Saluting Service

In observance of Veterans Day 2020 we are recognizing the veterans in our parent mentor families.

Jared Callaway works for families on the home front now

We are also featuring one of our new mentors, Jared Callaway of Barrow County, who served in the US Army for over 15 years with deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is important for you to know that every parent mentor must have a child who has received special education services. Liam is in the self contained classroom with Jenny Davila and he also receives OT, speech and participates in inclusive activities through his connection’s classes. Stella has an IEP as well with consultation only. So, I have kids with two very different IEPs.

I believe in public education and the importance of community support and grassroots advocacy. I also strongly believe that when parents are actively involved in their child’s education children do better in school and life beyond school.

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Q: Tell us a little about you

A: I am just a dad and husband that wants to find ways of giving back and helping others. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a Parent Mentor and look forward to helping the students and families in my community in every way that I can.

Q: What kinds of assistance can military families count on to help them with getting services for their child or children with disabilities? 

A: While on Active Duty service members should enroll in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) this protects them from unnecessary moves that allow them to give their child the stability needed for growth. Also TriCare offers extended health care options in the ECHO program. This allows for families to utilize early intervention and covers all therapies needed for the child’s plan.

Q: I only know of one agency that assists families – STOMP. Do you know of any other resources you could recommend?

A: I recommend Military One Source for service members as this is often times a one stop shop that covers everything. 

Q: What can school districts and, parent mentors in particular, do to assist families of children with disabilities who have active service members in the family?

A: School districts and parent mentors can assist military families by understanding EFMP and the Tricare ECHO benefits available to soldiers. It is important to understand all of these aspects because the IEP can be used to support staying in place and not PCSing.

Helpful information for military families is also available on the Georgia Department of Education website.

Recognizing our GaPMP Families and Honoring Service

Editor’s Note: This is by no means meant to be a complete list. It is a compilation of voluntary submissions of names by GaPMP participants.

• Edith Abakare  Atlanta Public Schools,  asks us to recognize her brother, Otis Boyce, US Air Force  Retired; sister in law, Gail F. Boyce US Air Force Retired; brother, James E. Boyce, US Army Retired

• Erin Arledge,  Whitfield County,  asks that we recognize her son, Chase Kellett Kenemer, United States Navy; her paternal grandfather, John Henry Kellett, United States Marines and United States Navy; and maternal grandfather, John Pickney Floyd,  United States Navy

• Rebecca Best, Grady County, asks that we recognize her late father, James M. Haslett who passed away five years ago at age 84. He served in the Army during the Korean War. 

• Teresa Bruce, Franklin County, asks that we recognize her brother,  Mark Moseley,  US Army (Retired)

• Billie Foulk, Glynn County, asks that we recognize her father, William Calvin La Roche, served in World War II.  He served in two branches of the military because he was in the Army when the Air Force split as a separate branch from the Army.  When the Air Force formed its own branch, he was sent to the Air Force.  During World War II, he served in the Army as a Paratrooper. He was born in 1927 and recently turned 93.

• Tomesha Giddings  Liberty County, asks that we recognize her husband, Cleophus Giddings Jr, retired Army

• Stacy Greene, Cobb County, asks that we recognize her father, Ray Kunzer, Specialist 2nd Class Army, retired; also Army Reserves

• Jane Grillo, White County, asks that we recognize her brother, Mario Giacomotto, Air Force; father in law, the late Tony Grillo, Navy; and brother in law, Steve Grillo, Navy

• Joellen Hancock,  Cherokee County, asks that we recognize her husband, Steven M. Hancock,U.S. Air Force, Intelligence, Dessert Storm; Father, Billy Jackson Hancock, U.S. Navy Retired; and grandfather, Harold Melvin Melhern , U.S. Navy – Retired  WWII
• Juliet Hardeman, Chatham County, is herself a veteran: I have served in the Army Reserves for 22 years as a Medical Service Corp Officer. I coordinated ground and air evacuations.  I have served in NATO, humanitarian and combat operations around the world She also asks that we recognize her father, who serve with the Navy and father-in-law who served in WWII as a Navy surgeon.
• Michal Jones Walker County, asks that we recognize her brother Steve Robinson, Army, Marines;  brother, Garland Robinson, Marines;  and  father, John Robinson, Army 

• Anne Ladd, DOE, asks that we recognize her father, Tom Wyatt Mahaffey, who served as a Commander in the Navy.  He is still going strong at 89! 

• Amanda Locke, Evans County asks that we recognize her father, the late US Navy Cdr. Robert E. Nelson served in WWII, Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He passed away in 1993 at age 68.

• Jackie McNair, Gwinnett County, asks that we recognize her brothers, Bruce Walker, brother, served 30 years in Air Force. Retired; and Gerald Walker, served 4 years in Air Force; brother in law, Stanley Harris, Sr., served 4 years in the Marines; late father in law, Daniel McNair, Sr., served 4 years in the Army

• Bonnie Morris, Walton County, asks that we recognize her father, James Betancourt, who was in the Air Force during the Korean War; and her father in law, Roy Morris Sr, who was in the Army Reserves 

• Tracy Reynolds Polk County, asks that we recognize her husband, Scott Reynolds, US Navy; and father, Jerry Dabbs, US Army