Staff Report
KYLE — Hays CISD rolled out the red carpet April 17 for the annual Volunteer of the Year luncheon at the Academic Support Center, celebrating those who give their time to help the students, staff and community.
Each year, Hays CISD recognizes the individuals who were named as their campus Volunteer of the Year for the efforts in helping their local school community. In addition, Hays CISD also honored those who were named as Mentors of the Year, Community Volunteers of the Year and Partnerships of the Year.
Hays CISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright applauded the efforts of the district volunteers, mentors and business partners whose efforts go a long way toward helping the district and its respective campuses. This year, Hays CISD has a grand total of 7,400 volunteers who have logged more than 14,000 hours of work — the volunteers have contributed more than $462,000 worth of time toward its students.
The 2025-2026 Hays CISD Volunteers of the Year are listed below.
Elementary School Volunteers of the Year
Elza Romero – Blanco Vista Elementary School
Erika Reyes – Buda Elementary School
Abigail Laake – Camino Real Elementary School
Michelle Schwartz – Carpenter Hill Elementary School
Nicole Miller – Cullen Elementary School
Martin Danner – Elm Grove Elementary School
Jennifer Lancaster – Fuentes Elementary School
Abby Tedlock – Tom Green Elementary School
Teresa Bullock – Hemphill Elementary School
Karine Zepeda – Kyle Elementary School
Melissa Haase – Negley Elementary School
Becki Robledo – Pfluger Elementary School
Amber Nelson – Ramage Elementary School
Laurie Stradling – Science Hall Elementary School
Cristyn Cordova – Sunfield Elementary School
Brandi Sanchez – Tobias Elementary School
Bertha Martinez – Uhland Elementary School
Middle School Volunteers of the Year
Abigail Campbell – Barton Middle School
Anastasia Skiles – Chapa Middle School
Casey Jensen – Dahlstrom Middle School
Fabiola Sanchez – McCormick Middle School
Jessica Gindlesperger – Simon Middle School
Tiffany Cortez-Machado – Wallace Middle School
High School Volunteers of the Year
Johanna Bergmann – Hays High School
Leslie Piggott – Johnson High School
Anastasia Skiles – Lehman High School
Craig Holloway – Live Oak Academy
Community Volunteers of the Year
Mary Gartner – Hays Clothes Closet
Debbie Condel, DLC Financial Service – HaysHope2Go
Mentors of the Year
Julie Barschow – Seedling Mentor Program
Tim Rigsby – Blanco Vista Elementary School
Marjie Kelley – Kyle Elementary School
Mary Kemp – Ramage Elementary School
Michael Ramirez – Chapa Middle School
Business Partnerships of the Year
Frost Bank
CORE Construction
Joeris General Contractors
Dunaway
Ally Medical
