Military Point of Contact

Tara Palasciano, Principal
tpalasciano@ecsdfl.us

Enrollment Services

New to the area? Have questions about registering your child for school, or what documentation is needed for registration? Click here to visit our ECPS Enrollment Services department for this information, as well as the current Student Progression Plans.

Exceptional Student Education

Ms. Rose Overstreet is our ESE Department Chair and can be reached at 850-492-6136 extension 401036.  She assists families with transition IEPs, as well as any other needs they may have to support their child.  For students with IEPs we provide additional support in the classroom by having two teachers scheduled into the classroom. 

Click to visit the ECPS Exceptional Student Education department.

Sondra Hill, Program Director
shill@ecsdfl.us • 850-429-2977

The NASP Exceptional Family Member Program is a great resource for families who have an exceptional student.

Transition Planning

The principal is the Military Point of Contact. We also have a Military Family Life Counselor who is employed specifically to work with military families and students.  The principal and MFLAC counselor work with families to assist with enrollments, withdrawals, and paperwork needs.  

Academic Planning

We have a gifted academics class. We also have classes with support teachers for students that have an IEP. We provide parents with guidance on how to access the parent portal. We use the student and parent portal as the main communication method with parents.

Resources

ECPS Military Families Page

The Joint Military Council for Education Excellence was established as a partnership between the Escambia County School District and Naval Air Station Pensacola in the Spring of 2020. Its mission is: Improving educational services and communication between the Escambia County School District and military families.

The Military Council convenes quarterly to address topics of mutual interest and to solicit input from community stakeholders, including military families.

School Liaison Officer

NAS Pensacola Fleet &Family Support Center

The Center also offers free in-person counseling support for military children, adults, and families.

NAS Pensacola MWR Homepage

Military OneSource connects you to programs, services and products developed for military life. Turn to Military OneSource for tax services, spouse employment help, webinars and online training, relocation and deployment tools, and much more. The site also has a link to a tutoring service designed specifically for military students as well as an MFLC locator so that families can look for MFLCs where they currently reside or are PCSing to. In addition, eligible families can also access free virtual counseling; learn more at this link.

Military Child Education Coalition

The Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission has a specific section for parents with resources detailing the role of the School Liaison as well as helpful articles on helping military children change schools and cope with moving, among others. They also have a section on supporting military families with special medical or educational needs.

The ASVAB CEP offers students a chance to explore all paths to careers - college, certifications, apprenticeships, licensure programs, and the Military - in one place. Contact your school counselor to find out when the ASVAB CEP is coming to your school.

Pear Deck Tutor (formerly TutorMe) is an online service that provides one-on-one, on-demand, live homework and writing support in certain subject areas.

Anchored 4 Life/Student2Student Programs

The military students at Jim C. Bailey may participate in the Anchored 4 Life and Student2Student programs. These groups are student-led organizations which help incoming and outgoing students deal with the frequent relocation process by giving them an international organization they can lean on for comradery and support at their new schools. Our Student2Student program is a student-led and student-focused group that helps new students to our school. The S2S team helps all students adjust when they enroll and also when they are preparing to leave. Students are assisted with their transition within 2 weeks of arriving. Students are given a tour and are introduced formally to their teachers.

Students lead tours, distribute welcome packets, hold meetings, partner with new students and complete a yearly service project for their school. The advisors for these groups facilitate student leadership skills, and growth of new friendships, while ensuring students settle into Bailey Middle, or they are prepared for their journey to their new school.

Inaugural Student2Student meeting, 23-24 School year.

Military Recognition Events

On November 10th we will have a Veteran's Day Conference where all families are invited, and retired and active military are honored.
We also celebrate Month of the Military Child by having fun events the entire month of April.
We also send cards to Troops overseas at Christmas time.

Veteran's Day 2023

Additional Resources for Educational Opportunities

We offer before and after school tutoring in Math, Civics, and Reading. We also have 13 different clubs that students can be a part of.

The Dandelion

The official flower of the military child is the dandelion. Why?

The plant puts down roots almost anywhere, and it's almost impossible to destroy. It's an unpretentious plant, yet good looking. It's a survivor in a broad range of climates.

Military children bloom everywhere the winds carry them. They are hardy and upright. Their roots are strong, cultivated deeply in the culture of the military, planted swiftly and surely. They're ready to fly in the breezes that take them to new adventures, new lands, and new friends.

Experts say military children are well-rounded, culturally aware, tolerant, and extremely resilient. Military children have learned from an early age that home is where their hearts are, that a good friend can be found in every corner of the world, and that education doesn't only come from school. They live history. They learn that to survive means to adapt, that the door that closes one chapter of their life opens up to a new and exciting adventure full of new friends and new experiences 

(Military Child Education Coalition, 2017).

Military Student Mental Health

The students can see the MFLAC counselor or school counselor whenever they may need a lending hand. Students complete a request through their Focus account. The requests are monitored daily and students are seen within 24 hours.

For more information about the Child and Youth Behavioral Military & Family Life Counselors (CYB-MFLC) School Program, contact the Guidance Department at Jim C. Bailey Middle School, 492-6136 ext. 401030.

About the Military & Family Life Counseling (MFLC) Program

West Pensacola Elementary School is honored to offer non-medical counseling to our military-connected students. MFLCs support military families through the unique challenges of military life, including cycles of deployment and reintegration, by providing non-medical, short-term counseling. Through a partnership between the school district, the installation and the office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy, counselors will be assigned to various schools during the school year.

What is the counselor’s role in the school?

MFLCs provide consultation, training, and educational presentations/workshops to program faculty, staff, parents, and children. MFLC support augments services already in place at each school. Counselors take part in everyday school activities and events. They are available to support in areas related to deployment and reintegration; family dynamics; positive coping mechanisms; staff support and education; parent education and stress reduction. Counselors are also available to facilitate groups and trainings to build leadership skills; manage anger; build self-esteem and confidence and strengthen communication.

How are counselors selected?

Counselors are selected for their demonstrated expertise and training and are under the management of the office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy. Counselors hold a master’s or doctoral degree, are independently licensed and have experience working with children and youth. Counselors go through rigorous background checks before being placed in schools.

Why are the counselors in certain schools and not others?

Schools were selected by the Service Branch to receive MFLCs based on the number of military connected students attending each school. Military families who have students in schools without counselors can typically receive the same support through the installation’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department, Fleet and Family Services or the A&FRC.

Do counselors keep records about students and families?

No. Services provided by counselors are private and confidential with the exception of mandatory federal and military reporting requirements (i.e., child abuse, domestic violence and other life-threatening situations). No counseling records are maintained.