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NAWS China Lake Welcomes its First School Liaison Officer
School transition and deployment support is a Navy readiness and retention issue. Statistics state that Navy families move their children an average 2.9 years and youth attend up to 9 different schools by graduation. Deployments can also impact educational outcomes. Many families make relocation decisions based on school situations. The School Liaison Officer serves as the liaison between the installation commander, military and community agencies, schools, and families by providing assistance in matters pertaining to student education and ensuring maximum educational opportunities for academic success.
Ms. Sarah Dastrup has recently filled the School Liaison Officer (SLO) position within China Lake Child and Youth Programs (CYP) and is here to help both active-duty members and DoD civilians as well as their families. Sarah is well equipped, personally and professionally, to understand and support families in various situations. Sarah has been married for 20 years during which her husband has been both an active-duty and DoD civilian. They have four children in three schools within the Sierra Sands Unified School District. After earning her Bachelor's of Science in Child and Family Development from Central Missouri State University, Sarah started her career with Child, Youth and School Service (CYSS) in 1999 with the U.S. Army at Fort Hood, Texas. She has had various job positions since which have enabled her to: help children to develop, families to navigate various systems, and work with schools in various capacities. Sarah has also had extensive experience with mentoring, training and instruction, and developing, initiating, implementing and executing both military and community trainings and programs. Sarah has just completed her 9th PCS (move) here to China Lake after spending four years in Singapore, working with CYP at Navy Region Center Singapore. Sarah comes with a wide range and long history of professional and personal experience that enables her to be a valuable tool for community families.
Navy SLO's have seven core responsibilities:
1. School Transition Services (PCS Cycle): School Liaison Officers assist families with school transfers and help "level the playing field" for military children and youth.
2. Deployment Support: School Liaison Officers connect educators with the Navy deployment support system to inform them about the cycles of deployment and the tools available to assist educators in working with Navy children.
3. Command, School, Community Communications: School Liaison Officers serve as subject-matter experts for installation commanders on K-12 issues, helping to connect command, school and community resources.
4. Home School Linkage and Support: School Liaison Officers assist Navy families by gathering and sharing information on home schooling issues, policies and legislation from local school districts, and help leverage Navy Child and Youth Programs resources to support these families.
5. Partnerships in Education (PIE): PIE creates a volunteer network of resources to support installation and community members who have a vested interest in the success of all youth.
6. Post-Secondary Preparations: School Liaison Officers leverage installation and school resources to provide graduating military students with access to post-secondary information and opportunities.
7. Special Needs System Navigation: School Liaison Officers provide information about installation and community programs and services, make referrals to the Exceptional Family Member Program, and offer assistance in navigating the administrative systems within local education agencies.
Families have the opportunity to contact the School Liaison Officer for help with: inbound/outbound transfer; local school information and boundaries; finding the right school; understanding special education; meeting graduation requirements; finding military and local support services; home schooling support; preparing for college and scholarship information; and much more! Educators are also able to reach out to the SLO for help with such things as: military information and resources; staff development on military culture; Partnerships in Education; deployment support; information and support on the Interstate Compact; etc. Since her arrival, some of the issues Sarah has been busy helping families, schools and the installation with include: suggesting much needed school documents to take to a new location for outgoing families; linking families to the SLO at their new location who can help with school and child care navigation; helping create firmer communication for incoming families; researching Federal Impact Aid procedures; suggesting how parents can navigate specific teacher-student issues; facilitating site improvements on school grounds; meeting with school officials, principals and counselors; and creating and establishing materials and procedures for this new position. Ms. Dastrup looks forward to creating positive relationships with all China Lake community members so as to increase resources and be an asset to those in need.
NAWS China Lake's School Liaison Officer, Sarah Dastrup, can be reached at the School-Age Care Center "Movin' On Up!" (MOU!) at 760-939-7135 and CHLKSLO@navy.mil. Ms. Dastrup has also set up an official Facebook page with daily valuable information, news, announcements and opportunities at www.facebook.com/chinalakeslo (Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake School Liaison Officer).
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