NDE presents Purple Star awards

Churchill County School District receives special designation for supporting the military child

From left, at the presentation are KellyLynn Charles, Education Programs Professional; Cassandra Runnels, NAS Fallon’s Child and Youth Programs director; Matha Warachowski, administrative assistant to the Deputy Superintendent of Educator Effectiveness and Family Engagement; Dr. Summer Stephens, Churchill County School District superintendent; Jhone Ebert, Nevada State Department of Education Superintendent of Public Instruction; Capt. Shane Tanner, commanding officer of NAS Fallon; and Nicole Jullanant, NAS Fallon’s school liaison.

Nevada News Group

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

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The Nevada Department of Education recently presented two school districts with their Nevada Purple Star School Award.

Churchill County School District and Mineral County School District received the first district-wide Purple Star School Designations in Nevada. These honors were awarded in recognition of all district schools being named Purple Star Schools. According to the NDE, schools receiving this award have committed to supporting the unique educational and social-emotional needs of military-connected children.

“Nevada is home to almost 11,000 military-connected children who experience unique challenges and play important roles in our school communities,” said Jhone Ebert, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. “The school communities receiving these designations have stepped up to support these students in meaningful ways. We are thrilled to award two district-wide Purple Star designations, which affirm the unwavering commitment of our school and district leaders in supporting military-connected students and families. I commend each and every school leader who worked so hard to receive these designations.”

The Churchill County schools include Churchill High School, Churchill Middle School, Churchill County School District, E.C. Best Elementary School, Lahontan Elementary School and Numa Elementary School. Each school received a Purple Star award from NDE.

Steve Ranson / LVN
Dr. Summer Stephens, Churchill County School District superintendent, center, holds a proclamation honoring the Purple Star District award; Capt. Shane Tanner, left, commanding officer of NAS Fallon, and Nicole Jullanant, NAS Fallon’s school liaison join Stephens with the proclamation.

Capt. Shane Tanner, commanding officer at Naval Air Station Fallon, also attended the recognition. He said the Purple Star District is an incredible recognition for both NAS Fallon and the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center. When military families are relocated, Tanner said one of the first things they look at is the school district. He said this recognition will help ensure families that their children will receive the support they need transitioning into a new school.

“We are thrilled to be among the first districts in Nevada to receive this honor and celebrate our military-connected students and families, said Summer Stephens, Churchill County School District superintendent. “Our team at Churchill County School District believes strongly in ensuring that transitions for children are safe and responsive to their needs. We look forward to continuing to do great things for military-connected families.

The Churchill County schools were recognized for supporting the unique educational and social-emotional needs of military-connected children.

At Churchill County High School, for example, Tanner spoke to the military-connected students about the hardships they have each overcome by being military children. He said military children have attended different schools, made friends they left behind, belonged to clubs the next school in their lives may not offer and try out again for sports. Tanner said the students know the good, the bad and the ugly, but here they are continuing to push through and finish high school.

NDE announced the designations during April, which was the Month of the Military Child. Gov. Steve Sisolak recognized the important role military-connected children play in the Nevada. Each school was presented with a certificate and banner, signaling that the school supports the social and emotional wellbeing of military students in adjusting to a new school and the absence of a parent during deployment.

The 13 recognized schools join seven other Nevada schools which were named as the first-ever Purple Star schools in 2021.

The Purple Star School Award Program is facilitated by NDE in partnership with the Nevada Military Interstate Compact Commission Council.

Kaitlin Ritchie, public information officer with the school district, and Allegra Demerjian, NDE’s public information officer, contributed to this article.

NDE presents Purple Star awards

Churchill County School District receives special designation for supporting the military child

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