Katy ISD Celebrates Community Impact: 2025–2026 Volunteers of the Year Announced Districtwide
For many families in Katy, the strength of the school district is a major reason they call the area home. Behind that reputation is not only a network of educators and administrators—but a powerful force of community volunteers who help bring classrooms to life every day.
On May 1, Katy Independent School District (Katy ISD) recognized that impact during its annual Volunteer Celebration, honoring the 2025–2026 Volunteers of the Year through its widely respected Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) program. The event served as a reminder that student success in Katy ISD is deeply rooted in community involvement.
With more than 25,000 volunteers contributing across campuses, Katy ISD continues to operate the largest public school volunteer program in Texas—an achievement that reflects a culture where families, businesses, and residents actively invest in local schools.
Inside Katy ISD’s Partners in Education and VIPS Programs
At the heart of this effort is Katy ISD’s Partners in Education, a program designed to connect the community directly to classrooms. Through structured opportunities, it allows parents, business leaders, and residents to support students while building lasting relationships across the district.
The VIPS program—often described as the “hands-on heartbeat of Katy ISD”—is the largest initiative within Partners in Education. Volunteers contribute in ways both big and small, from occasional campus support to consistent weekly involvement. Collectively, these efforts have resulted in more than one million volunteer hours, the equivalent of adding approximately ten extra staff members to every campus.
The program’s philosophy centers on a simple but powerful idea: every effort traces back to a child at a desk. Whether helping with events, mentoring students, or supporting teachers, volunteers allow educators to focus more fully on instruction—enhancing the overall learning environment.
A Celebration of Talent, Service, and Community Pride
The Volunteer Celebration itself reflected the spirit of Katy ISD, blending recognition with student-led performances that showcased the district’s talent. Attendees enjoyed appearances from the Cinco Ranch High School Drumline, Katy ISD Cheerleaders and Mascots, Katy High School Theatre’s Newsies cast, Jordan High School Warrior Choir, and the Katy ISD Elite Jazz Ensemble.
The event also featured keynote speaker Anne Neeson, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the Memorial Hermann Foundation, who highlighted the broader impact of community service and engagement.
Campus leaders from across the district took part in announcing each school’s Volunteer of the Year, sharing reflections on how these individuals contribute to student growth and campus culture. Presenters included Tamika Holdman (Cross Elementary), Jia Paek (Rylander Elementary), Grant Smith (Beckendorff Junior High), Kaye Williams (Cinco Ranch High School), Debbie Barker (Pattison Elementary), and Dr. Yvette Sylvan (Franz Elementary).
Recognizing the 2025–2026 Katy ISD Volunteers of the Year
Katy ISD honored volunteers across every campus, highlighting the individuals and families who make a daily impact in classrooms and school communities.
Elementary Schools
- Alexander Elementary: Euijeung Kim
- Bear Creek Elementary: Roseanne and Brian Ash
- Bethke Elementary: James and Georgia Strickland
- Boudny Elementary: Mayra Elias
- Bryant Elementary: Tiffany Redner
- Campbell Elementary: Sarah Lizana
- Cimarron Elementary: Elizabeth Gail McKinley
- Creech Elementary: Jamie Uhl
- Cross Elementary: Chi Walle
- Davidson Elementary: Yasmin Cardenas
- Exley Elementary: Aime Weiss
- Faldyn Elementary: Serena Fernandez
- Fielder Elementary: Aimée Pogue
- Franz Elementary: Marjorie Urbina
- Golbow Elementary: Iris Bonilla
- Griffin Elementary: Kendra Nguyen
- Hayes Elementary: Atina Wolever
- Holland Elementary: Christina Francis Gilbert
- Hutsell Elementary: Margarita Bhattacharya
- Jenks Elementary: Melissa Gaytan
- Katy Elementary: Gary Kurtz
- Kilpatrick Elementary: Andrea Schawe
- King Elementary: Brittany Cortinas
- Leonard Elementary: Alejandra Chavez
- Mayde Creek Elementary: Anna Valishvili
- McElwain Elementary: Beth Vedros
- McRoberts Elementary: Hanai Orozco
- Memorial Parkway Elementary: Maria Lopez-Henriquez
- Morton Ranch Elementary: Chanetria Woodard
- Nottingham Country Elementary: Malissa Bateman
- Pattison Elementary: Liz Powell
- Randolph Elementary: Kimberly Wilhelm
- Rhoads Elementary: Juan Camargo
- Robertson Elementary: Marquetta Wines
- Rylander Elementary: Paul Dickens
- Schmalz Elementary: Dulce Higareda
- Shafer Elementary: Jennifer Cross
- Stanley Elementary: Holly Bradley
- Stephens Elementary: Colton Doucet
- Sundown Elementary: Evelyn Perez
- West Memorial Elementary: Kaitlyn Cole
- Williams Elementary: David Dinh
- Wilson Elementary: Jeannette Gomez
- Winborn Elementary: Emmie Weil
- Wolfe Elementary: Anna Bulliner
- Wolman Elementary: Stephanie Risinger
- WoodCreek Elementary: Kathleen Groover
- Youngblood Elementary: Cheyanne Albright
Junior High Schools
- Adams Junior High: Laura Jarrett
- Beck Junior High: JP Pfeifer
- Beckendorff Junior High: Sharon Kelly
- Cardiff Junior High: Stephanie Casiano
- Cinco Ranch Junior High: Summer El Badrawi
- Haskett Junior High: Rebekka Fincher
- Katy Junior High: Dawn Goodwin
- Mayde Creek Junior High: Jorge Sanchez
- McDonald Junior High: Denise Cupit
- McMeans Junior High: Nicole Williams
- Memorial Parkway Junior High: Dustin Jones
- Morton Ranch Junior High: Alicia Hughes
- Nelson Junior High: Zoey Marco
- Seven Lakes Junior High: Lisette McPherson
- Stockdick Junior High: Mirta Gray
- Tays Junior High: Christie Goolsby
- West Memorial Junior High: Dianne Corn
- WoodCreek Junior High: Kasey Meadows
High Schools
- Cinco Ranch High School: Leslie Cernosek
- Freeman High School: Rekea Lewis
- Jordan High School: Jana Debow
- Katy High School: Shannon Nemic
- Mayde Creek High School: Jennifer Valencia
- Morton Ranch High School: April Ng
- Paetow High School: Pricilla Thornton
- Seven Lakes High School: Lannie Christensen
- Taylor High School: Carrie Gore
- Tompkins High School: Juliane Henneberger
Why Volunteerism Matters for Katy Families
For residents, the impact of these programs goes beyond recognition events. Volunteer engagement plays a direct role in maintaining Katy ISD’s reputation for excellence—something that influences home values, community stability, and family decisions about where to live.
Programs like VIPS also create meaningful connections. Volunteers often build relationships with teachers, meet other families, and become more involved in their children’s educational journey. For newcomers, it offers an accessible way to plug into the community.
The district emphasizes that opportunities are flexible, ranging from as little as 30 minutes a year to ongoing weekly involvement. All volunteers are registered through Katy ISD’s system, ensuring a safe and organized process for campus participation.
What Happens Next: Getting Involved in Katy ISD
As Katy ISD continues to grow, so does the need for community involvement. Residents interested in volunteering can register through the district’s official Partners in Education webpage and connect with their campus Volunteer Coordinator to explore opportunities.
The message from this year’s celebration is clear: Katy ISD’s success is not built in isolation—it is a shared effort fueled by thousands of individuals committed to making a difference for kids.
For families across Katy, that commitment remains one of the defining strengths of the community.
Stay connected with My Neighborhood News for more updates on Katy ISD, local schools, and community initiatives shaping the future of Katy.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.