Driving Change through Data for Exceptional Military Families
This September, Partners in PROMISE will launch our fourth and most important Military Special Education Survey yet. It is a chance for military families to share their lived experiences with special education and the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). With your stories, we can shape the future for military-connected children with disabilities and help keep our families and military strong.
📅 Save the Date – Survey Launch: September 16, 2025
Mark your calendar now to be among the first to share your experience when the PiP 2025 Military Special Education Survey goes live. Your input helps turn lived experiences into data that drives real change. Past surveys have influenced national policy conversations, shaped recommendations to the Department of Defense, and given military families concrete tools to navigate special education systems.
PiP 2025 Survey Research Team
We are honored to introduce a team whose groundbreaking research extends beyond Partners in PROMISE in advancing special education, disability advocacy, and support for the military community.
Dr. Jenna Kremkow – Director of Research, Partners in PROMISE
An Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Elmhurst University, Dr. Kremkow earned her MS and PhD from The Pennsylvania State University. She specializes in autism, augmentative and alternative communication, and child language disorders. Clinically, she has worked as a speech-language pathologist in schools, clinics, and early intervention programs. Her research focuses on improving communication outcomes for children with autism and using data to drive policy change that benefits military families.
Dr. Meghan Burke – Professor of Special Education, Vanderbilt University
Dr. Burke’s research focuses on special education, disability policy, and how families, including siblings, support individuals with disabilities. She developed the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s Volunteer Advocacy Project (VAP), empowering parents to access services and drive systemic change. This program has been replicated in seven states and offered in multiple languages. With over 185 scholarly publications, Dr. Burke is a leading voice in advancing special education and disability rights through evidence-based advocacy.
Dr. Georgia McKown – Program Manager for Effective Data Systems and Professional Learning, Behavior Alliance of South Carolina at Clemson University
With a background as a teacher, instructional designer, and nonprofit director, Dr. McKown focuses on helping educators support diverse learners, including military-connected students. Her work emphasizes high-leverage teaching practices and instructional technologies to meet the needs of students with disabilities. She brings both classroom experience and research expertise to designing systems that help every student thrive.
Dr. Katy Davis – Speech-Language Pathologist & Advocate for Neurodiversity
An ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist with a doctorate in cognitive diversity in education, Dr. Davis combines professional expertise with personal insight as a military spouse and parent to two twice-exceptional autistic children. She champions inclusive education, effective communication strategies, and a strengths-based approach to neurodiversity, helping educators and families better support diverse learners in academic and everyday settings.
Melissa Flynn – Military Spouse Advocate & Business Analyst
A military spouse of 14 years, Melissa has professional experience in marketing, project management, and finance. Her personal journey as a parent to a child on the autism spectrum has fueled her passion for advocacy. She served on the Fort Campbell DoDEA school board from 2021–2023 and regularly supports families in navigating IEPs and special education systems.
Also on the PiP Research Team:
Michelle Norman – Executive Director & Founder, Partners in PROMISE
A Navy spouse and lifelong advocate, Michelle founded PiP to protect the rights of military children in special education. Inspired by her own daughter’s journey with cerebral palsy, she has driven policy changes at the state and federal levels and continues to advance data-informed solutions for military families. She is pursuing an M.A. in Government with a concentration in Law and Public Policy from Regent University.
Crystal DeVoss Mahany, MA, MPS – Director of Advocacy, Partners in PROMISE
An Army spouse of over 22 years, Crystal’s journey into special education advocacy began when her oldest son was diagnosed with a rare speech disorder and autism. With expertise in disability rights and special education law, she drives policy change at the local, state, and federal level and serves as Adjunct Faculty at The George Washington University.
Sabrina Dalton – Research & Advocacy Team, Partners in PROMISE
As a Space Force spouse, Sabrina brings over a decade of experience supporting military families. She authored Five & Thrive’s Thrive Guide: Homeschool Edition and advocates for often-overlooked homeschooling families by combining research, resources, and community partnerships to create lasting impact.
Be Part of the Change This September
The Research Team is committed to collecting credible, trustworthy data that policymakers, educators, and military leaders can rely on. However, without your voice, there’s no story to tell. Whether your experiences have been positive, negative, or somewhere in between, your perspective matters. Together, we can give decision-makers the evidence they need to remove barriers, strengthen supports, and ensure military children with disabilities receive the education they deserve.
Here’s how you can help:
- Mark Your Calendar 📅 : The PiP 2025 Military Special Education Survey launches September 16, 2025.
- Take the survey when it goes live and share your family’s experience.
- Forward this newsletter to other military families, caregivers, and advocates.
- Post on social media so more voices can be heard.
Leave a Reply