School liaison officer dishes back-to-school advice

  • Published
  • By Rebekah Malloy
  • Nucleus writer
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Beth Mann, Kirtland's school liaison officer, said her job is simple: help reduce students' school-related anxiety and transition students into Albuquerque schools smoothly.

"I got lost going to my first class on the first day of my senior year of high school," Mann said.

She remembers the challenges of being an "Air Force brat" well, she said. For her, that meant attending ten different schools while she grew up, including four high schools.

It's a background that makes her perfect for her current role, she said.

"It's like this job was made for me," she said. "I'm pretty uniquely qualified."

Mann has 11 years of teaching experience at the Sandia Base Elementary and worked at Kirtland's Child Development Center as a training and curriculum specialist, assistant director and director.

"I know where these kids are coming from," she said.

In addition to having field and administrative work under her belt, Mann has lived in Albuquerque for 24 years and has built deep relationships within the Albuquerque community. She attends every Albuquerque Board of Education meeting, she said.

With a bachelor's degree in early childhood development and master's degree in organizational learning and instructional technology, Mann's education covers learning "basically from birth until death," she said.

In addition to a deep background in education, Mann said she also understands the unique challenges associated with educating students with special needs; she is a single mother with three special needs children, ages 21, 18, and 11.

"Any military-connected student, I'm a resource for them," Mann stated.

There are a number of factors that go into her advice for parents, she said, including the students' involvement in sports and other extracurricular activities, whether or not they thrive in a smaller classroom and more.

Mann said she also looks after homeschoolers' needs. She provides information about online schooling and updates the list of homeschool co-ops in the area every year.

"There are so many options for families to choose from," she said. "While education in New Mexico may not be impressive in general, a lot of that is tied to the state's extreme poverty. But in the Albuquerque area there are opportunities for a great education."

There are more than 300 schools within an hour's drive of Kirtland, she said.

Mann said she encourages high school students to take advantage dual credit so they can simultaneously complete high school courses and college credit.

As far as back to school advice, Mann said familiarity is key. Attend registration, jump start days, meet-the-teacher times and similar opportunities are helpful, she said.

Recalling the time she got lost, she said another good trick is to study a school map and plan where you're going.

"This trick is near and dear to my own heart," she said.

Mann can be reached at 846- 6477 or beth.mann.1@us.af.mil.