Purple Star

military adult and child

military two adults and child

military adult and child

Audubon Elementary School Values Our Military Students and Families

Audubon Elementary, an A-rated school on Merritt Island, is proud of its vibrant community, which includes our valued Military students and families. We deeply appreciate the contributions they make to our school. Throughout the year, we celebrate their impact through special events like Purple Up! Day, Month of the Military Child, and Veteran’s Day activities. These events give us the chance to highlight and honor the presence of our military students at Audubon Elementary.

Military Point of Contact:

Scott Sutherland
Physical Education Teacher / Air Force Veteran
Email Coach Sutherland

Transition Planning for Military Families

Patrick SFB Life / School Liaison Program Manager
Susan Clark
321-494-1991
on Facebook @ PatrickCYES.SLO

With each move, military children face many school-related challenges. The Patrick Space Force Base School Liaison can provide information about transition planning, academic options, and options and resources regarding the local area, as well as connect you to the School Liaison at your next installation when transitioning to another location.

Transition Steps:

  1. Register and enroll at school of choice.

  2. Identify as Active Military Duty 

  3. Fill out a form for student(s) family to meet with the Military Family Life Counselor

  4. Set up a conference with the principal and classroom teacher (s)

  5. Join Parent and Teacher Organization to assist with events. 

  6. Audubon Elementary Website/Military Webpage and supports shared with new families.

Academic Planning For Military Families

Jaime Slentz, Audubon Elementary School Assistant Principal
Email Jaime Slentz

Resources and Additional Opportunities for Military Families

Tutor.com
This program is available 24/7 for the U.S. Military and their families at no cost. It is online tutoring and offers homework help. The tutors can assist you with working through difficult homework problems and improving your writing and other skills.

United Through Reading
Shared story time, United Through Reading makes family bonding experiences possible. This program connects military families who are separated for deployment or military assignments.

Military OneSource
The Military OneSource provides services in areas such as tax services, spouse employment help, webinars, online training, relocation, deployment tools, and other areas. Call-800-342-9647

Military Child Care                       
Department of Defense (DOD) program that makes it easier to find the child and youth care your family needs.   Call 855-696-2934

Military Kids Connect                    
Military Kids Connect (MKC) is an online community for military children (ages 6-17 years old) that provides access to age-appropriate resources to support children from pre-deployment, through a parent’s or caregiver’s return.

Sesame Street for Military Families
This is a free, bi-lingual (English and Spanish) website that families can utilize to locate information and multimedia resources on topics such as military deployments, multiple deployments, homecomings, injuries, grief, and self-expression.

USDOD—Taking Care of Our People
This is a US Department of Defense website that recognizes the service and sacrifice of our military and their families. The US DOD dedicates resources, services, policies, and programs to support the more than 2 million uniformed service members and the 2.6 million family members around the world.

Red Cross—Military Services                  
Members of the Red Cross assist military members, veterans, and their families in preparing, responding, and adjusting to the challenges of military service.

Scholarship               
Through the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) and Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-CO) programs, families of K-12 students have a choice of financial assistance for private school tuition and fees or help with transportation costs for students to attend a public school other than the one the student is assigned to.

Military Interstate Compact
Information on the Military Interstate Compact and resources available for eligible transitioning military dependents

Megan Wessinger, Audubon Elementary School Counselor
Email Megan Wessinger

Information on Exceptional Student Education Services (ESE)

Steps:

  1. Parents inform the school that their child has exceptional student services at enrollment.

  2. Parents inform the school that they would like to know about exceptional student services at enrollment for their child because they have concerns about their child's social-emotional and academic development.

  3. Brevard Public Schools Resources


    School ESE Support Specialist: Lisa Aumann, 321-452-2085 Email Lisa Aumann
    School Principal Contact: Candace Jones, 321-452-2085  Email Candace Jones                                                                                                                                    
    School Counselor Contact: Megan Wessinger, 321-452-2085   Email Megan Wessinger

ESE Parent Connection: Brevard Public Schools sponsors the ESE Parent Connection, a series of informational meetings open to all parents of students in the Exceptional Student Education (ESE) program. 

Special Education Connection: The Florida Department of Education is proud to provide parents of students with disabilities access to Special Ed Connection. This web-based resource helps parents understand special education and how it works as their child enters, progresses through, and exits the world of special education requirements. Some highlights of the many components that will be made available for your use include Smarts, Special Ed Online Dictionary, News and Update, and Special Ed Roundups. 

Parents and teachers may sign up for this resource online. To find out more about this available resource, visit: https://www.fdlrs.org/parent-services/special-ed-connection  

Florida Students Achieve: This is a joint project between the Florida Education Foundation and the Florida Department of Education.  Here you will find resources to help you choose the best schools for your children and to understand what things students should be learning.   This will help you work with your child’s teachers to ensure the best possible outcome.

University of Central Florida—Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) UCF CARD serves children and adults who have Autism, pervasive developmental disorders, autistic-like disabilities, dual sensory impairments, or sensory impairments with other disabling conditions. Their primary focus is to provide individualized, direct assistance to these individuals and their families.  CARD services are designed to build on state and local resources' capacities, not duplicate them.  The Florida Legislature funds the Center through the Florida Department of Education; all services are free. 

Information on the mental health challenges facing military students, including ways to access school-based mental health services

Brevard Public Schools offers Psychological and Mental Health Services to all students, including those in military families. These school-based mental health services, along with many other resources, are available at the Mental Wellness website or https://bpscommunityconnect.findhelp.com/

Military Family Life Counselor information:
CYB MFLC
Robert Updegrove
321-474-1530

Information on Military Recognition Events

  • Take a Vet to School

  • Purple UP! For Military Kids - April 15, 2025

  • April, Month of the Military Child activities

  • November, Month of the Military Family activities

  • Veteran’s Banners created and hung in the school lobby/office or the hallway bulletin board

  • Deployment Map in School Lobby/office or hallway bulletin board

  • Patrick Space Force Air Base Events