Operation Educate the Educators: Recognizing and Supporting Military-Connected Students Through University-Based Research, Community Partnerships, and Teacher Education Programs

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

Dr. Jill Biden, Second Lady of the United States, lifelong educator, and military mom will speak about her work with Operation Educate the Educators as part of her Joining Forces initiative. There will be a question and answer session with university researchers to discuss these efforts and outcomes immediately following. It is estimated that over 4 million students in the U.S. have parents who have served in the military since 9-11. Despite multiple school moves and parental deployment, military- and veteran-connected students show remarkable resilience. Educational research suggests that schools can better serve military- and veteran-connected students. National policy, new research funding, and efforts in over 100 universities are now underway to increase the number of university schools of education that include materials, research, and partnerships focused on students from military and veteran families. Dr. Biden’s Operation Educate the Educators program aims to increase awareness of this group among university schools of education.

Sub Unit

• AERA Sessions

Chair

• Jeannie Oakes, University of California - Los Angeles

Speaker

• Dr. Jill Biden, Second Lady of the United States

Discussants

• Ron Avi Astor, University of Southern California

• Catherine Bradshaw, Curry School of Education, University of Virginia

• Mary Keller, Military Child Education Coalition