“I provide area school information to inbound families, connect outbound families to the school liaison at their next installation, course placement, extra-curricular activities, graduation and much more,” said Wynn.
Wynn works with more than 29 area schools, including private, charter and public schools in both Montgomery and Greene counties.
For families with students new to the area, Wynn encourages families to make contact with the school ahead of time and request a tour of the school.
“Hand carry important records during the PCS transition, such as report cards, transcripts, test scores, course descriptions or grading scale information for grades six and above,” said Wynn. “I also recommend having a copy of any current IEP or 504 plans if applicable.”
In addition to working with military parents and students, the Wright-Patt school liaison officer connects with schools who have students of deployed members, offering information on the deployment cycle for students and the opportunity to host deployment groups.
“I like to visit with the school-age students to gain their perception of school and their challenges,” said Wynn. “I’ve hosted groups related to military families, deployment and character-building topics.”
According to Wynn, the majority of area schools outside the gate have received the Purple Star designation by the Ohio Department of Education, which is awarded for being a military-friendly school that shows a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military.
“We have hosted two roundtables with area schools on the impact of the Purple Star designation for military families and how to continue creating processes for smooth transitions in our area,” said Wynn.
Wynn works to educate area educators on the unique challenges our military children face, such as the effects of multiple moves and deployments. She visits with active-duty families and units around the base.
“From diversity, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), AFJROTC, creative teaching and social/emotional development, our area schools really do have a lot of good things going on,” said Wynn.
Wynn suggests a few helpful steps to help work toward a successful school year for both students and parents.
She said to stay connected and continue to be involved in a student's education, advocate for your student and educate yourself on challenges to help create smooth processes and transitions. Also, know homework or study help from a professional tutor is available for military families is available at www.tutor.com.
For more information about what the Wright-Patt School Liaison Office can assist with, visit the Wright-Patterson school liaison Facebook page or contact Wynn at Janet.wynn@us.af.mil.
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