MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE ALBANY --
Military families gathered, July 21, at the Town and Country Grand Ballroom aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany to learn from area school representatives what makes their individual school systems unique.
Despite the inclement weather, superintendents, headmasters, principals and other school leaders joined active-duty service members and their families for a panel-style conversation on what their individual schools had to offer. This marks the third consecutive year for this event.
Colonel James C. Carroll, III, commanding officer, MCLB Albany, noted the summit was an opportunity for parents to address local administrators directly and get their questions answered by the right people in one location.
“This event proved to be a one-stop location for all questions to be answered,” Carroll said. “Any military family who lives on base has the option of complete school choice, meaning they can send their child to any school in Dougherty, Lee or Worth County, at no cost.”
In addition to the public schools, the South Georgia Homeschool Association and the new Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy programs were represented this year for the first time.
Chris Hatcher, chief executive officer, CCCCA, was a first-time attendee at the summit.
“I was excited to come out and share the news about our new school with the families here at the Marine base,” Hatcher explained. “It (CCCCA) is a new school that will open in January and our mission is to prepare today’s workforce for tomorrow’s jobs. We are surveying the needs of local industries and businesses and designing our program around those needs. Logistics is one of the high demand careers and our goal is to prepare students to go right into the workforce or to college to major in those fields.”
Latreesa Perryman, school liaison officer, MCLB Albany, considers the annual summit a success.
“The parents are amazed at the opportunities they have here because this is not offered at every installation,” Perryman said. “At most military installations, the children have to go to school where they are zoned, but that is not the case here.”
For military spouse, Amanda Edwards, even though she’s been here a few years, this was her first time attending because her child is preparing to enter kindergarten.
“My daughter will be attending kindergarten this year. I came out to hear what (the presenters) had to say and learn what each school had to offer. For now, I’m interested in homeschool education because we will be leaving in a few months. The most important part of education for my daughter is the environment she will be in and the teachers she will have,” she said.