Whiteman receives new school liaison officer

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Linch
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Addressing the issues children of military members may face, Whiteman's Airmen and Family Readiness Center recently added a school liaison officer position. 

"Military children experience unique challenges during a transition to a new school or during the deployment of a family member," said Jamie Albers, Whiteman's School Liaison Officer and wife of Senior Master Sgt. Ron Albers, 509th Bomb Wing Command Post. "This program is designed to connect families with teachers, school districts and youth programs to ensure the needs of children are met by providing necessary support during these times." 

A school liaison officer deals with issues that range from those related to military life, such as the impact of deployments, to those more educational, such as curriculum and standards of local schools. 

"As Whiteman's School Liaison officer, I address issues with registration and graduation requirements in the local public and private schools, coordinate school transition, tutoring, provide information to parents on local school districts, support for families that home school, supply resource materials on elementary, secondary and post-secondary education, provide information about schools for families making a PCS move and refer families to the school liaison officer at the gaining installation," Mrs. Albers said. 

The Air Force has embraced the idea that taking care of families includes supporting groups like the Military Child Education Coalition and the School Liaison Program as a great way to benefit the families of our personnel, said Tanya Harencak, a member of Military Child Education Coalition for the past five years, and wife of Brig. Gen. Garrett Harencak, 509th Bomb Wing commander. 

"I pushed for this, because I wish there had been something like this around when our family was moving and dealing with all the obstacles that can come up with different rules and issues with each new school system," she added.

This is a vital program for our families and most of all for our children, Mrs. Harencak said. The SLO is a true advocate for military children and their educational needs.
For more information or to contact the School Liaison Officer call 687-7132.