Originally created Thursday, June 25, 2009
Jefferson named school liaison
Chaplain's wife has plenty of experience with children, schools
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The SLO's primary mission is to serve as intermediary between Kings Bay's commands and the local school districts. Six core services provided include school transition services, deployment support, command, school and community communications, home school linkage and support, partnership in education and post-secondary preparations.
"It's kind of a jack-of-all-trades in some sense, in that you do have to be aware of how so many parts of the education system works from preschool all the way to post high school," said Jefferson of the job responsibilities the new position entails.
Jefferson brings with her real-world job experience in education and as a military spouse. She has moved from continent to continent, understands the difficulty of moving children from one school to the other, and having children wanting to fit in and find some continuity. Before arriving at Kings Bay, Jefferson worked primarily in education administration. She has served as principal at an elementary school in Bahrain and at an international school in Japan.
"I've worked as elementary school principal, home school mom and military spouse, so in everything I do I've had some personal experience," Jefferson said. "That is why I have such a passion for this job, because it is a life that I have led. I understand and can emphasize with the difficulties that military families have.
"We've spent 20 years trying to meet the needs of military families," she said of her husband's ministry work in the Navy, adding "So this particular job for me is a ministry. Ministry means service and it is a service that we offer.
"My hope is that in this small community I will be able to help families come together and identify what their children's learning needs are and help them to be informed to get the services that they need … how to pursue the best education for their children."
Jefferson's office is located in the Youth Center and can be reached at (912) 573-8986. She said people should call if interested in having a conference.
"I'm here to help parents make informed decisions about educational options that are available to their children," Jefferson said. "In the end, all we want is for children to succeed."
