Building Stability for Ozark’s Military-Connected Students

OZARK, Ala. -- In the world of military recruitment, a top-tier score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a golden ticket. For Carroll High School senior Christian Escobar, his performance on the test was the result of four years spent in a high-pressure, high-support environment.

Escobar, who recently enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, credits his success to the mental agility developed in Career and Technical Education (CTE) labs. While he spent years in JROTC, Marketing, and Health Science, he views these not only as job training, but as cognitive preparation.

"I wouldn't say there's a specific class that helped most, because the ASVAB is a general test," Escobar explains. "But the biggest thing was the skills I got, problem-solving, critical thinking, and math comprehension. My teachers helped push me to understand the material rather than just memorizing it. It taught me how to handle pressure and stay organized."

The emphasis on supporting military students extends from the classroom to the city at large. Mayor Charles Ward recently signed a proclamation officially designating April as the Month of the Military Child in Ozark. This gesture recognizes the unique resilience of students who navigate frequent transitions and family separations.

While many school districts in the Wiregrass offer technical programs and high-tech equipment, Ozark City Schools prioritizes the immediate, deep-rooted relationships that help military-connected students find their footing quickly. For a student who has moved five or ten times, a classroom is more than a place of instruction; it is a point of stability. As Escobar puts it, "I’m close with the principal, the counselors, and even teachers I don’t have in class. People here know who you are and want you to be successful."

Twins Jayla and Nayla Hasan exemplify the "fast-tracker" mindset often found in military families. Since arriving from Fort Campbell, the sisters have utilized the Carroll High CTE programs as a laboratory for their future.

Jayla Hasan, a sophomore who has already moved ten times in her young life, has explored Cosmetology, Construction, Business, and Additive Manufacturing (Drafting). For her, the hands-on nature of the Career Center is a necessity.

"I never had a career center where you can explore different paths at my other schools," Jayla says. "I’ve always wanted to do hair, but I also want to be a real estate agent. Taking construction and drafting, where we learn floor plans and layouts, directly helps me with that. It’s better than sitting at a desk because you’re actually doing it."

Beyond the technical labs, Jayla found a sense of belonging on the soccer field. Despite never playing the sport before, Coach Thomas gave her an opportunity to compete. "Not a lot of coaches give you an opportunity if you don't already have the skill level," she notes. "He gave me a chance, and now I’m a starter."

Her sister, Nayla Hasan, mirrors that drive. Already holding a College and Career Readiness (CCR) indicator as a sophomore, Nayla is earning credits in her dual enrollment Medical Terminology class.

"I was born in Louisiana and lived in Tennessee three different times," Nayla says. "Moving here was hard because of the connections I left behind, but my health science teacher, Mrs. Newman, made me look forward to class every day."

Junior Gwendolyn Thompson represents the intersection of technical skill and military discipline. Having attended eight schools, Thompson found her anchor in the Eagle Battalion JROTC program, where the curriculum is built on the Seven Army Values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage.

"The community around JROTC is everything," Thompson says. "Colonel Slinker is like the father of the program. He makes dad puns and makes you feel welcome. It gives you a purpose."

Whether it is the Duty shown during "Make a Difference Day" cleaning local cemeteries or the Respect shown when visiting residents at the Providence Nursing Home, the program translates military ethics into civilian leadership. Thompson believes these values, especially the Integrity required when peers correct one another in formation, are now a permanent part of her character.

In the construction labs, students like the Hasan sisters recently completed a fencing project. In the medical labs, students like Escobar and Nayla Hasan are mastering the language of healthcare. However, the most significant output of these programs is the bridge they build between a student’s current move and their future career.

As the community celebrates military-connected students this month, the focus remains on the individuals behind the technical achievements. In Ozark, these students are not just faces in a crowd; they are part of a community that understands the mission.

This story was contributed by Ashley Storey, Director of Communications and Public Relations (Ozark City Schools)