MADISON TOWNSHIP — Military-connected children often face unique challenges.
They may move frequently or experience the deployment of a parent. These situations can impact their education and emotional wellbeing.
Madison Middle School was recently recognized for its efforts to support those students with a Purple Star Award from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.
Schools must meet strict criteria to qualify for a Purple Star award.
Those requirements include:
- Having a military family liaison as a point of contact for military families. The liaison must complete additional professional development.
- Maintaining a list of identified students with a parent or guardian serving in the military that’s accessible to teachers and staff.
- Maintain a dedicated page on its website that features resources for military families and lists the military family liaison’s contact information.
- Complete one additional activity. Extra activities could include providing schoolwide professional development on military families; hosting a military recognition event (above and beyond a Veterans Day event); hosting an event for veterans, siblings of military personnel or Gold Star students; implementing programming or events for Month of the Military Child; providing direct and consistent engagement and support to military-connected students; or training student ambassadors to support fellow military-connected students.
School counselor Jessica Rush serves as Madison Middle School’s primary military liaison, with Principal Jordan Nelson and guidance counselor Monique Eberst serving as additional liaisons.
“Having extra support at school helps them feel welcomed, understood and connected,” Rush said.
“Something as simple as knowing there are staff members who understand military life or having opportunities to meet other military-connected students can make a big difference,” she added. “It helps students build friendships, adjust to new environments and know they have people they can turn to when they need help.”
During the 2025-2026 school year, the middle school organized military student meetings during lunch, put on a military appreciation breakfast and recognized veterans and military families with spirit wear during the week of Veterans Day.
Rush said the military appreciation breakfast was a “highlight” of her year.
“Our 5th Grade Cooking Club made the food and seeing those students serve our veterans and active-duty parents was what this is all about. It’s about community and saying ‘Thank you’ in a real way,” she said.
In the future, Rush wants to add a peer mentoring initiative that pairs older military students with younger ones. She also hopes to start a military club that can raise funds for military-related causes like the Wounded Warrior Project and the Young Marines.
A full list of Richland County’s Purple Star Schools can be found below:
- Clear Fork Middle School
- Clear Fork High School
- Plymouth High School
- Shiloh Elementary School
- Shiloh Middle School
- Western Elementary School (Lexington)
