About

Welcome to NAS Fallon!

Please reach out to the Point of  Contacts listed below if you should have any questions:

Melanie Murphy, Installation School Liaison: melanie.b.murphy@navy.mil

Cassandra Runnels, Installation Child and Youth Programs Director: cassandra.l.runnels.civ@us.navy.mil

The School Liaison Officer’s primary function is to serve as a conduit between parents, educators and the command so that military-connected children experience a seamless transition during the transfer between schools. Most military children move up to nine times in their PreK-12th grade years and consistency and retention of educational goals is a major focus for families when planning to PCS. The School Liaison Officers can offer information on area schools and help facilitate communication between the military family on matters relating to regional public and private schools as well as home school and alternative modes of education.

The School Liaison Officer provides information and resources for military families on internal organizations including, but not limited to, Fleet and Family Support Programs (FFSP), Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), Child and Youth Program (CYP) activities as well as some external organizations, such as but not limited to, the Armed Services YMCA, Military Family Collaborative, and Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. They also serve as a subject matter expert in education-related issues such as the Interstate Compact for Military Children, Department of Education, local school districts and other education related organizations.

*Please see Core Services for specific school related supports available.

The School Liaisons can:
• Answer questions about school enrollment options
• Provide information about local schools and boundaries
• Assist with inbound/outbound school transfers
• Help you understand and navigate the special education process
• Provide resources for college readiness
• Assist with agency referrals
...And much more!

School Liaison Officers are available to assist all service members and their families with school-related questions. Visit our Directory  for contact information or for program updates and assistance.

Why School Liaison Officers?
• Families move an average of every 2.9 years
• Children attend up to 9 different schools by graduation
• Families experience increased stress related to deployment during wartime

Core Services
• School Transition Services (PCS Cycle): School Liaison Officers assist families with school transfers and help “level the playing field” for military children and youth.
• Deployment Support: School Liaison Officers connect educators with the Navy deployment support system to inform them about the cycles of deployment and the tools available to assist educators in working with Navy children.
• Command, School, Community Communications: School Liaison Officers serve as subject-matter experts for installation commanders on K-12 issues, helping to connect command, school and community resources.
• Home School Linkage and Support: School Liaison Officers assist Navy families by gathering and sharing information on home schooling issues, policies and legislation from local school districts. They also help leverage Navy Child and Youth Programs resources to support these families.
• Partnerships in Education (PIE): PIE creates a volunteer network of resources to support installation and community members who have a vested interest in the success of all youth.
• Post-Secondary Preparations: School Liaison Officers leverage installation and school resources to provide graduating military students with access to post-secondary information and opportunities.
• Special Needs System Navigation: School Liaison Officers provide information about installation and community programs and services, make referrals to the Exceptional Family Member Program, and offer assistance in navigating the administrative systems within local education agencies.
 

Academic Anchor

Academic Anchor is Navy Region Southwest's bimonthly School Liaison Newsletter. It addresses educational issues that affect military children in our region and provides information about upcoming events. You can download Academic Anchor from the downloads section on the left.