HILL AFB, Utah -- The one thing a military member can expect from the military is it never stays the same. A permanent change of station is inevitable and will likely happen more than once. Moves are never easy but as a member of the military, we accept the change. However, oftentimes, it is not just the military member accepting the change…it is an entire family. According to studies, the average military child will move more than 5 times during their school-aged years.
These moves may positively influence our children’s resilience, but this resilience does not always come without some angst. In a survey facilitated by Blue Star Families, one of the top concerns for military families is the perceived lack of understanding of our way of life at local schools.
In response to this, the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs in coordination with the Utah Legislature funded four Military Support Team (MST) positions for the Davis County School District in 2022. The purpose of these positions is to provide support to all military connected students in the district. These team members are our children’s #1 advocators in the school.
Since its inception, the MST has improved the understanding and support of our military families throughout the district by offering resource facilitation support, therapeutic intervention sessions, and creating support groups for over 400 students. Through Project One, the MST has assisted in Team Hill leaderships’ partnership with the school district, which led to the 75 MSG Commander’s advising role on the district’s school board. The MST also has educated more than 2,400 school staff members at 30 schools on the military lifestyle, the Purple Star Program, Month of the Military Child and the Military Interstate Children Compact Commission.
Due to the proven success of the Davis County School District’s MST, the Utah Legislature funded MSTs in 2024 for Ogden and Weber County School Districts with the same goal in mind…supporting our military connected children.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the MSTs and how they can support your military connected children, please reach out to the members below.
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
Melanie Malan - Language, Culture, and Community Specialist