MCEC Podcast Military Child Education Coalition

“The things that make me different make me, me”.  Don’t Hide It, Flaunt It (DHIFI) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance acceptance, understanding, tolerance and mutual respect for an individual’s visible or invisible differences.  Listen as Meg Zucker shares her story and how she believes we should all embrace what makes us unique.   
 
This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Fort Liberty Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit  https://www.fortlibertyspousesclub.org/.
Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.
 
Show Notes:
Resources:
https://donthideitflauntit.org/
 
https://donthideitflauntit.org/project-flaunt-hub/
 
https://megzucker.com/
 
Born Extraordinary: Empowering Children with Differences and Disabilities
Author: Meg Zucker
 
https://news.va.gov/130375/free-resource-for-military-project-flaunt/
 
Bio:
Meg Zucker is the Founder and President of Don’t Hide It, Flaunt It (DHIFI), a non- profit organization dedicated to advancing acceptance, understanding, tolerance and respect for people’s visible or invisible differences, and the author of Born Extraordinary: Empowering Children with Differences and Disabilities (published by TarcherPerigee/Penguin Random House). Meg was born with Ectrodactyly, a genetic condition which results in her having shortened forearms, one finger on each hand and one toe on each foot and which she passed on to two of her children. A Wall Street lawyer with over twenty years of experience in the field of anti-money laundering, Meg was inspired to start DHIFI when her oldest child was bullied in elementary school because of his physical difference. For the past seven years, DHIFI has partnered with Scholastic Inc. to provide Social Emotional Learning/ empathy programming to students nationwide.
 
Meg has combined her skills as a prominent anti- money laundering speaker and her personal experience to become an inspirational and impactful speaker to audiences ranging from students and faculty in schools to community groups and Fortune 500 corporations. Her speeches have reached millions of people across the country, and she has empowered attendees to celebrate their visible and invisible differences, create cultures of inclusion and spread empathy.
 
Sharing her message of empathy and empowerment, Meg has been featured on TODAY (NBC) and My Extraordinary Family (The Learning Channel). Meg is profiled in the 2021 book The Female Lead: We Rise By Lifting Others. Meg’s articles have appeared in primary national print media and magazines such as USA Today, Parents magazine and The Forward.
 
 

It’s that time of year...PCS season.  Military families move on average every 2-3 years, and this constant moving can be very stressful.  Listen as Amy Shick, a seasoned military spouse, discusses how her family has navigated multiple moves and gives tips on making them a little easier. 
This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Mountain Post Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit  https://www.mpsc.us/ 
Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 
Show Notes: 
Resources: 
Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) 
https://www.militarychild.org/ 
 
MIC3 
https://mic3.net/ 
 
Military Student Consultants (MSCs) 
https://www.militarychild.org/programs-and-initiatives/military-student-consultants/ 
 
Military OneSource 
https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/search?program-service=12/view-by=ALL 
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-pcs/moving-personal-property/ 
 
Bio: 
Amy Shick has been a military spouse for 29 years and mother to three children ages 22, 20, and 16. She loves this crazy Army life and has embraced many volunteer roles, PCSs (13) and deployments (6).  

Join us as we sit down with three school liaison professionals, who share insights into how they serve as a vital bridge between military-connected families, educational institutions, and communities. Discover the comprehensive support offered to ensure the academic, social, and emotional success of students navigating the unique challenges of military life.    
 
This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Texas Education Agency. To learn more, visit https://tea.texas.gov/.  
 
Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 
 
Show Notes: 
 
 
Resources: 
 
Army  
hqschoolliaison@army.mil 
  
Marine Corps  
hqmc.slp@usmc.mil  
 
Navy  
NavyHQSchoolLiaison@us.navy.mil  
 
Air Force  
afsvc.daf.slo@us.af.mil  
 
Space Force  
afsvc.daf.slo@us.af.mil  
 
Military OneSource 
https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/search?program-service=12/view-by=ALL 
 
 
Bio: 
Dr. Stephanie Borrowman is currently the Army School Liaison/Transition Specialist with the Army Headquarters Installation Management Command (HQ IMCOM) G9, Child and Youth Services (CYS). She also has extensive experience in the public school system as a teacher, coordinator, and most recently as a special education director. She earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership in 2015, and her Master’s degree in Special Education in 2009. She is also an Air Force veteran, a military spouse, and has raised four children in installations all over the world.  
 
Lacey P. Allen is the Department of the Air Force (DAF) Regional School Liaison Specialist for the East Region at the HQ Air Force Services Center (AFSVC), HQ Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC), Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. She oversees operations in the following states AL, CT, DE, FL, GA, KY, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, and WV. As the headquarters program specialist for the School Liaison Program, she supports personnel at installations within multiple Major Commands which encompasses PreK-12 Education, Public Schools on Military Installations (PSMI), and the Military & Family Life Counseling Program (MFLC). In addition, she serves as the liaison between education community stakeholders, families, state, federal, or host nation education leadership, Installation Commanders, and MAJCOM Commanders to build a platform for enhanced educational opportunities and navigate the direct link between PreK-12 Education and mission readiness. As the subject matter expert, Mrs. Allen serves as the advisor to the Installation Commanders regarding PreK- 12 education to ensure military-connected students are provided opportunities to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally as they face global educational challenges and transitions.  
 
Horace Franklin Jr. is the CNIC Child and Youth Education Services (CYES) School Liaison Program (SLP) Manager.  He spent four years in the classroom before returning to school to complete an additional Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Trinity University. Upon completion, he served nine years as an Elementary and Middle School Principal in the San Antonio Independent School District. He relocated to Maryland and spent four years as the School Liaison at Naval Support Activity Bethesda and Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. He served as the Naval District Washington Regional School Liaison from 2017-2023. Horace is a servant leader committed to fostering collaboration, ensuring program effectiveness, and continuously advancing the mission and goals of Child and Youth Education Services.  
  
He resides in Clinton, Maryland, with his wife Theda (20-year Air Force retiree) and his three children (Devante, Felicia, and Horace III). When he is not at work or spending time with his family, Horace is on his bike. He is an avid cyclist, having logged thousands of miles throughout Texas and the East Coast. 

In our latest episode, Rachel and McKenna discuss the often-challenging world of mental health within military families.  From navigating the complexities of PTSD to fostering open communication and understanding, they share invaluable insights and personal experiences that many can relate to.  
 
This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Military and Civilian Spouses’ Club of Fort Irwin. To learn more, visit https://mcscftirwin.org/.  
Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 
 
Show Notes: 
Resources: 
 
Why is Dad So Mad? 
Author: Seth Kastle Illustrator: Karissa Gonzalez-Othon 
 
Why is Mom So Mad? A Book About PTSD and Military Families 
Authors: Seth and Julia Kastle Illustrator: Karissa Gonzalez-Othon 
 
Wounded Warrior Project 
https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ 
 
Elizabeth Dole Foundation 
https://www.elizabethdolefoundation.org/ 
 
Military OneSource 
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/military-basics/wounded-ill-injured-and-caregivers/ 
 
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:  https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988   
Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741741  
 
National Center for PTSD 
https://www.samhsa.gov/resource/dbhis/national-center-ptsd 
  
U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Mental Health 
https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ptsd/next-step.asp 
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_veterans.asp 
 
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network 
https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/populations-at-risk/military-and-veteran-families 
 
Bios: 
McKenna is an 8th grader born and raised in the beautiful state of Montana. She lives with her mom and dad, an older brother, and a younger sister and brother. McKenna's dad is a retired combat Army and Air Force Veteran. He was deployed to OIF 2005-06 and was injured by multiple IED strikes. McKenna's work of art "The Tale of Two Lives" depicts the transition between combat and the civilian world and how some aspects bleed over from one into the other.  McKenna has always loved creating!  
 
McKenna's grandfather is a well-known artist, with works of art in the National Archives and many years of drawing the Airman of the Year portraits for the USAF. Aside from her natural talent, McKenna has been able to sit and learn from her grandfather. 
 
Besides art, McKenna is also musically gifted. She is currently in the honors choir at school. McKenna also enjoys playing cello and is in the 8th grade honors orchestra.  McKenna is also currently the point guard for her undefeated basketball team. She plays volleyball, runs hurdles, throws discus, and participates in high jump, and long jump.  Her current plans for when she "grows up" is to become a pediatrician and get to build upon her love of taking care of others.  Her mom and dad are especially proud of all that she has already accomplished in her young life and look forward to all the amazing things she has yet to create and achieve in the future.  
 
Rachel is the wife of a medically retired Army/USAF Veteran, and mom to four children, ranging in age from 15-5.  Rachel was a military child herself, having a father that retired from the USAF after 24 years of active-duty service. Rachel grew up all over the United States and across the world. She has loved the opportunities to learn and experience so many different people and cultures. Rachel is her husband's primary caregiver.  Along with all the hats she wears taking care of her family, Rachel is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). She owns a private practice providing mental health counseling to a variety of clients with a wide array of needs. Rachel also works to help parents involved with family services learn skills to improve their lives once their families are reunified.  In addition, Rachel works with hospice, providing grief and bereavement services for the local community.  She can often be

Nicholas shares his journey from a military upbringing to pursuing his dreams in aviation.  Discover the impactful role of S2S programs, the value of kindness, and the essence of civic service.  A story of leadership, ambition, and the skies ahead! 
This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Davis Monthan Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://davismonthansc.org/. 
Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 
 
Show Notes: 
Resources: 
Frances Hesselbein Student Leadership Program 
https://www.militarychild.org/programs-and-initiatives/frances-hesselbein-student-leadership-program/ 
 
Student 2 Student 
https://www.militarychild.org/programs-and-initiatives/student-2-student/ 
 
Bio: 
My name is Nicholas, I am 16-year-old Sophomore from San Diego California. Currently, I am stationed overseas at Sigonella in Italy, and I am the President of my high school’s S2S.  I am currently working with my S2S program on a project that would better my school’s culture by spreading positivity. In 2023, I attended the Frances Hesselbein Leadership Program where I won the Suzy Carlton Student Leadership and Civic Responsibility Award.  

Military kids will experience on average 6-9 school transitions from kindergarten to high school graduation. They live a unique lifestyle filled with many adventures. Listen as Cory, a military child all grown up, shares his story and the impact growing up in a military community has had on his life. 
This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Mildenhall Spouses’ Association. To learn more, visit https://www.mildenhallspousesassociation.com/. 
Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 
 
Show Notes: 
Bio: 
Cory Petko is a 24-year-old Senior Security Analyst with a dedication to keeping systems safe and promoting security awareness. As the son of a retired Navy Senior Chief, he deeply understands the unique challenges of a military child and has a strong appreciation for our service members. He currently works at a defense contractor, working to protect their systems and digital assets, and plays a vital part in supporting the company's mission to supply critical equipment to our men and women in uniform.