BI students, faculty and community VIPs pose around a banner the school received after being named a 202`-22 Military Flagship School.
Two of state’s six Military Flagship Schools in Liberty
The Georgia Department of Education recently selected six schools, including two in Liberty County, as 2021-22 winners of the Military Flagship School Award, State School Superintendent Richard Woods recently announced.
The award recognizes schools going above and beyond to provide a supportive environment for military students and families, Woods said. The schools provide specific outreach to military families and recognize and accommodate their unique needs.
This year’s Military Flagship Schools include Bradwell Institute and Midway Middle School in Liberty County. The other schools are in Berrien, Chattahoochee County, Houston, and Union counties.
“It remains a top priority of my administration to ensure children of military families receive support in Georgia’s public schools,” Woods said. The award spotlights schools that “ensure that Georgia will have the most military-friendly schools in the nation.”
“As a military child myself, I know the challenges moving from base to base, often on different continents, can have to a young child,” said Rep. Dave Belton, chairman of the Georgia House Study Committee on Military Affairs. “I’m deeply gratified at the effort these stellar schools are making to make these students feel at home.”
All of Georgia’s K-12 public schools were invited to apply for the award and applications were evaluated by a panel of judges with experience in the education of military-connected students.
Schools were asked to provide examples of:
- Services and programs offered to support the needs of military students and their families.
- Training provided to school personnel to help them understand and support the needs of military children.
- Opportunities provided by the school to help military parents and their children connect with and feel supported by the surrounding community.
- Efforts to help military parents and their children feel engaged and respected within their new school by creating opportunities to get involved.
Selected schools have a way to recognize and know if students are from Gold Star Families. They allow excused absences for a student during their parents’ overseas deployment departure or arrival day. In addition, they allow enrollment with military orders, military ID, or shot records for 90 days; and allow online or phone registration for incoming military members from overseas Department of Defense bases. Additionally, these schools have a military buddy system linking incoming military students with other military students during their first weeks of school.
“The Military Flagship School Award serves as the foundation to ensure Georgia is one of the best locations for military service members and their families,” said Rachale LaVoie, GaDOE military student and family specialist. “I am overwhelmed with the exemplary care in which these schools create a culture that fosters growth and understanding of the unique needs our military students and families face.”
Highlights from the 2021-22 Military Flagship Schools
BI
At Bradwell Institute a full-time Military Family Life coordinator is on campus and available to students during school hours. Student volunteers act as guides for new students. Many members of the faculty and staff have military backgrounds, and the school also offers professional learning for staff on educating military students. All graduations are livestreamed so the entire family can attend. JROTC is offered for students interested in a military career – or building character and learning leadership skills – and the school’s website has a robust listing of clubs, activities, and offerings so military families can familiarize themselves with available opportunities.
MMS
All seventh- and eighth-graders on Fort Stewart are zoned for Midway Middle, and MMS welcomes and supports military families. Each year, MMS hosts a Parent Orientation Night for military families to learn about the school, ask questions, and receive guidance about future steps, and online registration. On the first day, new students are partnered with student ambassadors trained through a joint venture with Fort Stewart’s School Liaison. Military veterans are an integral part of the employee population; they are encouraged to apply for positions and receive assistance to become certified educators through the Military Support program. When families leave MMS midway through the year due to a permanent change of station, educational record transfers are expedited to ease their next enrollment.
Students and staff, along with Georgia Secretary of Education Richard Woods display the banner Midway Middle School earned by being named a 2021-22 Military Flagship School.