Each Montgomery County school has been awarded the Purple Star Award, a state-sponsored recognition for schools’ dedication and support of military-connected youth, according to the Pathways Regional Prevention Center.
Montgomery County is the first county in the 10-county region that Pathways serves to have every school in the district receive the Purple Star designation, which is quite an achievement, according to a release.
Montgomery County is the sixth county in Kentucky to achieve the award designation.
Matt Thompson, superintendent of Montgomery County Schools, said, “This Veterans Day season, Montgomery County Schools has a profound reason to stand proud.”
Thompson added, “This designation is a direct result of the incredible, tireless hard work of our dedicated principals, teachers and staff at every school. I am immensely proud of their commitment to creating a truly supportive environment for our military-connected youth.”
Thompson said the recognition is far more than a simple honor.
“It is a vital reassurance to our military families. It signals that our district is specially equipped to help their children successfully navigate the unique challenges that come with military life, such as frequent moves and parental deployments. Supporting these families is not just an educational priority, it is a patriotic necessity, recognizing the immense service and sacrifice our military members make every single day for our country.”
With Veterans Day approaching soon, Thompson said, “This achievement serves as our collective pledge: Montgomery County Schools is dedicated to serving those who serve, ensuring their children thrive here and honoring the essential role our military plays in protecting the freedoms we all enjoy.”
Ceremonies are scheduled at each of the district’s schools. Parents and community members are invited to attend.
The ceremonies co-incide with the annual Veterans Day programs that are being held at the schools.
• Camargo Elementary School, Nov. 6, 1:30 p.m.
• J.B. McNabb Middle School, Nov. 7, 9:45 a.m.
• Montgomery County High School, Nov. 10, 2:30 p.m.
• Mapleton Elementary School, Nov. 11, 9:15 a.m.
• Mt. Sterling Elementary School, Nov. 11, 1 p.m.
• Northview Elementary School, Nov. 11, 1:15 p.m.
• Board of Education, Nov. 18, 6 p.m.
The Purple Star Award started in 2017 in Ohio as a result of conversations with service members, veterans, educators, military family members, students and others about ways schools can better serve military students and their families and has spread to other states throughout the country. The Purple Star Award designation lets military parents know, whether they are on active duty or in the National Guard or Reserves, that the school is dedicated to helping their child gain the education necessary to succeed. The program is supported by the U.S. Dept. of Defense, Military Child Education Coalition and the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission and currently, 34 states implement the program in their schools and school districts, a release said.
The Purple Star Advisory Board, formed by the Kentucky dept.’s of Education, Higher Education, Veterans Services and Behavioral Health, reviews the applications twice a year, in the spring and fall. Purple Star awardees receive a special recognition to display at their school along with statewide recognition for their achievement.
Pathways Regional Prevention Center provides substance abuse prevention and suicide prevention services as a part of Pathways in Montgomery, Bath, Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Greenup, Lawrence, Menifee, Morgan, and Rowan counties. Pathways is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Center committed to strengthening individuals, supporting families and serving communities. More than 600 dedicated Pathways staff provide quality behavioral health care services at over 20 locations for approximately 13,000 community members annually.
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