Military Families
Easing the Transition
Change is hard, especially for military families who face the challenge of relocating to new duty stations frequently. For these families, changing schools and the disruption to their children’s educational journey can be the most daunting aspect of military life. At Fort Smith Public Schools, we recognize these challenges and are committed to easing the transition for military families through our Purple Star Schools programming. By fostering collaboration and building strong relationships, we aim to support and reassure military families as they navigate their educational journey.
The Purple Star School Program
The Purple Star School program is designed to support military-connected children as they navigate educational and social-emotional challenges during each transition. This includes children from families with active duty, National Guard, and Reserve members. The program ensures that these students remain on track to be college-, workforce-, and life-ready.
The Arkansas Purple Star School Award honors schools and districts that demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting students and families connected to our nation's armed forces. Reflecting our dedication to serving over 200 military-connected families, Fort Smith Public Schools (FSPS) aimed for Purple Star School designation in 2020. That same school year, all 26 FSPS schools earned this designation, leading to the District's recognition as a Purple Star District.
We couldn’t be prouder of the Fort Smith School District! For all 26 schools to achieve Purple Star status, and to do so quickly, demonstrates the district's deep commitment to serving and supporting military children.
John Kaminar, Arkansas Council for Military Children Chair
School Military Education Facilitators
Providing Support and Resources
School Military Education Facilitators are dedicated school employees trained to address the unique needs of military-connected students. They play a vital role in supporting military families by offering access to a network of tailored resources that help families manage challenges such as frequent relocations, navigating enrollment and eligibility, understanding graduation requirements, and coping with the emotional impact of a parent's deployment. By providing specialized support and expertise, School Military Education Facilitators help ensure that military families experience a smoother and more manageable educational journey.
Are you a Military Connected Student?
Fort Smith Public Schools is proud to serve and support our military families. A military-connected student is any dependent child of:
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Members of the active duty or activated reserve components of the uniformed services
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Veterans of the uniformed services who were injured in the line of duty and are medically separated or retired
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Members of the uniformed services who died while on active duty or as a result of injuries sustained while on active duty
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Dual status military technicians
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Traditional members of the National Guard or reserve components of the armed forces who are relocating to Arkansas for employment or to serve in an Arkansas-based reserve unit
Identifying military-connected students helps us provide the resources, recognition, and support they need to thrive.
Resources
District Contacts
Dr. Michael Farrell
District Military Education Coordinator
Executive Director of Student Services
479-785-2501 ext. 91254
Amanda Sanders
85th Fighter Group, US Military Families
Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, AR
Gary Axley
85th Fighter Group, International Military Families
Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, AR