KYLE — On June 3, Hays CISD dedicated its child nutrition headquarters in honor of cook Helen Alcala, who worked for the district for several decades prior to her retirement.
According to the dedication, Alcala was born in 1923 in the community of Goforth, which is now part of Buda. She left schooling in order to aid her family after junior high, said the dedication.
For the first half of her career, she worked in the cafeteria of Historic Buda Elementary School, where “she was a central, daily presence in the lives of many thousands of students who loved her as much as she loved them.”
Following her retirement, she worked for the Texas School for the Deaf and eventually opened up Helen’s Casa Alde with her husband — the first Mexican restaurant in Buda.
“We are proud to honor local contributors to our school district and community,” said Hays CISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright. “The Board of Trustees is committed to recognizing those who have helped create our story and helped shaped our current successes as a school district. Helen was instrumental in solidifying our sense of community, compassion, determination, family, and pride in achievement. She remains an inspiration for the more than 25,000 students who will be served daily from the operations building of our child nutrition department.”
