Military Families at Rising Leaders Academy

At Rising Leaders Academy, we are proud to support our military families and are committed to making every transition as smooth as possible. When completing the RLA application, please indicate that you are a military family. Military families receive enrollment priority, and our team will personally contact you to assist with registration and ensure a seamless transition into our school community.

Military families choose RLA for our strong academic programs, diverse opportunities, and nurturing environment. From kindergarten, every student learns both Spanish and Arabic—an opportunity unique to our school. We also offer a variety of sports, electives, and enrichment activities that keep students engaged and excited to learn.

In addition, we provide ESOL and ESE services along with targeted interventions to ensure all students thrive and make continuous progress.

Every Friday is a half day for students, allowing our staff to engage in dedicated professional development. This time ensures our teachers are continually improving and working toward our mission of delivering academic excellence in a nurturing environment.

Military Events & Recognitions

Rising Leaders Academy is proud to honor and celebrate our military community through special activities and events, including:

  • Purple Up! Day – Students and staff wear purple to show support and appreciation for military children.

  • Veterans Day Celebration – Recognizing and honoring the service of veterans and active-duty family members within our community.

  • Month of the Military Child Activities – School-wide events highlighting the strength and resilience of military children.

Other activities we have held for veterans, and would like to continue, include Hero Day and a sock drive for the Veterans Home.

These events strengthen our community and ensure our military families feel recognized and supported throughout the year.

Military Point of Contact

To further support our military families, Rising Leaders Academy has designated a School Military Point of Contact (MPOC).

Rebecca Foster
Military Point of Contact
📧 fostera@bay.k12.fl.us
📞 (850) 215-0844

Rebecca is here to assist military families with enrollment, transition support, and any questions you may have throughout the school year.

Resources for Military Families

At Rising Leaders Academy, we recognize the unique strengths and challenges faced by military-connected students. Our goal is to provide every military family with the resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive in our school community.

Educational Opportunities for Military Students

  • Priority Enrollment: Military families receive priority in enrollment to ensure a smooth transition when relocating.

  • Academic Support: Our teachers provide ESOL, ESE, and intervention services to help all students progress. We also have an expeditionary learning model where students apply learning to the real world.

  • World Languages: Beginning in kindergarten, students study Spanish and Arabic, preparing them for a global future.

  • Extracurricular Opportunities: Students can participate in sports, clubs, music, theater, and STEM programs such as FIRST LEGO League.

  • Transition Support: Our Military Point of Contact works directly with families to ease school moves and coordinate with sending/receiving schools.

Supporting the Mental Health of Military Students

We understand that military life can bring unique challenges, including frequent moves, parental deployments, and family separations. These experiences may affect a student’s emotional well-being, social adjustment, and academic performance.

Common Challenges Military Students May Face:

  • Stress or anxiety related to deployments and relocations

  • Feelings of isolation when adjusting to a new community

  • Difficulty maintaining friendships due to frequent moves

  • Worry for the safety of a deployed parent

Accessing School-Based Mental Health Services

Rising Leaders Academy is committed to supporting the mental health of all students, including our military families.

  • School Support Team: Students can meet with our school support team to talk through challenges, learn coping strategies, and receive ongoing support.

  • Small Group & Individual Support: Counseling groups are available for students experiencing stress, anxiety, or transition concerns.

  • Referral to Services: When needed, families can be connected to community-based mental health providers for additional care.

  • Confidential Support: All counseling services are provided with respect for student privacy and in alignment with FERPA protections.

How to Access Support:
Parents may request mental health services by contacting:

  • School Dean of Students: Alison Johnson

  • Military Point of Contact: Rebecca Foster

We encourage families to reach out whenever they feel additional support is needed. Together, we can ensure our military-connected students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.