Houston County School District recognized for creating safe environment for military students

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Houston school district was honored this week when three of its schools received the Military Flagship Award. Bonaire Elementary, Bonaire Middle and Matt Arthur Elementary were amongst the honorees.

The Military Flagship School Award recognizes schools providing a supportive environment for military students and families.

State Superintendent Richard Woods visited all three schools on April 20. Woods visited Matt Arthur Elementary first at 9:30 a.m. then visited Bonaire Elementary at 10:45 a.m. and finally came to Bonaire Middle at 1 p.m.

The ceremony at Bonaire Middle started with military students speaking about their positive experiences. Some students mentioned how they are involved in clubs, how the school supports them by celebrating the month of the military child and how there are military counselors available for them.

Members of the Robins Air Force Base and the Houston County Board of Education were at the ceremony.

Among the ceremony attendees was Col. Lindsay Droz, who has a daughter attending Bonaire Middle. Droz mentions how hard it is to move around and find the right school for her children but found the right one here in Houston County.

“The schools here are absolutely top notch, and the community is fantastic when it comes to taking care of our families,” said Droz.

Houston County Superintendent of Schools Mark Scott said a few words at the ceremony as well, and gave thanks to the community and school district. He also encouraged the military members and their children to stand, and for the audience to give them a round of applause.

“Thanks to the families and thanks to Bonaire Middle School and the other schools in Houston County that we were able to recognize the importance of making sure that we take care of our military children in our school district,” said Scott.

Finally, Richard Woods spoke to the audience, and mentioned that he is a military child as well. He said he understands what it was like to move around a lot in his childhood. He shared with the audience what he hopes to see in Houston County in the future, now that there are six schools in the county with Military Flagship Awards.

“That number keeps growing, we hope that one day down the road, Houston County is a Military Flagship District,” said Woods.

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