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Military Initiatives
The College of Education at Kansas State University is committed to preparing our students and faculty to provide quality and relevant education for military personnel, veterans and their families. Issues related to military-connected learners are being addressed daily by the faculty of the College who educate teachers, principals, superintendents, adult educators, school counselors, special educators, and postsecondary advising and student personnel services staff.
College-wide Military-Connected Learner Initiative
The college is making a significant contribution to the education of military-connected students and veterans and is impacting the education of our undergraduate and graduate students in their knowledge of and appropriate pedagogy and practice for veterans, members of the military and their families. The College of Education developed a college-wide Military and Veterans Educational Initiative to organize the various military-related activities across the college and to plan for a holistic and sustainable approach to working with our students. The goal of the initiative is to build capacity in the K-State College of Education to:
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Prepare pre-service and in-service school personnel to serve military-connected students and families;
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Meet the needs of our military-connected COE undergraduate and graduate students;
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Contribute to the knowledge base about education and military-connected students and families; and
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Collaborate with other military/veteran initiatives across campus.
This college-wide initiative was built on a strong foundation of decades of involvement with military-connected graduate students by the Adult Education program at Ft. Leavenworth and with USD 475 Geary County schools on Fort Riley, a close neighbor of K-State. The initiative is unique because it represents a college-wide approach that involves faculty, staff and students.
Teacher Preparation
The College of Education became one of the first 100 universities to participate in Operation Educate the Educators, a nationwide initiative following guiding principles from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) and the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC). The College of Education joined the MCEC, a non-profit, world-wide organization, focused on ensuring quality educational opportunities for all military children affected by mobility, family separation, and transition. The college’s work related to military-connected students earned the 2014 Partnership of Excellence Award for Higher Education by the MCEC.
Through our award-winning Professional Development School (PDS) model, the majority of our pre-service teachers complete their clinical training in military-connected schools districts. Faculty have produced materials for teachers, including Military-Connected Students in the Classroom, an interactive iBook by Sandy Risberg, available from the Apple Bookstore.
Adult Education
Our Adult Learning and Leadership program in the Department of Educational Leadership has a long history of engagement at Fort Leavenworth and Command and General Staff College. A cohort program for the Master’s of Adult Education at Fort Leavenworth awarded over 600 graduate degrees to officers at the Command and General Staff College in the past 25 years. In addition to the Master’s cohorts, the Adult Education faculty developed doctoral cohorts that included faculty and faculty developers as K-State graduate students at most of the schools located at Fort Leavenworth. A leadership training program, the Command Team Spouse Development Program, a community engagement program developed by faculty was awarded the 2010 Malcolm Knowles Outstanding Program in Adult Education award.
A Walk in My Shoes: Military Life Documentary
A decision to help preservice teachers better understand the needs of military-connected students grew into a documentary with campuswide, statewide and national implications. The documentary tells the story of seven people – soldiers, spouses, college students and educators – who share their perspectives on the dedication, service, rewards and challenges of being connected with the military.
Resources for Educators
Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) Resources
K-State Military and Families website
Books to Support Military-Connected Learners
Picture Books
- Andrews, B. (2007). I miss you!: A military kid’s book about deployment. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.
- Andrews, B. (2012). Why are you so scared?: A child’s book about parents with PTSD. Washington, D. C.: Magination Press.
- Ayyar, K. (2013). Countdown ‘til Daddy comes home. Herndon, VA: Mascot Books, Inc.
- Beaty, D. (2013) Knock knock: My dad’s dream for me. New York: Little, Brown & Co.
- Babley, A. (2009). Sunday chutney. Honesdale, PA: Front.
- Barnett, B. W. (2010). A salute to our heroes: The U.S. marines. Herndon, VA: Mascot Books, Inc.
- Biden, J., (2012). Don’t forget, God bless our troops. New York: Simon & Schuster.
- Brisson, P. (2010). Sometimes we were brave. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press.
- Brott, P., Buckholtz, A., Hissong, J., Houts, A., Jesseph, J., Kochensparger, C., Tonsmeire, M. Military life: Stories and poems for children. Elva Resa Publishing.
- Brown, M. W. (2010). The fathers are coming home. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.
- Bunting, E. (2005). The red balloon. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press.
- Calkhoven, L. (2015). Military animals with dog tags. New York: Scholastic, Inc.
- Callery, S. (2014). Scholastic discover more reader level 2: Branches of the military. New York: Scholastic Paperback Nonfiction.
- Christiansen, R. (2007). My dad’s a hero. Tarentum, PA: Word Association Publishers.
- Edick, K., & Johnson, P. J. (2007). We serve too!: A child’s deployment book. Eaton, CO: Wee The People Publishing.
- Edick, K., & Johnson, P. J. (2009)We serve too!: A child’s reunion book. Eaton, CO: Wee The People Publishing.
- Ehrmantraut, B. (2014). Night Catch. Elva Resa Publishing.
- Fink, J., & Fink, D. (2012). The little C.H.A.M.P.S. Bethesda, MD: Harmony Hearth LLC.
- Grimes, N. (2015). Poems in the attic. New York: Lee and Low Books.
- Hardin, M. (2010). Hero dad. Two Lions.
- Hardin, M. (2013). Hero mom. Two Lions.
- Huss, S. (2015). Children’s books: My mother’s pearls. Huss Publishing.
- Huss, S. (2015). Children’s books: My father’s shirt. Huss Publishing.
- Jackson, V. (2014). Danny dogtags: Dealing with deployment. Herndon, VA: Mascot Books.
- Karst, P. (2000). The invisible string. Camarillo, CA: DeVorss Publications.
- Kastle, S. (2015). Why is Dad so mad? Hays, KS: Tall Tale Press.
- Kastle, S. & Kastle, J. (2015). Why is Mom so mad? Hays, KS: Tall Tale Press.
- Kehoe, S. W. (2000). I live at a military post. New York: Rosen Publishing Group.
- Kraulis, J. (2013). Whimsy’s heavy things. Toronto: Tundra.
- LaBelle, J. (2009). My dad’s deployment: A deployment and reunion activity book for young children.Elva Resa Publishing.
- Linhart, S. M. (2010) But... what if? Cannon City, CO: LionHeart Group Publishing.
- Linhart, S. M. (2010). Daddy’s Boots. Cannon City, CO: LionHeart Group Publishing.
- Linhart, S. M. (2010). Grandpa... what if? Cannon City, CO: LionHeart Group Publishing.
- Linhart, S. M. (2010) Momma’s Boots. Cannon City, CO: LionHeart Grouop Publishing.
- Lunde, S. E. (2012). My father’s arms are a boat. New York: Enchanted Lion Books.
- Madison, A. (2008). 100 days and 99 nights. New York: Little Brown & Company.
- Marler, J. (2012). Lily hates goodbyes (All military version). Quincy Companion Books, imprint of Wyatt-MacKenzie.
- Maxwell, S. (2012). Big boss brain: Learning about traumatic brain injuries. 4th Division Press, E. L. Kurdyla Publishing LLC.
- Maxwell, S. (2011). Our daddy is invincible! 4th Division Press, E. L. Kurdyla Publishing LLC.
- Mead, Alice. (2009). Soldier mom. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux.
- Nelsony, L. S. (2014). Daddy’s deployment. Christian Military Publishing.
- Pfundstein, V. (2013). Veterans: Heroes in our neighborhood. Pfun-omenal Stories LLC, 2nd edition.
- Purkey, D. M. (2012). Miss you to pieces: A deployment story and project idea for kids. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
- Scillian, D. (2006). H is for honor: A military family alphabet. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press.
- Skolmosky, S. (2006). A paper hug. Self-published.
- Spinelli, E. (2004). While you are away. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.
- Sportelli-Rehak, A. (2004). Uncle Sam’s kids: Moving again Mom. Island Heights, NJ: Abidenme Books.
- Thomas, J. R. (2014). My dad is going away but he will be back one day!: A deployment story. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
- Turnbull, B. (2013). A sergeant in the house. Durham, NC: Light Messages Publishing.
- Wesley, J. (2014). Scholastic discover more reader level 2: Military vehicles. New York: Scholastic Paperback Nonfiction.
- Zuehlke, J. (2005). Fighter planes (Pull ahead books). Lerner Publications Company.
Middle Grade/Young Adult Books
- Anderson, L. H. (2014). The impossible knife of memory. New York: Viking.
- Anderson, M. E. (2012). When the lights go out. Concord, NC: Comfort Publishing LLC.
- Appel, A., & Rothmiller, M. (Eds.). (2008). My hero: Military kids write about their moms and dads. New York: St. Martin’s Press.
- Aronson, M., & Campbell, P. (2008). War is: Soldiers, survivors, and storytellers talk about war. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.
- Bauer, J. (2005). Stand tall. New York: Penguin Group.
- Blom, J. K. (2011). Possum Summer. New York: Holiday House.
- Boyne, J. (2013). Stay where you are and then leave>. New York: Henry Holt and Company.
- Brian, K. (2005). Megan Meade’s guide to the McGowan boys. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
- Cooney, C. B. (1992). Operation: Homefront. New York: Bantam Books.
- Dean-Blest, R. (2009). Simon SongJoy defends his melody: A children’s tale of love, loss and heroism. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
- DeFelice, C. (2011). Wild life. New York: Scholastic.
- Donahue, J. (2001). Till tomorrow. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux.
- Ellis, D. (2008). Off to war: Voices of soldiers’ children. Berkley, CA: Groundwood Books.
- Fontes, J. (2011). Benito runs. Minneapolis, MN: Darby Creek Pub.
- Harrington, K. (2016). Mayday. New York: Little, Brown & Company.
- Holmes, S. L. (2009). Operation yes. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books.
- Klages, E. (2006). The green glass sea. New York: Penguin Group.
- Klages, E. (2008). White sands, red menace. New York: Penguin Group.
- Linhart, S. M. (2010). The elementary adventures of Jones, JEEP, Buck & Blue: Complete edition. Cannon City, CO: LionHeart Group Publishing.
- Parry, R. (2009). Heart of a shepherd. New York: Yearling.
- Parry, R. (2011). Second fiddle. New York: Random House Children’s Books.
- Pavlicin-Fragnito, K. (2014). Summer of Courage. Elva Resa Publishing.
- Sherman, M. D. (Ed.) (2009). My story: Blogs by four military teens. www.SeedsofHopeBooks.com
- Stein, T. (2011). High dive. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers.
- Williams, S. M. (2009). Bull rider. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.
Other Resources
- Astor, R. A., Jacobson, L., & Benbenishty (2012). The military family’s parent guide for supporting your child in school. New York: Teachers College Press.
- Astor, R. A., Jacobson, L., & Benbenishty (2012). The pupil personnel guide for supporting students from military families. New York: Teachers College Press.
- Astor, R. A., Jacobson, L., & Benbenishty (2012). The school administrator’s guide for supporting students from military families. New York: Teachers College Press.
- Astor, R. A., Jacobson, L., & Benbenishty (2012). The teacher’s guide for supporting students from military families. New York: Teachers College Press.
- Petty, K. (2009). Deployment strategies for working with kids in military families. St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press.
- Sabin, E. (2012). The healing heroes book: Braving the changes when someone you love is wounded in service. Watering Can Press.
Kansas National Guard Resources
Kansas National Guard Youth Program: assist youth that have a parent, sibling, or legal guardian serving in the Kansas National Guard. The program consists of youth development, resources and referrals, community outreach, and advocacy.
Kansas National Guard Family Assistance Centers: assist all components with support, resources, and referrals (not just National Guard members and their dependents). Seven locations across the state (Topeka, Iola, Salina, Lenexa, Hutchinson, Wichita and Lawrence).
Kansas National Guard Psychological Health Coordinator: located at Joint Forces Headquarters, Topeka, KS and serves all Kansas National Guard Service Members and their dependents with non-medical counseling.
Directors of Psychological Health: located at each Wing (184th Wichita, KS and 190th Topeka, KS) that provide Air National Guard Service Members and their dependents with non-medical counseling.
State Family Program Office: located at Joint Forces Headquarters, Topeka, KS and serves all Kansas National Guard Service Members and their dependents with support, resources and referrals.
Airman and Family Readiness Program Managers: located at each Wing (184th Wichita, KS and 190th Topeka, KS) that provide Air National Guard Service Members and their dependents with support, resources and referrals.
Kansas National Guard Chaplain Support: located at Joint Forces Headquarters, Topeka, KS that provide religious support, spiritual guidance, crisis intervention, and compassionate care to National Guard personnel and their families. 100% confidential.