom teacher for over 10 years. She has worked for the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) since 2017 as a Master Parent Educator, webinar and podcast presenter, and professional development trainer.  Marie is a member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) and is a trained Special Education Advocate who works with families in the Northern Virginia area.   

Catherine Cotovsky joined the MCEC® team in 2021, where she serves as a parent educator, webinar presenter, and professional development trainer. A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduate, Catherine also attended law school at the University of Illinois and practiced civil defense litigation and family law for several years. She has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for youth in the Kansas judicial system and as a volunteer instructor for Army Community Service. Catherine has also been a military spouse for over 16 years. She and her husband met in their hometown near Chicago and now share three daughters.   

Resources: 

https://www.militarychild.org/purplestarschools 

https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/other-services/military-families/purple-star-campus-designation 

Baileigh Levee is a military spouse, mom, and personal blogger. She discusses how her military family has navigated holiday celebrations and traditions over the years, while living all over the world. She shares tips and resources for creating new holiday traditions and making it fun for the whole family.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Fort Bliss Spouses’ Association. To learn more, visit https://www.thefbsa.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Baileigh Levee

Growing up in small town Louisiana, though we proudly boasted a local Air Force Base, I had little to no knowledge of military service or the military lifestyle.  My experience was likely the same as most Americans: It was a story my dad told, an old image of my grandfather in a uniform, it was comforting and the source of pride.  But yet, it was distant and irrelevant to me as a kid.

In life, expect the unexpected.

I met my now Marine as a freshman in college, and together we have been married 15 years with three children. Therefore, the military lifestyle is ALL they know. While their birth certificates are part of their origin story, if you ask them where they are from, they will quickly answer, “everywhere.”  East coast to west coast and now with two duty stations in foreign countries, our family motto is “home is where we are together.” 

Becoming a wife and mother in a lifestyle that was unchartered territory for me has been both thrilling and humbling. There are many days when I cannot believe that this is my life, as it is such a departure from the small town where I grew up. The challenges I’ve faced have challenged everything I know. Through the highs and lows, from every address, my experience as a military spouse and mother has been my greatest adventure and accomplishment. I have found personal joy and a creative outlet in sharing our story and experiences in the hopes that it stands as a way for us to relate to others, as well as an opportunity to virtually take our family and friends along with us. No matter where we go, we have found these principals to be universal:

• Home is people, not places.
• Value those things that have no price tag.
• No grit, no pearl.

www.LeveesinLondon.com

Resources:

Activity Advent Calendar Template

https://www.leveesinlondon.com/_files/ugd/71da9b_53714a40cd8d48beafa747d95777399d.pdf

Dr. Margaret C. Wilmoth and Margaret A. Cope discuss the importance of supporting our National Guard and Reserve service members and families, through the unique challenges that they experience.  They share information on identifying the children within these families, to include the availability of and access to resources.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Spouses of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. To learn more, visit http://www.jbmdlspouses.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Bio:

Margaret C. Wilmoth, PHD, MSS, RN, FAAN Dr. Wilmoth is professor, School of Nursing, UNC Chapel Hill and a retired Major General, US Army. She focuses on the health of the military family and that the care they receive in the civilian sector leads to quality outcomes.

An additional focus is on the military child, specifically Reserve-connected children in civilian-centric schools and availability of programs addressing their needs.

Margaret A. Cope, COLONEL, USAF (RET) Margaret Cope, a retired Air Force Colonel, is an independent consultant in areas of national security relating to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; National Service; and National Security Transformation.

Since 2014 she has directed the development and implementation of the Reserve School Kit, a tool provided by the ROA STARs Foundation, for deploying members designed to facilitate communication with their children’s school system during the parent’s absence about the child’s unique needs during this time.

Resources:

https://www.nationalguard.mil/

https://www.militaryonesource.mil/transition-retirement/national-guard-reserves/joint-services-support-program/

https://tricare.mil/Plans/Eligibility/NGRMandFamilies/NGR_Resources

https://www.benefits.va.gov/GUARDRESERVE/

https://www.yellowribbon.mil/

https://roastars.org/

https://starsinschools.org/

Julie Butner shares how Tarrant Area Food Bank in Fort Worth, Texas has been empowering their local community to alleviate hunger for over 40 years, and their special relationship with military and Veteran families in the area. They are making a difference in the lives of those in need, while continuing to develop innovative practices to expand their network of support. 

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Mountain Post Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://www.mpsc.us/. 

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

https://tafb.org/ 

https://tafb.org/hunger-heroes/ 

https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank 

Type in your zip code to locate the nearest Food Bank, and then click “Find Food” for a list of food pantries and partner organizations. 

https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program 

Julie Butner is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Tarrant Area Food Bank, where she provides executive leadership, fund development, board management, and financial management for one of the largest food acquisition and distribution organizations in the U.S. Julie leads efforts to fulfill Tarrant Area Food Bank’s mission to “empower communities to eliminate hunger and improve health.” Through the support of 125 employees and a $130m budget, this year TAFB distributed more than 60 million nutritious meals, over 1,000,000 meals weekly, to the TAFB service area, which includes Tarrant county and 12 surrounding counties, Bosque, Cooke, Denton, Erath, Hamilton, Hill, Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell and Wise.  

Prior to joining the Tarrant Area Food Bank in January 2020, Julie spent most of her career working in the healthcare and hospitality industries, specifically focused on food and nutrition, and has held a variety of leadership positions in operations and business development. Julie also served as a Captain in the United States Army during Operation Desert Storm.  

Julie graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Coordinated Dietetics and holds a Master of Science in Food Systems Management with an emphasis in Health Promotion from the University of Oklahoma. Julie is a Registered, Licensed Dietitian.  

Julie has served the community through leadership roles in many organizations including Rotary Club, Executive Women’s Day PGA Tour Charles Schwab Challenge, Texas  

Christian University, Fort Worth Circle Theatre, Leadership Fort Worth, Delta Gamma Fraternity, Leukemia Society, The Cowtown Marathon, and Fort Worth Sister Cities.  

In her spare time, Julie enjoys tennis, running, yoga, golf, and travel with her husband of 30 years, Greg, and their two Labradors.  

Dr. Gabby L’Esperance discusses food insecurity and how it is affecting the Military and Veteran community. She shares information and resources that are available to address this need, and how the Military Family Advisory Network is focused on empowering these families to thrive. 

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Davis Monthan Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://davismonthansc.org/. 

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

Bio: 

Dr. Gabby L’Esperance, Director of Insights at Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN), is a dedicated qualitative researcher and program evaluator with a commitment to amplifying the voices of diverse communities through narrative-based research. In her role as director of insights, Dr. L’Esperance harnesses the power of qualitative methodology to uncover profound insights into the lived experiences of military and veteran families. 

Through Gabby’s leadership and emphasis on the value of qualitative methods in understanding military life, MFAN continues to shine a light on the support military families need most and evaluate the programs built to support them. These research and program evaluation findings have been used as a basis for convening stakeholders, developing programs, and invoking positive change for service members, veterans, and their families. 

Gabby is a subject matter expert on military and veteran family research methods, military family well-being, food insecurity, whole health care needs, military family financial readiness, program evaluation, and more. She regularly shares research findings and thought leadership to varying audiences including, but not limited to, higher education, military and veteran family stakeholders, government leadership, and funding partners. 

Dr. L’Esperance earned her doctorate in public administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, specializing in nonprofit management and qualitative research. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from James Madison University. Gabby lives in Omaha with her husband and two dogs, where she continues to teach nonprofit management courses at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. 

Resources: 

https://www.mfan.org/ 

https://www.mfan.org/topic/food-insecurity/ 

https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/survey-tools/ 

https://www.ers.usda.gov/media/8282/short2012.pdf 

Dr. Daniel Perkins and Dr. Jennifer Karre discuss research-based risk, protective, and promotive factors for our military-connected families. They provide recommended solutions for programs and services to best support military family readiness.   

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Mountain Home Officers’ Spouses Club. To learn more, visit http://www.mountainhomeosc.org/. 

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

Daniel F. Perkins, Ph.D., Principal Investigator and is a Professor of Family and Youth Resiliency and Policy at Penn State University and also the Director and Principal Scientist of the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State, a university-wide applied research center.   Dr. Perkins has been designing and evaluating strengths-based family and youth development programs in 4-H and Cooperative Extension and leading complex projects for over 25 years. His work involves teaching, research, and outreach through the Penn State Cooperative Extension Service. One of his primary areas of focus is in fostering the well-being of military service members, veterans, and their families through the Clearinghouse. In his role as Principal Scientist, he is able to facilitate the translation of science into action by providing comprehensive, science-based programs and technical assistance to professionals working with military servicemembers, veterans and their families.  

Jennifer Karre, Ph.D., is an Assistant Research Professor at the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State. She received her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Northern Illinois University.   Over the last decade her research has focused on fathering, military families, and program evaluation.  

https://militaryfamilies.psu.edu/ 

https://thrive.psu.edu/ 

Dr. Eric Flake and his daughter Sadie discuss the importance of social skills in the success of children and youth, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the development of these skills.  This podcast features the unique perspective and experiences of one military-connected youth.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from BAE Systems, Inc. To learn more, visit https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/home.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Bio:

Colonel (Ret) Eric Flake M.D.

is a team member of Olympia Pediatrics, the largest independent pediatric group in Thurston County, Washington. He is a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician and created the Developmental-Behavioral Family Readiness Center for the DoD. Dr. Flake is faculty of the only Department of Defense (DoD) Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Tacoma, Washington, and founded the only DoD Autism Center — JBLM Center for Autism Resource, Education and Services (CARES). He attended the military medical school (USUHS), graduating in 2001.

Dr. Flake has published numerous articles and presentations regarding childhood resilience, autism and the psychosocial effects of deployment on children. He is an Associate Professor at the Uniformed Services University and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Washington, currently serves in the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and serves on the science advisory board for the Military Child Education Coalition.

Sadie is a 16-year-old junior at Steilacoom High School in Washington. She is a member of MCEC's Student 2 Student, National Honor Society, and SNHS programs and is a varsity cheerleader. She also enjoys singing in the Advanced and Chamber Choirs. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading books, playing the piano, and riding horses. Sadie has moved four times in her life. She has lived in Mississippi (2), Germany, and Washington (2). She has three sisters, one brother, and her dog Toby.

Resources:

MCEC’s On the Move® magazine

https://issuu.com/militarychild/docs/2023-107_otm_final_issuu?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ

See article Top Ten Social Skills Students Need to Navigate Life’s Challenges.

https://www.semel.ucla.edu/peers

The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) is world-renowned for providing evidence-based social skills treatment to preschoolers, adolescents, and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression, and other socio-emotional problems.

https://thepeakproject.org/

Positive, Engaged, Achieving Kids (PEAK) is a national study to evaluate the effectiveness of a classroom social skills curriculum in early elementary grades.

Destiny Huff discusses the unique stressors that military-connected families with special needs children experience, and the importance of education and advocacy.  She shares resources and tools for educators, parents, mental and behavioral health professionals.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Fort Wainwright Community Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://www.facebook.com/WainwrightCSC/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Bio:

Destiny Huff, MS, LPC, CPCS is a neurodivergent military spouse of 9 years and mother of two boys. She runs a private practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapist (TF-CBT) in the Mental Health field. She also runs Destiny Huff Consulting and is a Special Education Parent Advocate and IEP Coach. Destiny is currently a Doctoral Candidate pursuing a Ph.D. in Psychology and is passionate about helping her mental health clients deal with everyday stressors and develop new coping skills. She is passionate about helping parents navigate special education and work together to identify solutions that can assist their children in feeling safe, preserving their mental health, and thriving in their school setting. She also works with schools to train staff on Mental Health, Autism, ADHD, and IEPs in the school setting.

Resources:

Destiny Huff Consulting https://www.destinyhuffconsulting.com/

https://www.hrgcounseling.com/

Partners in PROMISE: https://thepromiseact.org/

Military One Source: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/special-needs/

Social Emotional Books for Military Kids: https://thepromiseact.org/social-emotional-books-for-military-kids/

Cleveland Clinic. Depression & Anxiety in Children. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14938-depression-in-children

https://www.divergentminds.org/

https://www.autisminblack.org/ https://www.additudemag.com/

https://neurodivergentinsights.com/

https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Resource_Centers/Anxiety_Disorder_Resource_Center/Home.aspx

https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Resource_Centers/Depression_Resource_Center/Depression_Resource_Center.aspx

CSM (Retired) Lamont “Chris” Christian discusses the importance of mental health and well-being within the military community. He includes strategies to find positive ways to change and begin healing, and how post traumatic growth is an integral part of the process. 

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from BAE Systems, Inc. To learn more, visit https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/home.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

https://www.thebigredbarnretreat.org/

https://bouldercrest.org/

Bio:

Lamont Christian, Command Sergeant Major (R) is a native of Brooklyn, New York. He entered the Army Reserves as a Parachute Rigger in 1986 and later entered active duty, completing Infantry One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He held every leadership position including Team leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant and Command Sergeant Major.

He is recognized around the world as America’s Drill Sergeant having led the Army’s only Drill Sergeant Academy and having his voice premiered in the Gatorade HARD WORK military cadence commercial. Later he was hand selected by the Army’s senior leaders to serve as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the Commander of the world’s largest training post and center of excellence for initial military training at Fort Jackson, SC.

Additionally, he has served and continues to serve the community at-large nationwide in various nonprofit causes for the betterment of social, economic and progressing services for veterans, first responders and those who support them and their Families. He has served on countless committees of change to include assisting the FDNY in meeting and exceeding federal mandates as well as being part of the National Major Gang Task Force. Since retiring in 2018, after 33 years of service, he continues to assist nonprofit organizations, Law Enforcement and First Responder organizations by providing leadership, training improvement and development. He is currently serving as the Director of Post Traumatic Growth at the Big Red Barn Retreat in Blythewood, SC and he is also serving as a Richland County Reserve Sheriff’s Deputy.

Dr. Emily Goodman-Scott discusses Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and the importance of the school counselors’ role in meeting the needs of all students. She highlights the benefits of universal mental health screenings in educational settings and how buy-in and support is critical to successful implementation. This interview was recorded during the MCEC Global Training Summit. 

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from BAE Systems, Inc. To learn more, visit https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/home. 

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

Show Notes: 

Resources: 

School Counselors for MTSS: 

https://www.schoolcounselors4mtss.com/ 

Anti-Racism Counseling in Schools and Communities by Cheryl Holcomb McCoy 

https://imis.counseling.org/store/detail.aspx?id=78181 

Supporting All Students: Multitiered Systems of Support from an Antiracist and Critical Race Theory Lens 

https://www.schoolcounselors4mtss.com/_files/ugd/7ddd06_87e7df0c2f1649649b039fb7277fa320.pdf 

Bio: 

Dr. Emily Goodman-Scott is an Associate Professor, Graduate Program Director, and School Counseling Coordinator at Old Dominion University, in VA, where she teaches the next generation of school counselors. Before that, she spent several years working as an elementary school counselor, a special education teacher, and in multiple mental health settings counseling youth.  

Dr. Goodman-Scott is passionate about researching, writing, and presenting on school counseling topics, including MTSS. She’s presented across the U.S., offering trainings, keynotes, pre-conferences, and district-partnerships. She is the lead editor of the book, A School Counselor’s Guide to MTSS (2019, Routledge), and with colleagues authored Making MTSS Work, published by ASCA (2020).