MIFFLINTOWN –­ Military deployments are difficult for everyone involved – the soldier, their families and friends and their communities and employers.

As a master sergeant in the Pennsylvania National Guard since 2001, Cameron has deployed seven times over the past three decades. Each time Cameron, a Thompsontown native, has deployed he’s left behind his family, friends and employer.

Five times, he’s deployed as a seventh-grade U.S. history teacher in the Juniata County School District. After 24 years of service, Cameron is ready to retire but wanted to thank those in the district one last time.

At the Aug. 21, Juniata County School District Board of Directors regular monthly meeting, Cameron presented Patriot Awards to Superintendent of Schools Christie Holderman, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Ben Fausey and Business Manager Rich Meily.

“JCSD has supported me throughout my military career,” explained Cameron, who became a teacher in 2002 and came to East Juniata in 2003, all the while continuing his military commitment. “During each deployment, the school district has made my transitions as easy as possible. In addition to assisting me, there have been other teachers deployed with the National Guard.

“As the Juniata County Education Association President, they worked with me to create a memorandum of understanding to allow a deployed teacher to continue taking education classes during deployment,” Cameron added. “In addition, the school district has also collaborated with me to ensure guardsmen’s USERRA (Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act) rights are upheld.”

At one point during his teaching career, Cameron worried about how his deployments affected his employment.

“When I discussed the issue with Mr. Fausey (building principal at the time), he assured me that JCSD would sooner have me miss time with deployments than accept a job offer to leave the school district,” Cameron recalled. “I am proud of my military service, but it is time for me to retire from the PA National Guard and spend more time with my family. Before my retirement, I wanted to recognize and thank Mr. Meily, Mr. Fausey and Mrs. Holderman for their contributions to my military service.”

Yes, this marks the second time administrators have been recognized for their actions. “In some form or another Mr. Meily, Mr. Fausey and Mrs. Holderman have assisted me during my five deployments with JCSD,” Cameron added.

The Patriot Award is provided through the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and the Department of Defense.

The awards were presented by Terry Curran of the Pennsylvania Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. He serves as the Pennsylvania North-Central Area chair and Pennsylvania’s Ombudsman director for the ESGR, which is an office of the Department of Defense.

“Master Sergeant Simon Cameron put them in for the award because they are patriotic and treated our soldiers with respect and acknowledge their service as important, and basically are part of the team. In this, we all serve,” Curran said.

Holderman said the district administration feels incredibly honored to have been nominated for this award.

“As a district, we are committed to making sure our staff feels valued and appreciated,” Holderman said.

“When we have members of the military among us, we recognize the personal sacrifices they make — especially the time they spend away from their families due to training and deployments,” Holderman added. “Their dedication doesn’t go unnoticed.”

District administrators believe this nomination is a reflection of their shared values: community, service, and commitment. It’s a reminder of the strong bonds built within the schools and the lasting impact of recognizing and supporting one another.

“They are valued members of our educational family, and during their deployments we both miss them and share in the concern felt by their families,” Fausey said.

“Teachers like Mr. Cameron, who serve our country with dedication, are an incredible asset to our district. They bring unique perspectives and experiences into the classroom that enrich our students’ learning in meaningful ways,” Fausey added. “While we recognize that our support is small in comparison to the sacrifices our service members make, we proudly display this award in our offices as a symbol of our respect and gratitude.”

Cameron’s role has transitioned from taking advantage of the opportunities provided to him as a graduate of East Juniata High School in 1997 to trying to provide opportunities for students since he started working in the same hallowed halls in 2003.

“My relationship with the school has evolved from student to teacher,” Cameron said. “In high school, I had the opportunity to represent EJ in football, wrestling, track, school plays, and musicals. During that time, I had some very knowledgeable teachers who prepared me for success in college.

“EJ afforded me the opportunity for many experiences that I am thankful for,” Cameron added. “As a teacher, it is my goal to provide students with the best opportunities possible. My teaching years at EJ include over a decade of coaching both football and wrestling. In addition to these activities, I have completed over two decades of coaching track.”

Cameron has also tried to give back in other ways, such as helping to refurbish the weight room and turning it into a fitness center containing free weights, cable machines and cardio equipment and assisting with fundraisers.

“My classroom objective is to provide students with a positive educational experience that promotes success after graduation,” Cameron said.

Cameron’s military connection also dates back to his education as he earned an associate’s degree from Community College of the Air Force, along with a bachelor’s degree from Washington and Jefferson College. He also has a master’s of education from Penn State.