Rally Point: Impacting Military Children through Purple Star Schools

We are proud to celebrate April as the Month of the Military Child in honor of more than 1.6 million military-connected children of all ages worldwide. On Saturday, April 2 at 11 a.m., we welcome U.S. Navy Veteran and Commissioner Pete LuPiba, founder of the Ohio Department of Education’s Purple Star Award, for our online Rally Point conversation. Purple Star Schools are located in more than 30 states including Virginia, Texas, South Carolina, Florida, California and New Hampshire. To-date in Ohio, there are 381 Purple Star Schools that support military families from Lake Erie to the Ohio River. Each Ohio school has a Purple Star school liaison, an educator on campus in support of military-connected children. Learn how Purple Star Schools help manage the challenges military-connected children face.

Commissioner Pete LuPiba is Ohio’s MIC3 (Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission) representative. Initially appointed in 2012 by Governor Kasich and duly reappointed by succeeding Governor DeWine 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 Ohio Department of Education, 2007-2019.

LuPiba Founded The Purple Star Award for Military family-friendly schools in 2016. Purple Star is in 30+ States, including Virginia, Texas, South Carolina, Florida, California, and New Hampshire – with 350+ Purple Star Schools in the Founding State of Ohio.

LuPiba led the effort to eliminate the professional educator licensure fee for teachers and coaches who have served or are serving in Uniform – including Spouses of active duty personnel. As of 2021, Military families in Ohio have saved more than $354,000.

LuPiba coordinated a state-wide Military Signing Day ceremony for those young men and women choosing to join the Armed Forces to begin their professional career. The 2019 Ceremony hosted more than 1,000 attendees in the State’s capital of Columbus.

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