Teachers' Forum to link base, community educational needs

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  About 26 percent of students attending Beck Row are children of visiting American forces. Other schools in the area also have a dense number of American students, and often times the British teachers aren't aware of deployment stressors base children often endure.

To this date, teachers from Department of Defense Dependent Schools at RAF Mildenhall, Lakenheath and Feltwell have not had any official mentoring program, to enhance British teachers' understanding of these stressors.

That's all set to change in the near future.

Slated to start this October is a new teacher's forum, where DoDDS and local educators can discuss issues unique to American military kids.

"Our ultimate goal is improved and continual open communication with the British education system with emphasis placed on ensuring that our military children are getting the best in education," said Lisa M. Thompson, 48th Mission Support Group school liaison officer.

The acting head teacher at Beck Row Primary School, which is made up of about 25 percent American children, echoed the sentiment.

"We need to get a better understanding of the troubles base kids experience with parents absent due to deployments," said Angie Hamilton. "It would help to get our American and British families to mix together, and we have lots of events planned to facilitate that challenge."

Beck Row won't be the only school participating in the forum. In fact, efforts are underway to get all area schools prone to a high percentage of American kids to attend these forums.

This forum will provide an opportunity for British educators to learn more about the American military family in regards to high-tempo lifestyles, deployments, base exercises and inspections that affect family and educational life, said Mrs. Thompson.

"Being 'called to duty' can be an emotional roller coaster for families," said Mrs. Thompson. "It can mean shifting roles, becoming a single parent of the household and changing responsibilities, all while attempting to maintain a career and stabilize a family life."

The forum will also provide an opportunity for educators to learn more about on-base and community resources, information and support systems that are available for the military families.

However, once the forum is up and running, it will take dedication to continue its success.

Involvement will be the key to triumph, said Mrs. Hamilton.