COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

PRINS. MEMO NO. 07

March 14, 2006

ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE/SECONDARY

TO:	Principals
FROM:	Linda M. Wallinger Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
SUBJECT:	Military Child Education Coalition Training for School Counselors and Administrators

The Virginia Department of Education is pleased to partner with the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) to announce a special training opportunity to help educators recognize and deal with issues and problems facing the children of deployed servicemen and women. MCEC will conduct one 2-day session at the Holiday Inn North Conference Center in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The dates for the sessions are March 16-17, 2006, and sessions will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.

The Military Child Education Coalitions Supporting the Children and Families of Guard and Reserve Institute is a professional development program for educators and professionals to reach out as a support network to the children and families of the National Guard and Reserve. The training is designed for school counselors, administrators, other school personnel, and family support personnel of the National Guard and Reserves.

The purpose of the training is twofold: 1) to help educators understand the unique challenges faced by children of members of the National Guard and Reserve components, geographically separated due to mobilization, deployment, and transition of family members; and 2) to train participants so they can train additional local teams to respond as a community using model programs, resources, and networks that support military connected children during mobilization, deployment, and transition.

The curriculum, content, process, and delivery are correlated with the National Staff Development Councils Standards and the National Standards for School Counseling Programs. The Institute is a Train-the-Trainer model.

The registration fee and conference meals are covered by MCEC. The conference package includes two continental breakfasts, two lunches, two refreshment breaks, and conference materials. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis, limited to the first 100 persons to register. After the first 100 registrations, a waiting list will be developed for future training opportunities as needed. The cost of hotel accommodation, if necessary, will be the responsibility of each person attending the training.

For more information on MCEC, this special training opportunity, and to register online, visit MCECs website at www.Militarychild.org; or contact Dr. Willie Stroble (Willie.Stroble@doe.virginia.gov), school counseling specialist, Office of Middle and High School Instruction, at (804) 786-9377.

LMW/WLS/yba