Veterans working in the Cobb County School District are using their military backgrounds to help guide and support students across various roles, including as principals, teachers, social workers, and custodians.
Paul Pursell, a social worker at Rocky Mount, previously served as a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant for the 94th Civil Engineering Squadron at Dobbins Air Reserve Base. He said his experience in the military continues to influence his work with students and families. “So much of what I learned in military training or during exercises with other firefighters really does translate to what we do here,” Pursell said.
Michael Askew, principal at East Cobb Middle School and former lance corporal in the U.S. Marines, reflected on how his military service shaped his approach to education. “My dad said you have two choices: you can either go to college, or you can go to the military. I’m ashamed to say I didn’t have the best relationship with school, so I went to the military. I’ll never forget my staff sergeant said you’ve got to learn how to hunt tanks and in order to set tank traps. You need to know algebra; otherwise, you’re going to die. So, I became the best algebra student I knew how to be, learning how to set tank traps and blow-up trees with C4,” Askew explained.
Askew uses these experiences as examples for students about the importance of learning subjects like algebra for practical applications later in life. During his service, he was deployed to Liberia where he worked as a tank hunter and zodiac driver.
Heather Garrett teaches kindergarten at Tritt Elementary School after serving in the United States Army where she maintained vehicles and ensured safe transportation for personnel. She often surprises her students by sharing her veteran status on Veterans Day. “My kids are always shocked to learn on Veterans Day that I am a veteran of the United States Army,” Garrett shared.
Winston Wilkinson is now a custodian at Rocky Mount after spending 15 years as an electrician and engineer in the U.S. Navy. He credits his engineering background for skills he uses both at work and home. “Being in the engineering department, you learn a lot of engineering principles that you can relate to in regular life—especially at home, where I’m the handyman,” Wilkinson explained.
Wilkinson expressed gratitude for community support during annual Veterans Day celebrations at Rocky Mount.
Cathie Seibert is principal at Fair Oaks Elementary School following her service as a U.S. Army soldier who drove tanks and supported missions overseas—including being one of the first women deployed with her unit in Korea. She applies values from her time in uniform toward leading her school community: “Respect for the mission, respect for what we stand for, and respect for what we do. And that’s a big part of what we have here in Cobb County,” Seibert said.
The district encourages recognition of veterans who continue their commitment by supporting students throughout Cobb schools.
