Cumberland County Schools outlines supports for more than 14,000 military-connected students

Isaac Rancourt, military liaison for Cumberland County Schools, outlined a suite of programs and resources intended to support more than 14,000 military-connected students in Cumberland County and at nearby Fort Bragg. Rancourt described a district goal to expand Purple Star School designations, peer-mentoring and a range of mental-health and tutoring services to ease frequent moves and school transitions.

Rancourt said the Purple Star School designation trains teachers, counselors and staff to understand and meet the needs of military-connected students, and that the district’s goal is for every school to pursue that designation. He described Student to Student (S2S), a peer-mentoring program that pairs new military-connected students with a current student who provides a campus tour, friend-making help and introductions to clubs and activities.

Beyond mentoring, Rancourt said S2S participants engage in service projects — including putting together care packages for veterans — and represent schools at community events such as the Fayetteville Veterans Day parade. He announced a military-connected ball and a spring “month of the military child” fun day to be held at Sager Stadium with speakers, music, games and community partners. He also said Purple Up Week activities take place each April, culminating in a districtwide Purple Up Day when staff and students wear purple to recognize military children.

Rancourt described in-school supports, including military family life counselors who provide nonmedical, solution-focused help. For students in grades 6–12, he named Alongside, a mental-health app that connects students to Kiwi, an AI chatbot developed with doctoral clinicians to help students build resilience and set goals, used with parental permission.

He also pointed to external resources: Military OneSource, which provides confidential assistance on education and relocation issues, and Tutor.com, which Rancourt said offers free 24/7 access to professional tutors for military students to help maintain academic continuity during transitions.

On policy, Rancourt said district staff receive training on the Military Interstate Children’s Compact as a framework to reduce disruptions tied to enrollment, placement and graduation requirements when military families move. He described ongoing collaboration with Fort Bragg school liaison officers and noted the district’s military child task force and military family advisory council as mechanisms for continuous communication and improvement.

Rancourt closed by thanking military families for their service and encouraging them to contact their school, the district website or him directly for resources. "We are Cumberland Strong and Military Strong," he said.