Liaison officer connects schools, military families

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jarrod Grammel
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Discovering information about local schools can be one of the many challenges military families face when moving to a new base.

Moody has one position that provides a vital link between military families and schools. This position is the school liaison officer, who provides families and schools with the information necessary to help military children succeed academically.

"Ann Lukens, 23rd Force Support Squadron school liaison officer, is also a good representative for the schools," said Keith Humphrey, Lanier County Schools superintendent, "She attends a lot of board meetings and knows a lot about our schools. Military families at Moody have several options for schools and Lukens provides them with information to help them choose the right school."

Lukens works in nine counties and attends regular meetings to stay up to date on the schools and education.

"School liaison officers answer questions and educate parents regarding their child's education," said Lukens. "I help them help themselves. Many parents get worried about their children's schooling even before pre-school.

"When a family comes to me, they know they are talking to someone who can answer questions and help," she added. "I alleviate the aggravation and worry for parents, teachers and schools."

The school liaison officers, or SLOs, helps families when they PCS and deploy to help ease the transition for parents.

"I am here to assist families as they leave and arrive at Moody, and I also help with the frustrations of everyday life regarding school," said Lukens. "Until 2008 there was no single point of contact for issues on school.

"If a family gets orders, they often wonder where their child will go to school, so I developed a guide that the Air Force adopted," she added. "The guide has information on bases and the most-used schools in that area."

A popular school near Moody is the Lanier County School District, located about 18 miles from the base.

"About 10 percent of Lanier's students are military dependents, and we are always pleased to have them attend our schools," said Humphrey. "We appreciate everything the SLO does and are proud to have Moody near us."

Humphrey knows firsthand the challenges of being a military dependent, and wants to make sure resources are available for them.

"My father was a career Army officer and the biggest challenge for me was the constant moving," he said. "We do all we can to help transition the children by making resources available to them.

The Moody SLO hopes that by staying informed and helping families make these decisions, military members can focus on their job knowing their child will get the education they deserve.