Indian Trail Elementary Earns Purple Star Designation for Military Family Support

Indian Trail Elementary proudly earned recognition from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce for its outstanding support of military students, making all four district buildings Purple Star Schools.
Canal Winchester High School and Canal Winchester Middle School also renewed their designations as part of the Purple Star Schools Class of 2026.
“The Purple Star designations of our school buildings are a direct reflection of the care and dedication our staff puts into understanding and meeting the unique needs of every student,” said Superintendent Kiya Hunt. “We are proud of our staff for putting students at the center of everything we do, and going above and beyond to help them be successful at school.”
Schools earn the Purple Star designation by meeting requirements focused on identifying and supporting military-connected students, including designating a trained staff liaison.
At Canal Winchester Schools, each building has a military family liaison who helps coordinate support and leads activities such as a military-connected student breakfast, military child spirit week, Veterans Day events, and signing day for students enlisting in the armed forces.
“At Indian Trail, we focus on helping every student feel connected and supported from the moment they walk through our doors,” said Dr. Tiffany Kloeppel, Indian Trail Elementary Principal. “For our military-connected students, that sense of belonging is especially important during times of transition. We want every military-connected student to know they are seen, supported, and an important part of our school community.”
The Purple Star designation, valid for three years before renewal, celebrates schools' commitment to supporting military families. Indian Trail earned Purple Star status for the first time in 2026, while Canal Winchester High School and Middle School successfully renewed their designations. Winchester Trail Elementary also renewed its designation in 2025.