New Navy school liaison officer returns ‘home’

The new Navy/Churchill County school liaison officer (SLO), Michele Taylor, has joined forces with Naval Air Station Fallon to aid military families whose children move up to nine times in their school age years.

As a Churchill County High School graduate, Taylor considers Fallon her home. After marrying a military service member (now retired), relocating several times and having two daughters now ages 14 and 16, an unexpected opportunity arose.

When her husband retired while in Washington State, the NAS Fallon SLO position became available. He encouraged her to apply for it; it was back home, close to family and deserving of her qualifications. Taylor wasn’t convinced she was a shoe-in but applied.

“I was incredibly thrilled when I got it,” Taylor said. “Not only that I’d be back home and near family but able to help join my two communities I’m proud to be part of—Fallon and the military—they made me who I am.”

A military base SLO serves as a conduit between parents, educators and the workplace so that military-connected children have a more seamless transition between schools.

Taylor has a double major bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and social science, and she’s a year away from finishing her master’s degree in human behavior. She also has extensive experience in professional childcare, assuming early on in a typically transient lifestyle the portable career of child development home provider for military families.

“Childhood education was something I really enjoyed,” Taylor said.

So she continued to further her knowledge and skills and applied her expertise in many of the places her family lived, all the while benefiting other military families.

Due to service member children moving so often, consistency and retention of educational goals is a major focus for everyone involved when planning a move and the future. SLOs can offer information on all area schools and education options, as well as facilitate communication and provide additional support.

“Being SLO fell right into my pipeline,” Taylor said. “My daughters laugh because I say this so often, but education is power and no one can take that power from you … Let’s fuel those flames in our kids. I know it’s cheesy. But you can take a small flame and grow it into a huge fire that can’t be quelled.”

Taylor said her primary goal right now is to meet the community and press that she’s a viable resource, from help with immunizations, credit transfers and any special needs, to applying to college and for financial aid. For example, even navigating how to receive assistance paying for eyeglasses.

“I may not have all the answers,” Taylor said, “but I can find them.”

The new SLO has been ramping up her schedule, going to community meetings and reaching out.

“The more I understand everything,” she said, “the better I can convey that information to somebody else.”

“All over Northern Nevada,” she added, “we really do have amazing schools, top notch … They have a personable attitude; it’s the small-town feel. There are teachers who care, and they’re the biggest supporters of our youth … I want to see us continue to skyrocket up … If you think there’s nothing pertinent to your child, let’s make something pertinent.”

Taylor can be reached at michele.taylor@navy.mil or 775-240-4160.