Pleasant Grove
Elementary School
Military Family Resources
Nicole Owens-Braggs
Susan Tapparo
Welcome to Pleasant Grove Elementary School. Our school provides an educational environment for students in Kindergarten through fifth grade. Our newly opened state-of-the-art campus provides a safe, supportive and academically enriching environment. Many members of the faculty and staff have ties to the military community as retired military members or dependents.
Principal Owens-Braggs originally came to Pensacola, Florida as a military dependent and worked in the public school system here in Escambia County. She developed a fondness for the area and moved back to continue her career as an educator. Assistant Principal Tapparo also moved to Pensacola as a military dependent for two tours. Both Principal Owens and Assistant Principal Tapparo are proud to have stood alongside our military spouses as they served our country. Our desire is to support our students both academically and emotionally. Please reach out to us with any questions.
Military Family Life Counselor Contact Information
850-281-6909
Click to visit the ECPS Exceptional Student Education department.
Sondra Hill, Program Director
shill@ecsdfl.us • 850-429-2977
New to the area? Have questions about registering your child for school, or what documentation is needed for registration? Click here to visit our ECPS Enrollment Services department for this information, as well as the current Student Progression Plans.
The Joint Military Council for Education Excellence was established as a partnership between the Escambia County School District and Naval Air Station Pensacola in the Spring of 2020. Its mission is: Improving educational services and communication between the Escambia County School District and military families.
The Military Council convenes quarterly to address topics of mutual interest and to solicit input from community stakeholders, including military families.
Military One Source connects you to programs, services and products developed for military life. Turn to Military OneSource for tax services, spouse employment help, webinars and online training, relocation and deployment tools, and much more.
See their grade-school tutoring link.
Military Child Education Coalition
The Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission has a section for parents on the role of the School Liaison and articles on helping military children change schools and cope with moving, among others. They also have a section on supporting military families with special medical or educational needs.
The ASVAB CEP offers students a chance to explore all paths to careers - college, certifications, apprenticeships, licensure programs, and the Military - in one place. Contact your school counselor to find out when the ASVAB CEP is coming to your school.
Military Kids Connect is an online community for military children ages 6–17, and provides access to age-appropriate resources to support children dealing with the unique psychological challenges of military life.
It offers activities, videos, and resources to build resilience and coping skills.
Today's military kids grow up in a world where they face unique challenges such as multiple deployments of important family members and frequent moves to new schools and neighborhoods. They need a unique set of skills to draw on to get through long and often difficult separations and situations.
Pear Deck Tutor (formerly TutorMe) provides one-on-one, on-demand homework and writing support.
Purple Up Day, 2025!
Learn more about Child and Youth Behavioral Military and Family Life Counselors
About the Military & Family Life Counseling (MFLC) Program
Pleasant Grove Elementary School is honored to offer non-medical counseling to our military-connected students. MFLCs support military families through the unique challenges of military life, including cycles of deployment and reintegration, by providing non-medical, short-term counseling. Through a partnership between the school district, the installation, and the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy, counselors are assigned to various schools during the school year.
What is the counselor’s role in the school?
MFLCs provide consultation, training, and educational presentations/workshops to program faculty, staff, parents, and children. MFLC support augments services already in place at each school. Counselors take part in everyday school activities and events. They are available to support in areas related to deployment and reintegration, family dynamics, positive coping mechanisms, staff support and education, parent education, and stress reduction. Counselors are also available to facilitate groups and trainings to build leadership skills, manage anger, build self-esteem and confidence, and strengthen communication.
How are counselors selected?
Counselors are selected for their demonstrated expertise and training and are under the management of the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy. Counselors hold a master’s or doctoral degree, are independently licensed, and have experience working with children and youth. They go through rigorous background checks before being placed in schools.
Why are the counselors in certain schools and not others?
Schools were selected by the Service Branch to receive MFLCs based on the number of military-connected students attending each school. Military families who have students in schools without counselors can typically receive the same support through the installation’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department, Fleet and Family Services, or the A&FRC.
Do counselors keep records about students and families?
No. Services provided by counselors are private and confidential, with the exception of mandatory federal and military reporting requirements (e.g., child abuse, domestic violence, and other life-threatening situations). No counseling records are maintained.
Coming Soon- Military Family of the Month!
Pleasant Grove Elementary Is Proud to Be a
The mission for the Anchored 4 Life program is to provide proven resources and strategies to children so they can become resilient, confident, and resourceful, to create a better world for themselves and others.
- Pleasant Grove Elementary's Anchored 4 Life team will develop leadership skills, enhance coping skills, build confidence, reinforce team building, and offer support.
- Character Development Quotes to instill positive messages.
- Activity Groups will teach strategies to enhance resiliency.
- Kits and Activity Packets will be provided by our MFLC to keep youth connected and give them valuable resources during their transitions.
- Training and ongoing support will be provided to increase and improve transitions for school-age youth.
- A Service Project will be supported to strengthen community ties, increase self-confidence, build competence, and foster self-efficacy.
Opportunities for Military Volunteers
- Classroom Volunteers
- Media Center Volunteers
- Mentoring
- and more!
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September 11 – Patriot Day
- Recognition of Patriot’s Day with age-appropriate books and lessons
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Veteran’s Day – VIP (Veterans are Important People) Signs and Cards
- Sign and Card Making Projects for the VA Center and NAS Hospital
- Ongoing Projects such as welcome cards for the Northwest Florida USO .
The official flower of the military child is the dandelion. Why?
The plant puts down roots almost anywhere, and it's almost impossible to destroy. It's an unpretentious plant, yet good looking. It's a survivor in a broad range of climates.
Military children bloom everywhere the winds carry them. They are hardy and upright. Their roots are strong, cultivated deeply in the culture of the military, planted swiftly and surely. They're ready to fly in the breezes that take them to new adventures, new lands, and new friends.
Experts say military children are well-rounded, culturally aware, tolerant, and extremely resilient. Military children have learned from an early age that home is where their hearts are, that a good friend can be found in every corner of the world, and that education doesn't only come from school. They live history. They learn that to survive means to adapt, that the door that closes one chapter of their life opens up to a new and exciting adventure full of new friends and new experiences
(Military Child Education Coalition, 2017).