EAST CENTRAL ISD celebrates five Purple Star campuses and staff recognitions

EAST CENTRAL ISD recognized five campuses that earned the Texas Education Agency’s Purple Star Award and presented banners to each campus; the district also named staff and students for exemplary work during the same meeting.

Why it matters: The Purple Star Award recognizes campuses that provide extra support to military‑connected students and families. District leaders said only 95 campuses statewide received the award this year and that EAST CENTRAL ISD had five of those campuses.

The district presenter announced the staff member of the month for Pecan Valley Elementary and highlighted Juan Martinez, a new teacher at Solano Elementary, for classroom leadership. The presenter also invited families of honorees to stand so they could be recognized.

Student work showcased a project‑based learning unit called the "superhero" PBL. Students presented short remarks about what they learned; one student identified as Diana said, "My name is Diana. My superpower is music. I have are patience, imagination, and drive to get things done. I wanna show people that they're not alone." Another student, Madeline Espinosa, introduced herself as an art student and said her work would be a slideshow and art piece.

District officials named the campuses receiving the Purple Star banners and identified campus principals in the presentation (the transcript named Heritage Middle School principal Andrea Chase; Legacy Middle School principal Hyland Forest; Hyland Forest Elementary principal Britney Erlin; Salado Elementary principal [name given in presentation]; and Tradition Elementary principal Karen Kopek). Presenters said the Purple Star recognition is granted on a two‑year cycle and that other district campuses will be eligible to apply next year.

No board vote or formal action was recorded in the transcript; the segment consisted of recognition and presentations.