School liaison looks to meet families' educational goals

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Laurel Wironen is no stranger to the 66th Force Support Squadron and many of the military families living here. As a longtime member of the 66 FSS Airman and Family Services Flight, she has been working with military children for many years.

In her new position as the Hanscom school liaison specialist, Wironen has an opportunity to impact the education of military children who attend schools at Bedford High School and Hanscom Primary and Middle Schools, part of the Bedford and Lincoln, Mass. school systems respectively.

Since taking the position Oct. 6, she has been busy developing and coordinating partnerships in education with the local schools.

"I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to make a difference in the educational goals of our military families," Wironen said. "I want to provide parents with the tools they need to overcome any obstacles to education that stem from the military lifestyle."

With an office in the Airman and Family Readiness Center, she is in a location to better connect families with the resources available to them.

"Laurel comes to us with an extensive background in child and youth and has served as an Exceptional Family Member Program advocate for many years," said Robyn Endo, AFRC chief. "I know she will continue to champion our children and support our local schools."

As the Hanscom school liaison specialist, a position that was created in 2009, Wironen serves as the central point of contact for school-related matters between commanders, military families and both local town school systems and other education options available such as home schooling, private schools, charter schools and more.

"My responsibility is to smooth the transition for our military families," she said. "I will be available to assist in handling new student registrations, getting the most current school information, advising parents about which documents are required or anything else military families need."

The vision of the school liaison program is to coordinate and assist military parents with school-aged children with the educational opportunities necessary to succeed in an academic environment.

"I will assist in identifying any barriers children face in achieving academic success," Wironen said. "But more than that, I want to build on parental involvement and continue to foster those relationships with the local schools for our military children."

Wironen, a Massachusetts native, graduated from St. Bernard's high school and attended the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Education.

As the spouse of a one-time service member, she is familiar with the challenges associated with moving throughout a military career.

"The average military family can move up to 10 times during a 20-year career," Wironen said. "With each move, military children face many school-related challenges."

Now she's looking forward to serving military families in her new role.

"I'm ready to get out there and partner with school officials and teachers to meet the needs of military families," Wironen said. "I am excited to make a difference in the lives of each and every child who lives on Hanscom Air Force Base."

For further information on the school liaison program, visit http://www.hanscomservices.com/SchoolLiaison.asp or to contact Wironen directly, call 781-225-2765.