From traveling and moving, to terminology and environment military children grow-up in a different world than most children.

Teachers, counselors, administrators, and caring adults from all over the Pacific Northwest assembled at the CottonTree Inn Convention Center in Mount Vernon, Wash. Oct. 5 and 6 for a Transition Counselor Institute (TCI).

This course was established to prepare education and installation professionals with the skills necessary to recognize and address transition concerns that impact the mobile military child.

“Some kids just do not adjust well to constant change and as supporters in schools we need to recognize it,” said Diana Durbin, co-trainer for Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC). “The experiences that a child has in and outside the classroom mold them into whom they become.”

During the institute, wide levels of discussions and presentations occurred summarizing what an educator and military service member have in common. Further, these commonalities were later discussed on how these similarities affect a child.

“A child, military parent, and educator are all one in the same,” said Durbin. 

Some of the comparisons that participants at TCI identified included that educators and military service members have high expectations, lots of rules to abide by, they take on great amounts of responsibility, there is a pressure and expectation to succeed, and that both are service oriented.

By comparing an educator’s values and a military member’s values, participants at TCI developed a greater understanding on how both relate to and affect a child. 

Anna Rivera, Navy wife and member of the Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) at Sunnyside Elementary School, truly believes that military parents should be able to fully trust teachers with their children.

“My husband deployed on the first day of school last year, and this year three ships deployed on the first day of school,” said Rivera. “I want to sincerely thank all educators who have military children in their classrooms, and who show the children care and hope.”

Jason Gooding, school liaison officer for Naval Station Everett, addressed how the coping mechanisms that a military child develops happen much at home, but needs to be present at school as well.

“As educators and participants in the education system, we should understand the successful and useful coping mechanisms that military children develop,” said Gooding.

Although there are many obstacles that military children must overcome, Mavis Matsuzaki, International Guard wife and registrar at Lake Stevens Cavelero Mid-High, is thankful for all the traveling that her children have experienced.

“My children are not only ‘book smart’, but ‘hands-on’ smart,” said Matsuzaki. “They have lived and seen the historical sites that some kids only read about in books or see on television. Travel in the military is a huge advantage that my kids will never forget.”

For more information about MCEC please visit: http://www.MilitaryChild.org