Stephanie Lawson

Share your military spouse story:
I became a military spouse after meeting my husband while Active Duty and stationed at Fort Hood, TX in 2008. We have one son, Logan. After traveling the country on multiple PCS’s we are now located at Fort Rucker in Alabama. I am an active Volunteer on Fort Rucker where I volunteer with the on post DoDEA Schools, Spouses Club and more. Having been active duty myself and now an Army Spouse, I have seen both sides to this military life we lead. I love being able to offer support to fellow spouses through all the battles we face on the home front. Military Strong isn’t just for the Soldier, but the Family as a whole! Military Spouses hold each other up and make it through this journey... We are stronger Together!

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
I enjoy leading our PTO and School Board in a way that educates other volunteers, parents and staff about the DoDEA School System. Assisting parents and staff in the daily functions of the school, it’s activities and educating them on the positive impact their involvement transcends from school to home in their child’s education. Having an advanced education in Behavior Analysis and educational Psychology , I can see first hand how parents volunteerism and involvement in the schools PTO can directly impact their students education in a positive manner! Through my leadership and positive, fun loving and free spirit attitude, I feel I can bring FUN back into the school, it’s PTO and other areas of The Fort Rucker Volunteer Corps!

Describe your involvement in the military community:
I am the PTO President and School Board Vice President of our on Post school, Edmund Rucker Elementary School. I also serve on the wellness committee for our school. I also enjoy being the 1st Vice President of the Fort Rucker Community Spouses Club and being the Fort Rucker Ambassador for GivingTuesdayMilitary.

Describe how you support your community:
Support is my middle name. It’s not often you will ever hear me turn down an opportunity to support my local military community. Through Spouses Club outreach programs, school activities and other non profit support, I love to provide any assistance, within my means, that supports their cause. Working with the Fort Rucker Community Spouses Club as the 1st Vice President, I am able to play a role in raising funds that are then given out to military dependents as college scholarships and grants to other non profits on our local community.

What do you advocate for? Why?
Psychological well-being of students in the DoDEA school system, and beyond, is a vital necessity for our military children. Through multiple PCS moves and deployments of a caregiver, their mental wellbeing directly impacts tbeir education and social wellbeing. Providing support to these students is my ultimate goal. Allowing them to be provided ample opportunities to mental health, both inside and out of the school, in their social social circle of friends and to learn coping skills to over come and adapt to their ever changing world. Our military children are so resilient... yet, that doesn’t mean they don’t struggle along the way. It’s up to us, the parents, schools and volunteers to make sure they know where to go and how to ask for help. I work hard to tear down stereotypes of mental health in our military community and hope to reach all those in need of those needing a higher level of education on the subject.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
I work daily gaining a greater level of education and knowledge in the world of military children and their lifestyles. Working within the school and on the wellness committee allow me the opportunity to provide suggestions and offer change that encourage mental health awareness in the elementary level education system and beyond.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
I hope to reach a larger outlet of school systems where the military child may not be the majority in their system. Bringing awareness to the Military Child in any school system and their mental health and how that directly impacts their education will Allow them the chance to learn more about the lifestyle, daily struggles and obstacles these military children face. While all children have struggles, a military child faces obstacles many others never will. Allowing schools and other social circles to learn more about the military lifestyle and how it directly affects a military child and how it then transforms over into their education is key!