The Spring ISD Family and Community Engagement Department hosted its 2026 Annual Volunteer Appreciation Reception on Tuesday evening at the Spring ISD Transportation Center, marking National Public School Volunteer Week with an evening that celebrated the village — the parents, business partners, community organizations, faith leaders and mentors who invest in the district’s students every day without ever expecting recognition.

The event featured a thoughtfully prepared dinner that created space for connection and reflection, followed by an awards ceremony that brought the room to its feet time and again. But beyond the applause, the night told a deeper story: one of selfless service, unwavering commitment and a community that consistently shows up for Spring ISD students. 

For Dr. Heidi Green, a Westfield High School parent, volunteering means showing up when it matters most. Recognized as the Outstanding Parent Volunteer at the high school level, Green stepped in after head boys basketball team coach Billy Goffney passed away in November 2024. As players struggled, she and a group of mothers rallied together to secure sponsorships, provide meals and support the team through two district championship runs.

“We got together and stepped up because the boys were falling apart,” Green said. “I get up every day and do what I do to help those players succeed and be great student athletes. Being a volunteer for this district means everything to me.”

While Green’s story reflects stepping in during a time of need, others are driven by a deep, ongoing commitment to serving students and families. 

Gracie Jayne, a Salyers Elementary School parent and nonprofit leader, was recognized as the Outstanding Parent Volunteer at the elementary level. Through her nonprofit, she provides mental health support, behavior services and motivational speaking, extending her impact beyond the classroom and into the community. 

“A lot of people do not realize that without the strength of the parent and the involvement of the community, what future do our children really have,” Jayne said. “We are their leaders. We are their educators. We are their future.” 

What Jayne and Green represent is exactly what filled the room that evening—the village in action. Building on that collective impact, and addressing the volunteers in the room, Spring ISD Superintendent Dr. Kregg Cuellar emphasized that while millions of people volunteer across the country each year, the true value of that service goes far beyond numbers.

“The ripple effect volunteers have on children’s lives is profound,” Cuellar said. “Whether it’s a mentor, a PTO member, or someone helping before or after school—the impact we have, even with one child, ripples across their future.”

For some, that impact is something they witness. For others, it becomes a lifelong journey of service.

For Spring ISD Board President Justine Durant, the district’s longest-serving trustee, that journey began not in the boardroom, but as a volunteer at Clark Elementary School, where she first got involved while looking for a Girl Scout troop for her daughter.

What started as a small step into service grew into years of leadership, first as a PTO president, followed by booster club leader and campus advocate before ultimately representing the very community she once served.

“This event is so special to me,” Durant said. “It is actually the foundation of where I started in Spring ISD, and now years later I love serving my community. The volunteers carry the message about the phenomenal things we do in this district, and they carry it every single day. “

Durant’s story is a powerful reminder that volunteers don’t just support schools, they help shape them. 

Tranita Carroll, Spring ISD Executive Director of District Engagement, closed the evening by bringing it back to the individuals who make it all possible, the volunteers who give their time, energy, and heart to students every day.

“It warms my heart to be able to honor them,” Carroll said. “These individuals show up, support our students and staff, and step in wherever they’re needed. Nights like this give us the opportunity to recognize the impact they make every single day.”

The 2026 honorees include:

• Outstanding Parent Volunteer – Elementary: Gracie Jayne, Salyers Elementary School
• Outstanding Parent Volunteer – Middle School: Crystal Tobias, Twin Creeks Middle School
• Outstanding Parent Volunteer – High School: Dr. Heidi Green, Westfield High School
• Outstanding Volunteer – District: Huey Phelps, Parent Advisory Council
• Outstanding Parent Organization: Ponderosa Elementary School PTO, Shanika Colton 
• Outstanding Business Partner: HEB, accepted by Melissa Rowland
• Outstanding Community Partner: Spring Lodge No. 1174, Travis Miller
• Outstanding Community Partner: Top Ladies of Distinction, Lake Houston Chapter, Lady Mary Sharp and Lady Kimberly Richardson
• Outstanding Faith-Based Partner: Pastor Sean Walker, Advent Presbyterian Church
• Outstanding Mentor: Malachi Burden, Vine Mentoring Program, Momentum High School
• Outstanding Family Empowerment Liaison: Cassie Richard, Winship Elementary School
• Outstanding Exemplar Campus – Elementary: Winship Elementary School, Principal Todd Armelin
• Outstanding Exemplar Campus – Middle School: Twin Creeks Middle School, Principal Dr. Evette Shelby King
• Outstanding Exemplar Campus – High School: Momentum High School, Principal Ayesha Ahmad