Six Elmore County schools earn Purple Star recertification amid focus on military families

Amanda Pevey

Elmore Autauga News

During Tuesday night’s Elmore County Board of Education board meeting, six Purple Star schools were recognized for earning recertification, a designation that highlights campuses committed to supporting military-connected students.

The schools that completed their re-certification were Eclectic Elementary School, Holtville Elementary School, Holtville Middle School, Redland Elementary School, Redland Middle School, and Wetumpka Elementary School.

Shay Jackson, director of administrative services, stated, “Two years ago, all of our schools in Elmore County became Purple Star certified, every one of them, but they are on a rotation. Every two years, they have to recertify.”

She noted that while six schools were acknowledged for completing their recertification with the State Department, the remaining schools in the district still hold the Purple Star designation.

Before the schools were acknowledged, Jackson offered a deeply personal story that turned routine recognition into a reminder of why the work matters.

Jackson asked those in the room to picture not just with their minds, but with their hearts, the life of a child who attended 12 schools before graduating high school.

Her journey began at age 5 in Thomasville, Alabama, where she first attended Thomasville Elementary School. It was a place she would return to again and again as her family followed the path of military life. While the town itself felt familiar, the classrooms never quite did. Each return meant new teachers, new classmates and new expectations. Outside of school, it felt like home. Inside, she often felt like a stranger starting over.

One of her earliest moves took her overseas to Amberg, Germany, where she attended Amberg American Elementary School. Everything was different, from the language to the culture. She recalled one moment that stayed with her. As a young child riding the bus home, she did not recognize her stop. The driver did not speak English, and she could not explain where she lived. She stayed on the bus as it continued its route, watching snow fall for the first time, until darkness set in. Eventually, she was taken to a police station where she was reunited with her family.

“That moment stayed with me,” Jackson said. “It taught me how to be brave, even when I was afraid.”

Her family eventually returned to Thomasville, but the pattern continued. Each move brought a new beginning. She later attended Fort Benning Elementary School in Columbus, Georgia, where she walked to school each day, followed by another return to Thomasville.

A second move to Germany, this time to Budingen, brought new challenges. There was no American school nearby, so she rode a bus to a local German school. By then, she had grown more resilient. She began learning the language and adapting to a new way of life. During that time, she formed a close friendship with a neighbor named Kirsten, who did not speak English.

“That friendship meant everything,” Jackson said. “It reminded me that connection does not always need words.”

Her time in Thomasville grew shorter with each return, including one stay that lasted less than two months before another move. Eventually, her family relocated to Arkansas, where she attended Arnold Drive Elementary School at Little Rock Air Force Base, followed by Jacksonville Middle School and Jacksonville High School.

By then, Jackson said she began to understand her experience was not unique.

“This was not just my story,” she said. “It is the story of so many military children who learn to adapt, adjust, and start over again and again.”

Academically, her performance varied depending on the school. In some places, she excelled and was recognized for her achievements. In others, she was placed in remedial classes, not because she lacked ability, but because consistency had been difficult to maintain.

Along the way, she said she learned lessons that went far beyond academics, including perseverance, courage and resilience.

One moment during the Persian Gulf War left a lasting impression. While at school, she became overwhelmed with fear about her father potentially being called to serve. A classmate questioned why she was upset.

“I told them, yes, he signed up for this,” Jackson said. “But I did not.”

Her final move overseas took her to Vilscek American High School, where she graduated. At 17, she boarded a plane alone to return to the United States, something she was prepared to do after years of constant change, but not without understanding what she was leaving behind.

By the end of her story, Jackson revealed what many in the room had begun to suspect.

“That was my life,” she said. “From the time I was 5 to 17, I moved 12 times in 12 years.”

That experience, she said, is what drives her passion today as a military liaison for Elmore County Public Schools. She understands firsthand the challenges military-connected children face when entering new classrooms and trying to find their place.

“I was that child,” Jackson said. “So when a student walks in and they are struggling to adjust, I understand what they are carrying with them.”

Jackson also took time to thank the district for its continued commitment to military families.

“I want to thank Elmore County Schools for the work they put in to make sure that our military-connected students feel supported,” she said. “April is the Month of the Military Child. We always want to acknowledge military children, because even though the parents are serving, they go through a lot. They sacrifice a lot. It is not always easy.”

As the district celebrated its Purple Star schools, Jackson said the designation represents more than a title. It reflects a shared commitment across the community to support students whose lives are shaped by service and transition.

Her story served as a powerful reminder that behind every move is a child learning to adapt, and a community that can make that journey a little more stable, one school at a time.