Megan Navarro
KYLE — Hays CISD is seeking adults to sign up to be volunteers for the 2025-26 academic year.
Engaging the community in multiple forms, including parent-teacher associations, mentoring programs, community partnerships and volunteer initiatives, is a vital component of the success of Hays CISD, according to the district. By having a positive relationship between the school district and the community, Hays CISD considers itself to be in a better position to meet the needs of the students and their education.
“It's really important for Hays CISD to have adult volunteers because it fosters that relationship between our community and our school district,” explained coordinator of volunteers & partnerships Elizabeth Arredondo. “It also helps build partnerships, even with local businesses who might want to sponsor or support any of these clubs or organizations that our students participate in.”
Volunteers have the option to serve in various capacities, including, but not limited to: helping front office staff; lunchroom monitor helpers; reading buddies in elementary campuses; band booster club; athletic booster clubs; and Parent Teacher Associations (PTA).
They have also helped support several large projects across the district. Established in 2018, the Hays CISD Clothes Closet and HaysHope2Go are 100% operated and funded by volunteers who help make sure all of the students are able to overcome any of the challenges they may face, Arredondo said. Additionally, the district’s Angel Tree program is also 100% volunteer and donation funded, helping 750 students receive gifts over last year’s holiday season alone.
Arredondo also noted that the PTA at Johnson High School received the Golden Apple Award, which is earned by recruiting all of the staff as members of the association — Hays CISD is looking to grow that number across all of its campuses.
All volunteers have the flexibility to choose which campuses that they'd like to serve. They can also choose things that would better suit their skills, interests and schedule, Arredondo explained. While the district offers a lot of flexibility for its volunteers, there is also a mentoring program, where the volunteer can provide one-on-one mentorship with a student, which, in that case, the volunteer may be matched with a student at a different campus than they had originally envisioned.
Though Hays CISD has more than 6,000 volunteers for the 2025-26 school year, the district is searching for even more to support its students, as enrollment numbers are growing.
“We are in need of more volunteers, just as our enrollment numbers are increasing, so is our need for volunteerism,” said Arredondo. “Whether they've got availability once a week, once a month or once a year, we do encourage those people to go ahead and sign up to start volunteering with us.”
Anyone who wishes to volunteer must be 18 years or older and is subject to a criminal history background check, which ensures the safety of Hays CISD’s students. Those who refuse or are unable to complete the process will not be allowed to participate in volunteer activities at Hays CISD, including field trips and PTA.
To learn more about Hays CISD’s Volunteers in Public Schools, or to sign up to be a volunteer, visit www.hayscisd.net/page/vips.
