Seymour Johnson AFB hosts Wayne County principals’ meeting

Dr. Michael Dunsmore (left), Wayne County Public Schools superintendent, and Col. Mark Slocum, 4th Fighter Wing commander, talk prior to the annual WCPS principals’ meeting, Dec. 9, 2015, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. At the conclusion of the meeting, the principals were given a tour of the base to get an inside look at where and how military children live. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittain Crolley)

Seymour Johnson AFB hosts Wayne County principals’ meeting

Col. Mark Slocum, 4th Fighter Wing commander, addresses Wayne County Public School principals during the annual WCPS meeting, Dec. 9, 2015, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. Slocum discussed the valuable input spouses on base can provide from their experiences from other school systems across the world. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittain Crolley)

Seymour Johnson AFB hosts Wayne County principals’ meeting

Dr. Michael Dunsmore, Wayne County Public Schools superintendent, gives a brief during the Wayne County Public Schools Principals’ Meeting, Dec. 9, 2015, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. Dunsmore discussed some of the major issues facing WCPS and public education in general. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittain Crolley)

Seymour Johnson AFB hosts Wayne County principals' meeting

Published Dec. 14, 2015
By Senior Airman Brittain Crolley
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Principals from every school in Wayne County, as well as representatives from the district's education office, were invited on base to conduct their annual Wayne County Public Schools Principals' Meeting, Dec. 9.

During the meeting, the group outlined their action plan for the upcoming year, discussed several hot topics targeting WCPS, and strengthened the continuing partnership between the base and local schools through insights from installation leadership.

"What I want everyone to walk away from right here is to know that we're here to help," said Col. Mark Slocum, 4th Fighter Wing commander. "Tell me how we can help. I have 2,500 to 3,000 spouses at this base right now that come from the best schools and have seen some of the best and worst schools around the planet. We have all this experience that we've been sending around the world that is coming here and they're ready to help."

After the meeting, the group was given a tour of the base to get an inside perspective of what life is like for a military child, a demographic that makes up a healthy percentage of the district's approximately 19,000 students.

According to Robert Freeman, 4th FW school liaison officer, military children often experience different stressors than their civilian counterparts and it's important for the principals to be aware of their unique perspective.

"By bringing the principals on base, we're able to give them the opportunity to see how our children live, where they stay, and where their parents work," Freeman added. "Not only does it strengthen the bond between the base and the community, but it allows them to have a better understanding of what our military children go through and how they can better support them."