Stephanie Lawson

Share your military spouse story:
Meeting my spouse while serving on Active Duty was tough. After we were married and deploying at opposite times, I decided to end my military service and join the military spouse ranks spending my time volunteering. Through many deployments, PCS movement and raising a child, I enjoyed my time serving on Spouse Club Boards, FRGs and Military Schools Settling down in the Fort Rucker community I have entered back into the work force where I continue my work with military children. Working with DoDEA has allowed me to continue advocating for our military children. I also enjoy my work with GivingTuesdayMilitary where I have been able to hold annual events through sharing the message of giving and kindness.

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
During my time serving in the military community I have had the honor of being recognized as volunteer of the year for Rucker as well AFI Base Winner for Fort Rucker once before. Through these honors, I have been able to join the GTM movement as an ambassador where I Crete and host annual events of giving. Each year we now host a blood drive on Fort Rucker where we also collect good for a local Women's and children shelter. Through this work, we have not only matched but surpassed our goals each year.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
Having served on active duty myself as well as being a military spouse has allowed me to offer perspective to other military spouses and families from both sides of the line. This has carried over into my serving the military community where I have sat on several military spouse boards, housing advocacy groups, parent teacher organizations and more. Each of these opportunities allowed me to work with teams of amazing spouses and military community members where, collectively, we have advocated for change and betterment to the communities in which we serve.

Describe how you support your community:
I support the local Fort Hood Community through advocating for military children and their education as well as giving back to the local community through acts of kindness and giving with GTM and other avenues. Working together as a team allows a sense of One Team, One Fight where the Fort Rucker community really is Above The Best!

What do you advocate for? Why?
Building a bridge between the military community and civilian community is done through working together through acts of kindness and giving. Advocating for military children and their involvements in both the Fort Rucker community as well as the civilian communities in the surrounding areas is key in the social and emotional development of our military children. Advocating for educational psychology in the health of our military children is paramount in todays society. Working with parents as these children navigate an education during a worldwide pandemic can be tough. I will spend every waking night helping those in need as our military children grow and learn through this military life they lead.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
GivingTuesdayMilitary and working with DoDEA has allowed me the opportunity to help spread kindness and giving throughout the local Community.I have also been given the opportunity to help our military children with my work at DoDEA during the COVID Pandemic. Working with parents and assisting them through virtual learning platforms, easing back to brick and mortar learning and even times of quarantine for their students. Education of our military children is paramount and the pandemic has had its toll on many. Allowing them to grow and learn and be supported through these times is key!

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
I hope to spread the word of educational and psychological advocacy needs for military children and the obstacles they often face when PCSing from one location to another. The ever changing school systems, policies and providers changes to curriculum changes… our military children and so resilient. However, their educational and psychological well being should never come second and during these times of the pandemic, it should number one on the list!