Military Connected Families
Our Resolution
At Marcia R. Garza Elementary, we are committed to recognizing and addressing the unique needs of our military-connected students. Our vision is for all staff—teachers, counselors, paraprofessionals, administrators, and support personnel—to be knowledgeable about these challenges and work collaboratively to foster a supportive, understanding, and resilient school environment.
Military Families New to Marcia R. Garza Elementary and PSJA ISD
On behalf of Marcia R. Garza Elementary School, we would like to welcome you to our Family! Here at Marcia R. Garza Elementary School, we embrace our military families and are here to make your transition as easy as possible. At Marcia R. Garza Elementary School we have teachers who are military veterans, and we understand the need to quickly maneuver and adjust to a new environment on a moment's notice. We are here to ensure that every Military Connected Student receives the quality education they deserve and has access to all the opportunities and tools available.
Challenges Faced by Military-Connected Students
Military-connected students often experience a range of academic, social, and emotional challenges that can impact their educational journey, including:
- Frequent School Transitions: Frequent relocations due to military assignments can disrupt academic progress and social development, as students must repeatedly adjust to new environments and expectations.
- Family-Related Stressors: Deployment, reintegration, injury, or the loss of a parent can create emotional strain that affects concentration, behavior, and mental well-being.
- Special Needs Services: Navigating special education services can be particularly challenging due to varying regulations, testing requirements, and available resources across school districts.
- Policy and Curriculum Adjustments: Understanding and adapting to new school regulations, policies, and curricula—often different from previous schools—can create confusion and stress.
- Social and Emotional Adjustment: Building new friendships and becoming part of a peer group in an unfamiliar setting may increase stress and anxiety, especially in the early stages of transition.
- Mental Health Risks: The ongoing cycle of relocation and family separation puts military-connected students at a heightened risk for anxiety and depression.
Marcia R. Garza Elementary School Liaison Officer – Mrs. Diana Bernal
Email: Diana.Bernal@psjaisd.us
Phone: 956-354-2530
Campus-based Military Liaison
The campus-based military liaison assumes the duties of the campus transition liaison. In this capacity,
they oversee staff development initiatives and coordinate a range of events, such as Purple Up activities,
Veterans Day Programs, and various other activities for our students. Additionally, they serve as sponsors for our student ambassadors with military affiliations and provide assistance in drafting the annual district board proclamation.
Military Liaison duties
The Military Family Liaison’s major duties and responsibilities:
Serves as advocate for the military community and integrates the military student into campus. Provides resources and program information support to military families.
Interacts with military families and students.
Serves as the primary point of contact for school-related matters, assists military families with
educational issues, coordinates with local school systems and forges partnerships between the military,
community and schools.
Duties of Campus Military Liaison
Point of Contact which works collaboratively between military-connected students and their families and the campus.
Ensure Military connected students receive assistance from the campus student leadership.
Joint Base Marcia R. Garza Elementary School Liaison Program Manager
Joint Base Marcia R. Garza Elementary School Liaison Office (SLO) helps parents ease the transition of the mobile military lifestyle and can assist prior to your PCS, upon arrival, while at your installation and when you prepare to depart for your next duty station. They specialize in serving military families with K-12 school-age children and are able to provide information about the local school systems and community. The SLO will support parents and school districts with the Interstate Compact for the Education of Military Students interpretation, information on schools and boundaries, Home School, Deployment Support, provide School and Community Outreach partnerships. These military-dependent education professionals serve as a link between military families and all surrounding school districts ensuring maximum educational opportunities for academic success.
Andrea Black, JBSA School Liaison Program Manager
Email: andrea.black@us.af.mil
Cell: (210) 823-6500
Address: 2514 Funston Road, Building 2515
JBSA- Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234
JBSA Lackland (210) 671-8388 or JBSA-Randolph (210) 652-3081
Resources
2024-2025 Events
Veterans Day Celebration
Relocation Information
Campus counselors facilitate the transfer of necessary documentation and other files needed for relocation. Our counselors make the process as easy as possible for the military-connected family.
Available Electives
- Athletics
- Band
- Orchestra
- Choir
- Theatre
- Media Communication
- Art
- Spanish
- Folklorico
- Business
The PSJA Independent School District Board of Trustees officially adopted the Student Code of Conduct in order to promote a safe and orderly learning environment for every student.
· PSJA ISD: Student Code of Conduct
PSJA ISD offers free public schooling for students in PK3 through 12th grade and is situated in Pharr, San Juan and Alamo, Texas.
· https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.29.htm
Counseling, Support Services and Academic Planning
To access counseling support services including, but not limited to: Course sequencing, available advanced courses and academic planning, please reach out to our campus counselors. You can contact the
campus counselors by phone or access the counselor’s dedicated webpage via the following link:
Counseling - Marcia R. Garza Elementary
On Campus Counseling – Mrs. Ericka Cantu
LPC Services Available
After School Tutorials
Enrolling at a campus as a military student typically involves gathering specific documentation to facilitate the process. Here's a checklist of required documents:
1. Proof of Military Service:
• DD Form 214 (for veterans)
• Active Duty Military ID Card (for active-duty personnel)
• Reserve/Guard Military ID Card (for reservists and National Guard members}
• Military Orders (if applicable}
2. Educational Documentation:
• High School Diploma or GED Certificate
• College Transcripts (if transferring credits}
3. Financial Documentation:
• Military Tuition Assistance (TA} Authorization Form
• GI Bill Certificate of Eligibility (if applicable}
• Financial Aid Application (e.g., FAFSA)
4. Personal Identification:
• State Issued ID or Driver's License
• Social Security Card
5. Immunization Records:
• Ensure compliance with campus immunization requirements
6. Residency Documentation:
• Proof of Residency (if applicable for in-state tuition rates}
7. Application Materials:
• Completed Application Form
• Application Fee (if applicable}
8. Other Pertinent Documentation:
• Any additional forms or documents required by the specific institution
• Special Requests or Accommodations Documentation (if applicable}
9. Contact Information:
• Emergency Contact Information
• Contact Information for Military Education Office or Veterans Affairs Office
It's crucial to verify with the specific campus or institution for any additional requirements or specific procedures tailored for military students. Many institutions have dedicated offices or personnel to assist military-affiliated students through the enrollment process, so reaching out to these resources can be highly beneficial.
PSJA ISD Career and Technology:
https://www.psjaisd.us/academics/psja-academies/career-technical-education-academies
The Military Interstate Compact
The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children is an agreement among states
to alleviate many of the school transition problems military family’s encounter. States agree to address
specific school transition issues in a consistent way and minimize school disruptions for military children
transferring from one state school system to another. It’s up to the states to work together to resolve
specific transition issues for individual students. The regulations and expectations of the Compact also
apply to students transferring to, from or between Department of Defense Education Activity schools.
As of August 2014, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation to become members
of the Compact, which consists of general policies in four key areas:
eligibility, enrollment, placement and graduation.
https://www.dodea.edu/education/partnership-and-resources/military-interstate-compact
https://dodea.widen.net/s/5fzm2hhlxc/interstatecompacttoolkit-ooreview-15june2015
Contact
Assistant Principal - Diana Bernal
Counselor - Ericka Cantu
Email: ericka.cantu@psjaisd.us
Phone: 956-354-2780