Susan Murray, Child, Youth and School Services' school liaison officer, is here to assist military families with school transition and other education issues that arise.
In her role, Murray serves as the liaison between Fort Sill and the 17 local public school districts and four private schools, as well as to assist home school families.
"I help our families get information they need to get enrolled, provide school profiles and help them make a choice of school that works for them," Murray said.
Common issues that she assists parents with include, advance placement of students, private school tuition information, transfer of credits and district transfers.
She also updates Fort Sill Garrison Commander Col. Glenn Waters on education issues affecting military families A couple recent Oklahoma bills introduced by Rep. Ann Coody have a positive affect on military children, she said.
One bill allows a high school student who has passed state history in another state to waive the Oklahoma history class requirement.
For a student to transfer here as a junior or senior that frees them up to take a class they might need, such as an advanced placement or vocational class, she said.
Another bill assigns an identifier to a military-family student, which helps schools more accurately account for these students when the school is applying for federal grants, Murray said.
The majority of Fort Sill students attend Lawton, Elgin, Cache and Bishop public schools, said Murray, who has been on the job for 2.5 years.
Lawton Public Schools began its new year Aug. 21. It is the first full year for Fort Sill's Freedom Elementary School, which has a modified dress code.
"There's been an education process with that and to make sure that parents knew that before they got here or at least before they bought school clothes," she said.
Fort Sill just recommitted its Army Partnership with Local Area Schools (APLAS), Murray said. The program has four components: mentorship through volunteerism, unit-school partnerships, leadership, and parental involvement.
One of its programs is Partners in Education or PIE, where service members and DA civilians volunteer in schools mentoring, tutoring and participating in school activities.
Fort Sill has 23 units, some volunteering at more than one school, participating in PIE at 36 schools, Murray said. All five brigades are involved.
Families who need to reach Murray can email susan.n.murray2.naf@mail.mil or call 580-442-2130. Her office is in Bldg. 4700, first floor.
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