HILL AFB, Utah -- In military life, change is the only constant. Permanent Change of Station orders are inevitable and often frequent, affecting not just service members, but entire families. For children, these transitions can be especially challenging. On average, military-connected students move more than five times during their school years. While these experiences can build resilience and adaptability, they also bring emotional strain, academic disruption, and social isolation.
Recognizing these challenges, the Department of the Air Force established school liaison positions at every installation in 2011, aligning across the Department of Defense in 2018. SLs are subject-matter experts in PreK through 12th grade education for military-connected youth. They foster partnerships between local schools and installation leadership, advocate for families, and provide consistent, impactful support during PCS moves, deployments, and reintegration.
Military Child Education is a top priority for Air Force leadership. Families consistently cite school quality as a key factor in their decision to continue military service, making education a direct contributor to retention. Since military families are among the most successful recruiting pools, ensuring strong educational outcomes also impacts readiness. If schools serving military children fail to produce quality graduates, the long-term strength and lethality of our force may be compromised.
A recent Blue Star Families survey revealed that one of the top concerns among military households is the lack of understanding of military life within local schools. In response, Utah has taken bold steps to bridge that gap.
In 2022, the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, in coordination with the Utah Legislature, funded four Military Support Team positions in the Davis County School District. These professionals serve as frontline advocates for military-connected students, offering:
- Resource facilitation
- Therapeutic intervention sessions
- Support groups for over 400 students
Through Project One, MSTs helped strengthen Team Hill’s partnership with the district, leading to the 75 MSG Commander’s advisory role on the school board. MSTs have also trained over 2,400 school staff across 30 schools on military culture, the Purple Star Program, Month of the Military Child, and the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission.
Due to Davis County’s success, the Utah Legislature expanded MST funding in 2024 to Ogden, Weber, and Tooele County School Districts—ensuring broader support for military-connected children across the region.
If you have questions or want to learn how your SLs and MSTs can support your military-connected children, don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we’re building stronger foundations for our youth—one move at a time.
Team Hill School Liaison Program Managers
Jan Seachris – 801-775-5959, janet.seachris@us.af.mil
Matt Mason – 801-775-5960, matthew.mason.9@us.af.mil
DAVIS MST:
Francesca Suarez - Military Support Team Lead – 801-781-9058, fsuarez@dsdmail.net
Erin Webster - Military Family Advocate – 801-941-3461, erwebster@dsdmail.net
Jenn Rupp - Military Educational Therapist
Jordan Dye - Military Educational Therapist
OGDEN MST:
Patricia Dominguez - Military Family Advocate - 801-979-8202, dominguezp@ogdensd.org
WEBER MST:
Colleen Russell - Military Student & Family Advocate – 801-476-5467, corussell1@wsd.net
Larissa Archuleta - Military Support Specialist – 801-476-7830, laarchuleta@wsd.net
Tooele MST
Darren Westhora – Principal/Military Liaison: 435-831-4090 dwesthora@tooeleschools.org