MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- For the first time ever, Tinker K-8 teachers, administrators and Hillsborough County School Board members participated in an immersion tour of MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, August 7, 2018.
Hillsborough County Public School District has partnered with Tinker K-8 for more than 60 years. However, not all faculty members have a military affiliation and may not understand issues military children face.
By providing a snapshot of military life, the tour not only allowed the staff a chance to understand military children's unique lifestyles, but also equipped them to identify children who may be struggling with parents deploying.
“I thought the event was wonderful,” smiled Kim Sukach, Hillsborough County School District Military Liaison. “Even though the staff at Tinker comes on base every day, they may not understand the mission and military life.”
During the tour, participants met service members and listened to stories about the effects deployments may have on families and what life is like raising children overseas. They also learned about the various mission partners on base, military rank structure and MacDill’s history.
“It is so valuable to be able to hear first-hand accounts of military service,” Sukach added. “It’s all of those little anecdotes that put things in perspective. It would be great if all principals that serve military-connected students had the opportunity to take part in an immersion program.”
This tour gave base educators, staff and members of the school board a chance to learn about MacDill, the important missions of its tenant units, and the significant role educators play in military children’s lives.
“The most powerful moment for me during the tour was when the service member explained that it’s not just the parents who are serving, but the children are serving our country as well,” said Rachel Walters, the principal of Tinker K-8. “That one statement really put the unique needs of the military child into perspective for me and made me so proud to be a part of Tinker and Team MacDill.”