Jessica Saum

Collaboration and Inclusion Coordinator

Service Member's Branch - Air Force

Service Member's Status - Currently Serving - 20 years

What has been your military spouse career/entrepreneur journey so far?

While working as an esthetician in a day spa in Arkansas, I completed my undergraduate degree, our first assignment at Little Rock Air Force Base before moving to Germany. While in Germany I was able to complete my masters degree and was fortunate to stay home with my children and enjoy living overseas. Upon returning to Arkansas five years later, I began substituting before going back to work in education full time first as a school age preschool teacher before returning to my passion work as a special education teacher. In May 2021 I was named my district's teacher of the year, and in October 2021 while my husband was on a one year unaccompanied PCS, I was named as the 2022 Arkansas Teacher of the Year. I spent the year advocating for students with special education services as well as the unique needs of our military connected families. In that year I was chosen as a 2023 Presidential Leadership Scholar and most recently was appointed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to the Arkansas Council for Military Children and published a book, Maggie and the Purple Up Parade, highlighting the Month of the Military Child.

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Jessica, I am originally from South Carolina, and now consider Arkansas home. I have two children, Tucker and Magnolia, and I have been a military spouse, married to Shane for almost 18 years. I am an educator, I love traveling, trying amazing food, and playing roller derby for Rock Town Roller Derby and Team Arkansas.

Tell us about a "typical" day in your professional life.

There is no typical day in my work supporting teachers and students who are eligible for special education services. My work focuses on ensuring all students are meaningfully included in the general education classroom and provided with the supports needed to be successful. I take great joy and pride in helping students and their families achieve their academic and social goals while ensuring educators are supported in teaching diverse learners. I am grateful to have the opportunity to lead and to learn each and every day and to help improve educational outcomes for students who have unique learning needs.

If you've been stationed overseas, how did this affect your career and or business?

While overseas I was unable to be hired for a position as a classroom teacher, however I did work as a teachers aide prior to my children being born. Although I was overqualified for this position, it helped me later in my career as a lead teacher working with paraprofessionals in my own classroom.

What has been your biggest military spouse career struggle and how did you overcome it?

Employers and military spouses know that they may have a military spouse as an employee for only a very short period of time, which can hinder the military spouses' ability to be hired. I have found that facing this head-on is the best way to overcome this struggle. I cannot guarantee you a lifetime of work at this business, school, cooperation etc. What I can guarantee is while I am here I will give you my best work and you will benefit from my diverse life experiences and adaptability as an employee through the lessons I have learned as a military spouse.

What role did mentors and sponsors play in your journey?

I have had friends and mentors impact all parts of my military journey. From encouragement to complete my undergraduate degree to support for myself and my children as I pursued further education and opportunities, these mentors and friends paved the path, lightened the load and helped to make my dreams become a reality.

How does your career path differ from what you imagined for yourself?

I knew my spouse's career would always take priority over mine, but I never knew how his career could impact my passion and work. Supporting the unique needs of our military families and their education is a critical part of the work I do as an educator, and I could never have imagined the path and journey this work would take me on.

How did military life (PCSing, deployments, trainings, etc) factor into your career decisions?

A portable career was important to me, however fulfilling work means more. I have been able to pursue a career in education knowing that my training as a military spouse, a Key Spouse, and through deployments have made me more resilient and more adaptable as an employee and as a leader.

Have you ever had to geo-bach due to your career/entrepreneurship?

My spouse spent 14 months on an unaccompanied assignment to Lajes in Portugal. I have a career in education that I love, and our children are active in extracurricular activities. We have a supportive friend and church community, and we chose to see this as an opportunity to minimize the number of times our family would have to move and while both having professional growth opportunities. My spouse and I agreed that this was a good thing for our family and now, two years after he returned after being away for 14 months, I still believe it was. We said our family would be fine, and in all honesty, we are, but to ignore the toll the time apart took on our family, and specifically my children, would be a disservice to the struggles and burdens military families across our nation face daily.

What resources have you found to be useful in your career/entrepreneur journey?

On base events and squadron support, the base School Liason, and our council for military children, but above all else, other military spouses. This is a life so few understand, and those chosen family friends have made it a life I would choose again.

Final word: what are your top tips for other military spouses about navigating a career within the military lifestyle?

If you choose to, you are uniquely equipped to do work at any and every duty station you are assigned to. Be honest about your spouse's service and highlight how the military lifestyle makes you the best candidate for your chosen career. If you choose to take a break from your career- it is ok! The choice to pursue your career choice or not is a deeply personal one that each family will have to make during the different stages of their military life.

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