Happy graduation season!

It’s a wonderful time of the year as we celebrate the success of our students and schools throughout Austin, Elgin, Hays, Lockhart, Manor and San Marcos. Thank you for being part of our Communities In Schools of Central Texas family—surrounding students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.

As we approach the end of another remarkable school year, I would like to reflect on our shared journey and achievements amid the uncertainties and complexities of the world.

Like a flower breaking through concrete, our students often face formidable challenges akin to unyielding concrete, yet like that resilient flower, they persevere, thrive and inspire. Their strength, resilience and untapped potential are forces too powerful to be contained.

Thank you for fostering the inherent talent in every student, nurturing the potential within each and every one of them, so they can rise above any adversity.

Help us celebrate our 2024 graduates!

Please consider continued support of our CIS students by committing to a monthly reoccurring gift of $20.24 in honor of our 2024 graduates. To make a donation, visit All in for Kids — 2024 Graduation.

Attendance Matters:

Showing Up for Students, Increasing District Dollars

Throughout the school year, CIS has been examining—and addressing—the attendance crisis facing our nation and local communities. The reasons behind this surge are multifaceted: Poverty, illness, lack of access to childcare and social services, and transportation barriers are a few of the challenges our students face. There also is a growing mental health crisis among our youth, leading many to miss school out of sheer distress.

Communities In Schools has been hard at work partnering with school districts to increase attendance. Many of our campus-based program managers have focused on attendance at our CIS schools, coordinating a range of activities and incentive programs to help increase attendance, including among students with the most severe attendance needs.

CIS research shows that our collaborative work with schools to increase attendance has helped school districts recover a minimum of $1.25 million in student attendance funds based on the per pupil ADA funding formula!

Recently, the New York Times asked us to help inform their “Why School Absences Have ‘Exploded’ Almost Everywhere” story by introducing them to a mom to learn how the pandemic changed families’ lives and the culture of education.

Amid the ongoing changes throughout our society and educational systems, thank you for helping ensure every student knows they are important and feels welcome at school. By listening and showing up for them, we help ensure they show up for themselves.

Recognize Good:

CIS Earns 2024 Ethics in Business Award

Communities in Schools of Central Texas is honored to have earned the 2024 Ethics in Business Award for non-profits from Recognize Good, which is dedicated to illuminating the good in our community.

None of us does our work alone. I must express my deepest gratitude to those who paved the way for CIS to serve our communities for nearly 40 years. I would like to thank the incredible supporters whose vision and ethics have guided us to this moment—from our school district and campus leaders to our board of directors and partners. Thank you for believing in our mission and for pushing us to never settle for anything less than courageous business leadership and ethical excellence.

At CIS, we truly believe that every child is an opportunity away from success, and our team embodies that belief. They serve at schools and throughout the community day in and day out, because they understand that the well-being of our community is directly linked to the well-being of our students. 

I would like to thank our 258 CIS team members who show up every day, rain or shine, for our students, families—and our education system.

At CIS we know that success is not just about what we do, but about how we do it. It’s about integrity, transparency, and treating everyone with fairness and respect. And, most of all, it is about love. Love builds relationships—and informs our norms.  

I always have been inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr.’s sermons on the power of love—the strength of our love in action. He preached, “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” 

Thank you for helping CIS strive for excellence each and every day—not just for ourselves, but for the betterment of society as a whole.

The Power of Summer:

CIS Supports Students’ Season of Exploration, Discovery

As we enter the summer season, I am reminded that our summer programs are a time of exploration, discovery, and new beginnings. It is a time when students have the freedom to delve into their passions, engage in hands-on experiences, and expand their knowledge beyond traditional classrooms.

CIS’ summer program provides a safe and stimulating environment where our students continue their educational journey, discover hidden talents, and build essential life skills that will serve them for years to come. Our summer programming includes hands-on, career-connected learning opportunities for learners of all ages and community-building activities for students and their families throughout Central Texas.

The importance of our summer program cannot be overstated! It is an opportunity to bridge the gap and prevent the summer learning slide that can impact our students' academic progress.

By providing engaging and enriching activities, our students remain intellectually stimulated, curious, and ready to hit the ground running when the new school year begins. The summer program is not merely a break from routine—it is an investment in their long-term success.

Thank you for collaborating with CIS to nurture our students’ academic growth and emotional well-being, fostering resilience and a sense of belonging. Together, we are building strong relationships to shape a brighter future for our society—one student at a time.

Sharon Vigil

Chief Executive Officer

Communities In Schools of Central Texas