Joining forces at Fort Riley

By Maria Childs, Fort Riley Public AffairsApril 14, 2016

Jill Biden, second lady of the United States, visits Fort Riley
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Jill Biden, second lady of the United States, listens to a Fort Riley Middle School student talk about his experiences as an Army kid April 6 during her visit to Fort Riley. Biden visited Fort Riley April 5 and 6 to celebrate the Month of the Militar... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Pamela Dombrowski, a math teacher at Fort Riley Middle School, leads a discussion with Jill Biden
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pamela Dombrowski, a math teacher at Fort Riley Middle School, leads a discussion with Jill Biden, second lady of the United States, and some of her students April 6 at Fort Riley. Biden met with children and spouses of 1st Infantry Division and Fort... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

To celebrate Month of the Military Child and as part of her shared initiative with first lady Michelle Obama, Joining Forces, second lady of the U.S. Jill Biden visited Fort Riley April 5 and 6.

She came to talk to Soldiers, family members, military-connected students and educators from Kansas State University and Geary County USD 475, as well as numerous members of the civilian community who support the mission of educating military children.

Holly Dailey, wife of Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey, accompanied her.

As an educator herself and a military mom, Biden has a unique perspective looking at schools on post.

"She's an Army mom," said Maj. Gen. Wayne W. Grigsby Jr., 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley commanding general. "Her son served in the Army. To have that type of understanding, and to have her come and spend a day-and-a-half with us, I mean just a great visit."

The morning of April 6, students of the Fort Riley Middle School lined the entryway of the school to greet Biden. While at the school, Biden toured classrooms and interacted with teachers and student teachers who work there as well as students and parents about their experiences with military life.

"I think we're moving forward," Biden said. "I'm hoping it becomes part of our culture (that) all teachers all across the United States will make an effort to recognize military children and their challenges."

During the visit, Biden highlighted the educational partnership between Fort Riley and Kansas State University as part of Operation Educate the Educators -- an effort Biden launched through the Joining Forces initiative to train teachers to recognize the unique needs of military-connected students in their classrooms.

"I'm hoping it becomes part of our culture forever and ever," Biden said about the program. "And that all teachers across the United States will make an effort to recognize military children, their challenges and what great kids they are."

Biden met with student teachers to discuss their experiences in the classroom and interacting with the children.

Student teacher Jess Holliday attended the discussion. He said he didn't have any experience with the military prior to working in the middle school, so he relied on his training to assist him in the classroom.

"Most of the kids are connected with the military," Holliday said. "It provided me with ample opportunities to put into practice the skills I have learned with the Educate the Educators program and furthered my knowledge on how to meet the needs of these kids."

During her visit, Biden met with parents and students of the middle school to talk about the unique challenges faced by the kids.

Melissa Price, daughter of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jeffrey Price, former commander of the 1st Infantry Division Band, said it was nice to meet Biden and have a conversation about what being a military child in middle school is like.

"It was a lot more relaxing than I thought it would be," Price said. "You're just telling about your experiences. It sort of puts you at ease to be able to share with someone who doesn't know what you've been through."

Price said some of the challenges discussed were moving around and losing friends.

"Some kids don't get to have all these new experiences," Price said. "I get to meet new people and I get to try new things and I wouldn't be the person I am today without that."

Biden also visited Jefferson Elementary School, where she signed her children's book "Don't Forget: Bless our Troops" and toured the Resiliency Campus including the Army Wellness Center.

Biden spoke to the American Association of Education Researchers Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. April 11 about her visit to Fort Riley and the importance of recognizing and supporting military-connected students in the classroom.

According to the transcript posted on whitehouse.gov, Biden spoke about her meeting with families who live on post and how the middle school is taking simple steps to involve deployed parents to keep up with student's progress.

"From top to bottom, from General Grigsby to the newest arriving private, Fort Riley is structured to support the wellbeing and readiness of its Soldiers and their families," the transcript reads. "When Soldiers know that their family is well cared for, they become better warriors. And, our country is better served and kept safe. Fort Riley represents the best of us, in many ways. All military kids should be recognized, appreciated and cared for this way. But, not all communities are like Fort Riley."

To read the whole transcript, visit www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/04/11/remarks-dr-jill-biden-american-association-education-researchers-annual.