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Head of DOD Schools Speaks at Commander's 2009 Training Symposium

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090704-07
Release Date: 7/4/2009 7:50:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Gary Keen, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa/Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

NAPLES, Italy (NNS) -- The director of the Department of Defense Education Activities (DoDEA)spoke at the Commander's 2009 training symposium on Naval Support Activity Capodichino, June 30.

"I am here because I wanted to talk about DoDEA, and what we are doing now and what our vision for the future is," said Dr. Shirley A. Miles.

Miles spoke for 90 minutes at the conference about DoDEA's accomplishments in 2008 and touched on some main goals for the future.

DoDEA is working on budget prioritization, implementation of a virtual school, and evaluation of DOD school curricula with a particular focus on math and literacy.

"We are planning on having virtual schools, so that students will be able to get a diploma online by the year 2010," added Miles.

Parents will notice several immediate changes in DOD schools beginning with kindergarten classes. Nineteen schools will see an increase in the number of kindergarten classes, reducing the student-to-teacher ratio from the current 29-1 down to 18-1. Parents can also expect to see a different curriculum and a revision of expectations for administrators.

"My job is to focus on our children and on what they need," said Miles.

Miles has oversight of all DoDEA schools in the U.S. and overseas. Prior to her selection as director of DoDEA in June, 2008, she served as DoDEA's associate director for education and principal deputy director. She is DoDEA's sixth director.

The Commander's 2009 Training Symposium is a two-day conference where senior leadership convene to forge alignment and continue to build a unified team that will ensure mission execution in support of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa/Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe -U.S. Naval Forces Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/naveur/.