Barksdale members form community PTA

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Allison M. Boehm
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Barksdale members and their spouses held the first ever Barksdale Parent Teacher Association meeting June 23.

The Barksdale PTA is designed to serve as a unique function within the local school systems and according to Col. Scott Hoover, 2nd Mission Support Group commander, "The Barksdale PTA has the potential to be a very, very powerful voice. This will be a massive investment to our children."

As most PTAs are attached to a single school and work with that particular school, the Barksdale PTA is a community organization, meaning they work for the schools where Barksdale Airmen's children attend.

"As military members, we lead a very transient lifestyle," said Alisha Hayes, Barksdale PTA president. "Our children come here with very different educational levels and needs, and it's important that as parents and as military members, that we are out volunteering in the schools. Schools need to know their needs are important to us, just as we want our children's needs to be important to them."

The newly-formed Barksdale PTA is working toward building a network of parents who are willing to work within the schools to build a better partnership between the base populace and the schools Barksdale Airmen's children attend.

"This PTA will enable us, as parents, to build positive relationships with the schools our children attend and to work toward successful and positive solutions to different situations that may present roadblocks for our children," said Mrs. Hayes. "By being a resource for families that are transitioning to Barksdale, we hope to alleviate some of the major stresses of researching the different schools."

The Barksdale PTA is open to all members assigned to Barksdale, not just Airmen residing on base. Anyone who is interested in the welfare of military children's education is welcome to participate.

"We have members who have children at many of the different schools across the area, so when someone is considering a certain school, they have a point of contact they can call to get information regarding the different schools," said Mrs. Hayes.

For any questions or more information, contact the Barksdale PTA president: Mrs. Alisha Hayes jbhkmomma@yahoo.com or the vice president: Mrs. Alanna Koepnick aggies93family@yahoo.com.