Pre-Summit Highlights
Expanded learning opportunities were offered during the Pre-Summit. These sessions allowed a deep dive into Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and the Purple Star School initiative, introducing attendees to subject matter experts, and providing a network of peers from around the globe.
Purple Star School Professional Learning Community
MCEC held its first ever in-person Purple Star School Professional Learning Community (PLC) during a full-day Pre-Summit session at the Global Training Summit. The ECHO model training was a great way for attendees to be part of an all-teach, all-learn model of training.
So, what is an ECHO?
MCEC has partnered with the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Department and Project ECHO® to host PLCs as a NEW way for educators to collaborate. Typically offered online, participants identify potential solutions to common challenges related to Purple Star Programs. Our knowledge-sharing model brings together a network of peers and subject matter experts from multiple focus areas for a robust and holistic approach to support military-connected students.
Participants interacted with peers and subject matter experts on all aspects of Purple Star Schools. Special guest Pete LuPiba, founder of the Ohio Department of Education’s Purple Star Award (where it all began), spoke about the importance of Purple Star Schools, making an impact on educators and helping provide context to the training.
This session was attended by individuals from South Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, Texas, and other states, representing administrators, educators, community leaders, and other professionals working with military-connected students and their families. As the national advocate for the Purple Star School Initiative, MCEC offers support through professional development and student trainings.
In September, Purple Star Readiness ECHOs specific to criteria set in Texas, Alabama and South Carolina began. We encourage you to join one of these cohorts at any time. This series meets monthly through May 2024.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Dr. Gregory Leskin, Director of NCTSN Military and Veteran Families and Children and his colleagues led two half-day Pre-Summit sessions, Promoting Positive Behavioral Health and Social Emotional Growth in Military Connected Students and Supporting the Well-Being of Military Connected Youth: Identify, Prevent, and Intervene to Address Behavioral Health Risk. Emphasizing the need for awareness and collaboration among community organizations focused on military-connected students facing frequent transitions, the Pre-Summit focused specifically on multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS).
Specifically, we provided a collaborative framework to support public and DoDEA school partnerships within the local community and installation behavior health providers.
During this session, we explored best practices to engage in the delivery, prevention, and intervention of behavioral health supports necessary to meet the needs of at-risk and problematic behaviors associated with the military lifestyle.
The intersection of MTSS, comprehensive school counseling programs, and Purple Star School initiatives helps to establish protective factors and opportunities for teachers, school counselors, and administrators to use a framework to support behavior health providers working with military-connected youth.
Partnering with the school counselor for action resources, coordination, and implementation is key to support the well-being of students, teachers, and parents.
Dr. Gregory Leskin and Dr. Sharon Hoover will be developing a working group to continue the forward movement to support military youth, families, and improve connections to school mental health resources.