SAN DIEGO — State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announced that 44 schools across the state have been designated 2024 Purple Star Schools.
The California Purple Star School Designation Program recognizes schools committed and equipped to meet military-connected students and their families' unique needs.
Monica Green teaches fourth and fifth grade at Perry Elementary in Paradise Hills. Green served our country in the U.S. Navy before serving our community as a teacher. Green said her work with her students is even more impactful.
"They require more socio-emotional support,” Green said. “Because they build friendships and then they might be in one duty station for 3-4 years before leaving and going somewhere else."
“It's important to let them know that it's okay for them to experience new things but also keep old relationships because a lot of them do stay in touch with each other whether it's through video gaming or a Facetime phone call," Green smiled.
San Diego County is home to 23 of the 44 Purple Star Schools in California. Six of schools are located in the San Diego Unified School District.
Perry Elementary is 87% military-connected, meaning a lot of the school's students are military kids.
Anna is a 4th grader in Ms. Green’s class. She’s known Green as at least one of her teachers since she was in 1st grade. Back then, Anna says Green was a student teacher. Now, she is a fully credentialed teacher in her classroom and Anna couldn’t be happier.
"Every day I come to school with the same people so I know what's going to happen,” Anna said. “But some days it's off,” she explained.
“There are students who need extra help in class. Sometimes they get triggered, and something goes off, but Ms. Green is always there.” Anna said confidently.
There are some differences with having a Navy veteran as a teacher.
"For one we have to talk louder because of her ears. But also, it helps us gain more confidence and more self-esteem because we have someone as a teacher who was in the military," Anna said.
Like Anna, Green knows exactly what it’s like to miss family very much.
"In the first grade, my dad got sent to Japan,” Anna said, noticeably sad as she remembered the 2 she was away from her father while he was serving. “(Ms. Green) helped me with that like calming me down and she made me feel better about the situation."
Jacquette Edwards has five students in Perry Elementary and says the school is a lifeline for their military family and the entire community. Jacquette shared with CBS 8 that it’s the faculty involvement and accessibility that means so much to her.
Edwards also says the principal at Perry Elementary, Micheline Morales leads the charge in ensuring Perry is a warm and loving environment for children.
"Every day we came here (the principal) was outside. The teachers and everyone are outside during drop off and pick up so we can easily contact them and ask them questions. It was like something I've never seen before," Edwards shared happily.
Purple Star Schools seeks to reduce the burden on military-connected students and their families by providing the most critical transition support.
With more than 2.6 million active-duty service members and individuals serving in the National Guard and Reserves, the military is one of the United States’ largest workforces. In 2022, California had 242,624 active-duty service members and individuals serving in the National Guard and Reserves.
Military-connected students must move whenever their active-duty parent or guardian receives a relocation order. These required relocations mean that a military-connected child can expect to change schools between six and nine times from grades K–12, which is three times more often than non-military-connected children.
"It's hard being away but the support that we get here makes it easier," Edwards concluded.
Here is a list of the San Diego County schools who received the 2024 California Purple Star:
- Bonsall Unified, Bonsall Elementary
- Bonsall Unified, Bonsall High
- Bonsall Unified, Bonsall West Elementary
- Bonsall Unified, Norman L. Sullivan Middle
- Bonsall Unified, Vivian Banks Charter
- Chula Vista Elementary, McMillin (Corky) Elementary
- Fallbrook Union Elementary, Fallbrook STEM Academy
- Fallbrook Union Elementary, James E. Potter Intermediate
- Fallbrook Union Elementary, La Paloma Elementary
- Fallbrook Union Elementary, Live Oak Elementary
- Fallbrook Union Elementary, Maie Ellis Elementary
- Fallbrook Union Elementary, Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary
- Fallbrook Union Elementary, William H. Frazier Elementary
- Oceanside Unified, North Terrace Elementary
- Oceanside Unified, Oceanside High
- Oceanside Unified, Stuart Mesa Elementary
- Poway Unified, Bernardo Heights Middle
- San Diego Unified, De Portola Middle
- San Diego Unified, Hickman Elementary
- San Diego Unified, Jones Elementary
- San Diego Unified, Perry Elementary
- San Diego Unified, Vista Grande Elementary
- San Diego Unified, Walker Elementary
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