Arkadelphia Public School District is honored to announce that Goza Middle School and Arkadelphia High School have been named Arkansas Purple Star Schools by the Arkansas Department of Education and Arkansas Council for Military Children as of March 7, 2024. The Arkansas Purple Star School Award for military-friendly schools recognizes schools that show a major commitment to serving students and families connected to our nation's armed forces.
Over 20 military children are enrolled in Arkadelphia Public Schools. We are grateful for the sacrifices our families make each day. The district is committed to serving students of our military heroes and supporting them both emotionally and academically. To be approved for this designation Goza Middle School and Arkadelphia High School had to appoint a School Military Liaison (SML) to serve as a point of contact for military-connected students and families. The School Military Liaison is Mr. Jason Freeman at Goza Middle School. Colonel Philip Foster serves as the SML at Arkadelphia High School. The SMLs had to complete training on special considerations for military-connected students and families. They also identify and inform teachers of the military-connected students in their classrooms and the special considerations military-connected students and families should receive.
The Parent Family and Community Engagement Facilitator at each school also had a vital part to play in getting this designation approved. Goza Middle School Engagement Coordinator Della Miller and Arkadelphia High School Engagement Coordinator Stefanie Davis also contributed to this process making sure that military families have a voice in the engagement plans and events on campus. We appreciate the leadership of the building principals, Tisha Hunter, Goza, and Callie Hunley, AHS, for their leadership and involvement in successfully achieving this recognition.
Within the district, the overall process of applying for the Arkansas Purple Star School Award has been facilitated by the Arkadelphia Public School District Federal Programs Coordinator and the District Military Education Coordinator Mr. Jeremy Bell. Mr. Bell continues to seek ways to support military families as a district and works with each campus in their efforts.
Another step in the process has led to the creation of a Military Education Services page under the FOR FAMILIES menu on the Goza and AHS websites. We encourage everyone to visit these pages.
According to the Arkansas Department of Education website, “More than 14,000 Arkansans served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Many serve on active duty while others serve in the reserve forces and in the National Guard. More than 6,100 military children are enrolled in Arkansas public schools. Children of military families face unique academic and social challenges. The sacrifices they make because of their parents’ military service deserve special recognition.”
If you would like to learn more about the Arkansas Purple School Award, you can visit the Arkansas Department of Education about Purple Star Schools by clicking here.
Congratulations to Goza Middle School and Arkadelphia High School!