News and Awards
Austin Community College District and Communities In Schools of Central Texas Launch PATHS
Communities In Schools of Central Texas and Austin Community College officially launched the PATHS (Providing Access To Holistic Supports) program at ACC Highland on September 24. PATHS is designed to help students who face economic barriers successfully transition from high school to college — and thrive once there.
The program provides wrap-around services such as housing, childcare, transportation, food, and mental health support, in addition to personalized case management and career pathway guidance. With support from the Greater Texas Foundation and the Sooch Foundation, PATHS will begin at three ACC campuses: Highland, Hays, and Riverside.
CIS CEO Sharon Vigil noted that education is “the economic engine that sustains communities,” while ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart emphasized that the partnership ensures students have the resources to not just get to college, but through college.
Communities In Schools of Central Texas will host Food For Thought, our premier tasting event, on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, at ACL Live at the Moody Theater. The evening will be emceed by CBS Austin’s John-Carlos Estrada and Allison Miller.
Expect bites from top Austin restaurants—Aba, Eberly, Ema, Hestia, Lucky Robot, Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill, NÔMADÉ, Serenade, Verdad, Verbena, Revue, Kerbey Lane, Parkside, The Guest House, Il Brutto, Sway, and more—paired with meaningful giving to support CIS services like counseling, tutoring, mentoring, college/career readiness, and basic-needs assistance for students and families.
Tickets & Sponsorships: ciscentraltexas.org/foodforthought
Our CIS team was featured in a Taylor Press article about this school year’s homecoming parade!
“Jason Timmons and Christian Clarke Casarez with Communities in Schools prepare to lead the Taylor Independent School District Homecoming Parade on Oct. 2. The organization representatives say they are ‘new ducks’ in town.”
- Calling all students
- What does being there look like?
- Coming together in community
- Food For Thought
CEO Sharon Vigil shares Back-to-school tips to help families prepare children for a strong start:
- Visit school to become familiar with the campus.
- Make an adventure out of driving the route.
- Re-start bedtime routines to help children get 10 hours of sleep.
- Attendance Matters: Showing Up for Students, Increasing District Dollars
- Recognize Good: CIS Earns 2024 Ethics in Business Award
- The Power of Summer: CIS Supports Students’ Season of Exploration, Discovery
In response to America’s youth mental health crisis, Texas is joining forces with 10 other states, the Schultz Family Foundation, Pinterest and AmeriCorps to recruit, train, and deploy the nation’s first Youth Mental Health Corps to help teenagers access critical mental health resources.
Youth Mental Health Corps AmeriCorps members will serve with Communities In Schools of Central Texas offering case management through weekly one-on-one or small group sessions to students from economically disadvantaged households.
“In the four years since the pandemic closed schools, U.S. education has struggled to recover on a number of fronts, from learning loss, to enrollment, to student behavior. But perhaps no issue has been as stubborn and pervasive as a sharp increase in student absenteeism, a problem that cuts across demographics and has continued long after schools reopened.”
The NY Times spoke with a mom who has worked with Communities in Schools of Central Texas to improve her children’s school attendance.
“Giving people a safe environment to ask for help is key to building the kind of community students need, said Cindy Marten, the U.S. deputy secretary of education.”
The Austin-American Statesman: “US Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten visits Govalle Elementary for SXSW EDU 2024” (photos)
The visit to Govalle Elementary School in East Austin featured a roundtable discussion about the National Partnership for Student Success, a public-private partnership among AmeriCorps, the U.S. Department of Education, The Everyone Graduates Center at John Hopkins University, and leading student support providers, including Communities In Schools. The initiative brings together experienced organizations to recruit, train and engage adults to work closely with parents, educators and others as they drive improved academic and social-emotional outcomes for students.
CIS serves more than 100 schools throughout Central Texas, including 55 AISD campuses.
CIS Program Director Erica Gallardo: Having difficult conversations about traumatic events with your kids
MacKenzie Scott donates $133 million for
in-school support services
Communities In Schools of Central Texas Board Member Patrick Patterson was on Fox 7 Austin to share tips for how parents can prepare students for back to school.
CIS of Central Texas Chief Program Officer, Jen Griffis, on FOX 7 Austin sharing tips about how to prepare students for back to school.
Communities in Schools talks about ending the school year — The end of the school year can be stressful but it’s even more so for many families as they end another year of virtual and hybrid learning. CIS Teen Parent Educator Adriana Bolanos has some tips to help parents and kids stay calm, united, and focused.
Helping students manage emotions in stressful times — Communities in Schools Program Manager Stephanie Hooton from The Impact Center has more on how parents can play a role in helping students thrive in and outside the classroom.
Supporting mental health needs of young people — One in five teens has had a serious mental health disorder at some point in their life. So how do you support the mental health needs of young people? Program Director with Communities in Schools Erica Gallardo has more on what parents and caregivers should look out for and where they can go to find help.
Challenges for students and families after winter storm in Texas, CEO of Communities in Schools of Central Texas Suki Steinhauser on Fox 7 News Austin
Communities In Schools of Central Texas honored as Nonprofit of the Year
The Power of Partnership: Communities In Schools and Hays CISD Principal Lisa Walls
College Day at Allison Elementary
CIS of Central Texas AmeriCorps Member wins All In for Kids Award
