Governor DeSantis announced this week that thirty-five schools (including Antioch Elementary) in Okaloosa county received the Purple Star recognition. The Purple Star distinction recognizes schools that provide extra support for children of military families. To qualify for Purple Heart status, a school must have a trained member who helps military children with their transition into a new school, help students meet new friends, a military family webpage on the school website to inform parents, and hold school-wide military recognition events that encourage tolerance and inclusion.
The Okaloosa County School district supports the highest percentage of military students of any county in the state of Florida. Superintendent Marcus Chambers stated "Our schools have programs in place to make students comfortable and to make the transition from a school in another state or even another country less stressful. I could not be more proud of our teachers, staff, and administrators for earning this distinction. Their commitment and dedication to our military students, as well as all of our students, is making a difference. We are proud in Okaloosa to support our military students as their parents support and defend our nation!"