The Purple Star School program is designed to help schools respond to the educational and social-emotional challenges military-connected children face during their transition to a new school. Listen as Pete LuPiba, “Founder of Purple Star Schools” discusses how the Purple Star Program is supporting military-connected students and families thrive.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Mountain Home Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://www.mountainhomeosc.org/

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Ohio Department of Education

https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Other-Resources/Military-Resources/Schools/Purple-Star-Award

Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3)-Ohio

https://mic3.net/state/ohio/

National Advocate for Purple Star Schools

Pete LuPiba is Ohio’s (MIC3) Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commissioner. Initially appointed in 2012 and duly reappointed by the Honorable Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio in 2019. LuPiba serves as Deputy Director for the Office of Budget and Management in the State of Ohio. LuPiba formerly served as Public Affairs Officer at the Department of Education, 2007-2019.

LuPiba founded the Purple Star School Award for Military family-friendly schools in 2015-2017. Purple Star is in 40+ States (*with 4,100+ Schools), including Virginia, Alaska, South Carolina, Florida, California, Texas, Idaho, Washington State, and New Hampshire – with 600 Purple Star Schools across Ohio. LuPiba was honored to serve as a key advisor and the Master of Ceremonies as Ohio formally launched the Collegiate Purple Star initiative as led by Governor Mike DeWine, and Chancellor Randy Gardner, and the Department of Higher Education.

In November of 2022, fellow Ohioans, state MIC3 leaders around the country, and Governor Mike DeWine nominated LuPiba to be honored in the 30th Anniversary Class of the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. This Hall of Fame includes Ulysses S. Grant, Neil A. Armstrong, and John H. Glenn. In February of 2023, Adjutant General of the Ohio Army and Air National Guard; Major General John C. Harris, Jr. commissioned LuPiba as an Honorary Buckeye Colonel.

LuPiba coordinated the effort to eliminate the professional educator licensure fee for teachers and coaches and administrators who have served or are serving in the Armed Forces’ Uniform – including the spouses of active-duty personnel. As of 2023, Military families in Ohio have saved more than $365,000.

In 2017-2018, LuPiba developed a state-wide Military Signing Day ceremony for those young men and women choosing to join the Armed Forces to begin their career, including through the Branch Service Academies and ROTC Scholarships at Universities and Colleges. At the 2023 Ceremony, Ohio hosted more than 300 attendees in the State’s capital of Columbus at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum.

LuPiba served active-duty, enlisted United States Navy – deploying with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11 to Iraq in 2006. LuPiba completed his duty in the Armed Forces while attached to the Reserves – serving with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 26.

LuPiba is an Alumnus of The Ohio State University and the University of Southern California. LuPiba is married to technology evangelist and cybersecurity expert, Jennifer. The LuPibas reside in greater Columbus with their five children; Sally, Corazon, Lincoln, Grant, and Washington.

Partners in PROMISE is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to Protect the Rights of Military children in Special Education and disability communities to ensure they receive equal access to an education. Listen as Dr. Jenna Kremkow and Carla Wyrsch discuss how the PROMISE advocates for military children with special and exceptional needs.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Luke Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://www.lukespousesclub.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Partners in PROMISE

https://thepromiseact.org/

Partners in PROMISE Special Education & EFMP Binder

https://thepromiseact.org/binder/

Educator Report

https://thepromiseact.org/educators-report-partners-in-promise-2022-research-findings/

Jenna Kremkow is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Elmhurst University. She completed her MS and PhD at The Pennsylvania State University with an emphasis in autism, augmentative and alternative communication, child language disorders, and stakeholder training and perspectives. Clinically, Jenna has worked as a speech-language pathologist in elementary schools, outpatient clinics, and early intervention settings.

Jenna teaches courses in augmentative and alternative communication, autism, language disorders in children, and research methods. One of her research areas focuses on the experiences of military families with children with autism and the use of technology to improve communication outcomes and quality of life for children with autism and their families. Her goal is to use research to support data-driven recommendations and policy changes to improve special education services for military families.

Carla Wyrsch is the spouse of a retired United States Marine and mother of two. She has devoted her career to educating and advocating for children with disABILITIES. Her experience spans a variety of settings, including residential treatment facilities, military bases, public schools, and the Lerner School for Autism at the Cleveland Clinic. Currently, she is a School Operations Director with MIYO Health. In addition to her work with MIYO Health, Carla enjoys volunteering with Best Buddies of Greater Memphis, the Organization for Autism Research, and Partners in PROMISE as a content creator and advisory board member.

Dr. Daniel Perkins and Dr. Jennifer Karre discuss the importance of policy in supporting military-connected students and families. Listen as they examine the implementation of four policy initiatives: Advance Enrollment (AE), the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3), the Military Student Identifier (MSI), and the Purple Star School program.

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the West Point Spouses’ Club. To learn more, visit https://westpointspousesclub.org/.

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.

Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness

https://militaryfamilies.psu.edu/

Evaluation of State Implementation of Supportive Policies to Improve Educational Experiences and Achievement for K-12 Military Children

https://militaryfamilies.psu.edu/projects/view/speak-military-children/

Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission

https://mic3.net

Military Student Identifier

https://militarychild.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-104-MSI-Position-Statement_20250103-1.pdf

Military Child Education Coalition

https://www.militarychild.org

Daniel F. Perkins, Ph.D., is a Professor of Family and Youth Resiliency and Policy at Penn State University and also the Director and Principal Scientist of the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State, a university-wide applied research center. Dr. Perkins has been designing and evaluating strengths-based family and youth development programs in 4-H and Cooperative Extension and leading complex projects for over 25 years. His work involves teaching, research, and outreach through the Penn State Cooperative Extension Service. One of his primary areas of focus is in fostering the well-being of military service members, veterans, and their families through the Clearinghouse. In his role as Principal Scientist, he is able to facilitate the translation of science into action by providing comprehensive, science-based programs and technical assistance to professionals working with military service members, veterans and their families.

Jennifer Karre, Ph.D. is a Research & Evaluation Scientist at the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State. Her Ph.D. is in Developmental Psychology. For over a decade, her role at the Clearinghouse has centered around program and policy evaluation. She has worked on evaluations of programs and policies for Service Members and their families related to fathering, parenting, child and youth development, child and youth educational support, couple relationships, reintegration after deployment, financial readiness, and emergency preparedness.