Florida Designates St. John Evangelist School as First Class of Purple Star Campus

PENSACOLA, Fla. (November 20, 2022) – Governor Ron DeSantis announced on November 15 the schools across the state that will be designated as Florida’s first class of Purple Star campuses. St. John Evangelist School in Pensacola was one of 114 schools selected in 10 counties — one of only two Catholic schools in the state to earn this status. The Purple Star recognition supports the needs of military children and their families as they navigate the changes of a new school and community.

“We are blessed to have so many veteran teachers and military families at St. John the Evangelist School. Their commitment, sacrifice and experience greatly enrich our school community. Since 1874, St. John's has had a close relationship with Naval Aviation Station, Pensacola, and we are proud to now be recognized as a Purple Star school,” Raymond Concannon, principal of St. John the Evangelist Catholic said.

The application requirements for obtaining Purple Star status include the following:
▪ Designating a faculty member as the military liaison to directly support families;
▪ Updating the school website with resources for military students and families;
▪ Offering a student-led transition program to assist military students in acclimating into a school;
▪ Expanding staff professional development training opportunities on issues relating to military students; and
▪ Reserving controlled, open enrollment seats for military-connected students to utilize to ensure school choice opportunities are available to them, regardless of the time of year their military transfer takes place.