Sharon Vigil sees her own story in some of the students her organization serves. “My parents were hard workers, and like many families, we faced real challenges,” she says. “I had someone in school who reminded me that my life did not have to be dictated by my circumstances. I live with a level of urgency because I have seen many of my peers not get that one adult who changes everything.”
As CEO of Communities In Schools of Central Texas, Vigil oversees direct service programs on 123 high-need campuses, serving nearly 80,000 students across the region. She also serves as board president of Communities In Schools of Texas, a volunteer appointment in which she guides advocacy strategy for 27 affiliates statewide. Her work to support the holistic physical and mental health and well-being of students has faced new challenges in a charged political environment.
“In Texas, education is a battleground,” Vigil says. “The reimagining of politics in the classroom is making it challenging to create safe and inclusive spaces for all students.”
Vigil knows that her connections in both schools and the state house provides opportunities for systems change. “We have the trust of kids, principals, parents and superintendents,” she says. “How can we leverage that trust, and what is my personal role in doing so?”