DoDEA HQ Office of Communications

4800 Mark Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22350-1400

The DoDEA Communications Office initiates and manages DoDEA's communications and outreach efforts worldwide. The office coordinates press relations, internal information programs and communication with students, parents, teachers, school administrators and the public.

The HQ Communications Office:

Issues news releases and media advisories about DoDEA initiatives, employees and programs Produces video and television promotional and informational products marketed worldwide Maintains the DoDEA web site Designs printed promotional and informational material and graphic artwork to accompany publications, promotions and initiatives

For Immediate Release — December 17, 2009 | HQ
: DoDEA Educational Communications Officer | (703) 588-3260
: DoDEA Educational Communications Officer | (703) 588-3265

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ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA — December 17, 2009 — Within the next month the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) will finalize renovations to some of its school playgrounds to better serve special needs students. The Department of Defense’s (DoD) Office of Military Community and Family Policy (MC&FP) provided DoDEA approximately $4.3 million earlier this year to revamp some of its school playgrounds for special-needs children. DoDEA allocated an additional $5.547 million in year-end funding for playground upgrades at Fort Knox and Fort Campbell schools which will also better address those with special needs.

"We're renovating these existing playgrounds so that all children will have a play area that is safe, secure, and appropriate to their developmental levels," said Mr. Kevin Kelly, DoDEA's Associate Director for Financial and Business Operations.

Twenty-three schools will receive new playground equipment, including:

  • Fort Bragg: Bowley ES, Devers ES, Holbrook ES
  • Fort Campbell: Barkley ES, Lucas ES, Marshall ES, Jackson ES, Lincoln ES
  • Fort Knox: Mudge ES, Van Voorhis ES, Pierce ES, Macdonald IS, Kingsolver ES, Scott MS, Knox HS, Walker IS
  • MCB Quantico: Russell ES, Ashurst ES
  • Fort Stewart: Brittin ES
  • Heidelberg District: Hainerberg ES, Patch ES
  • Isles District: Geilenkirchen ES
  • Mediterranean District: Rota ES

The new playgrounds feature brand-new equipment, protective surfacing and borders and wheelchair accessible pathways.

The Quantico playground renovations are scheduled to be completed before the end of 2009; however, winter weather may delay some renovations until later in the school year.


DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education programs for Department of Defense (DoD) dependents who would otherwise not have access to a high-quality, public education. DoDEA schools are located in Europe, the Pacific, the United States, Cuba, Guam and Puerto Rico. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Education Activities throughout the U.S. that serve children of military families.