Okaloosa County School District celebrated its designation as a 2024 Florida Purple Star School District during a school board meeting Monday, highlighting the district’s commitment to supporting military students and families.

• Military leaders from Hurlburt Field, Eglin Air Force Base and Duke Field joined school officials to recognize the achievement, which positions Okaloosa as one of only five districts among Florida’s 67 counties to receive the distinguished designation.

“One of five school districts across the state of Florida to be a Purple Star district, and we could not be more honored,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers during the ceremony. “It’s not about having a distinction, it’s about truly doing what the Purple Star mission is, and it’s about providing a welcoming atmosphere.”

The Purple Star School District Designation, established by the Florida Legislature and signed into law in April 2024, recognizes districts that provide coordination of services for military families and support their unique needs as students relocate due to parents’ change in duty stations.

The designation indicates all 37 of Okaloosa’s schools meet requirements to be named Purple Star Schools of Distinction, a process that required significant coordination across the district.

• “We have 37 schools that we were able to get to become a Purple Star school,” Chambers explained, noting that initially only 35 were recognized until an email issue was resolved with the state.

Col. Patrick Dierig, commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, emphasized the impact on military families who frequently relocate.

“28.6% of the students at Niceville High School are military connected,” Dierig said. “For those of us who signed on the dotted line to serve, we did that as a choice for ourselves, but our children didn’t sign the dotted line.”

Dierig, who mentioned his experience with “15 or 16 deployments and 15 or 16 moves,” added: “My number one concern was always, who’s going to welcome my children? Thank you for wrapping your arms around our children when we’re gone.”

Okaloosa County serves the highest percentage of military students among Florida counties, according to district officials. The district’s proximity to Hurlburt Field, Eglin Air Force Base and Duke Field makes military support particularly important.

Several school board members shared personal connections to military life. Board member Brett Hinely identified himself as an “Air Force brat” and former member of the 919th Special Operations Wing. Board member Tim Bryant described himself as an “Army brat” whose father served 23 years.

• “I had to move from Fort Gordon, Georgia to Sacramento, California in the middle of my senior year,” Bryant recalled. “Being a military kid, you’re very resilient.”

Board member Parker Destin noted that while he wasn’t from a military family, he grew up in the Okaloosa County School system where “well over two-thirds” of his classmates were from military families.

“We are a direct reflection, and our success is a direct reflection, of our military presence, the military community, the stability that it brings to our community, the high academic achievement, the attitude, and the culture,” Destin said.

Lt. Col. Mensen of Eglin Air Force Base shared his family’s experience with the district.

• “My son has attended Plew Elementary and now Ruckel Middle School, and my daughter will soon graduate from Niceville High School,” Mensen said. “They say that military kids, on average move around seven times, and my daughter can attest to this as she’s moved eight times.”

Mensen added that prior to moving to Okaloosa, his daughter had lived in “four countries, fifth move, and sixth school in seven years,” but found “something special” in Okaloosa where “teachers and staff welcomed her with open arms providing the support and stability she needed to thrive.”

Col. Scott Hurrelbrink, commander of the 919th Special Operations Wing at Duke Field, called the recognition “a crowning achievement.”

“It is so important that you care for the military folks, because it allows us then to worry about our jobs and our task at hand, whether they’re here or whether they’re deployed,” Hurrelbrink said. “It says so much about your character, how you take care of folks and supporting us.”

Governor Ron DeSantis announced in December 2024 that Okaloosa County School District had received the Purple Star District designation as part of Florida’s commitment to being the most military-friendly state in the nation.