Texas health experts estimate one in six students is significantly affected by mental illness. Many drop out of school, wind through the juvenile justice system, even end their own lives. Away from home, schools are often where these mental health concerns arise. As state leaders aim to tackle this critical campus safety issue, KXAN is exploring potential solutions across Texas and beyond. What’s working in other places? What’s not? And could the ideas we’ve analyzed help Save Our Students? Texas health experts estimate one in six students is significantly affected by mental illness. Many drop out of school, wind through the juvenile justice system, even end their own lives. Away from home, schools are often where these mental health concerns arise. As state leaders aim to tackle this campus safety issue, KXAN is exploring potential solutions across Texas and beyond. What’s working in other places? What’s not? And could the ideas we analyze help Save Our Students?

From Ohio to California, our team explores solutions happening at school districts across the U.S. to address mental health-related concerns on campus.

From Ohio to California, we explore solutions happening at school districts across the U.S. to address mental health concerns on campus.

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As Texas lawmakers roll out a robust school safety plan across the state, we take a closer look at the mental health initiatives happening at districts.

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We discover some Central Texas districts already implementing new and innovative ideas to prevent and respond to mental health crises among students.

We discover some Central Texas districts implementing new and innovative ideas to prevent and respond to student mental health crises.

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Community Solutions

Superintendent Solutions

KXAN’s “Save Our Students” project has been supported by the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous and compelling reporting about responses to social problems.

Project Team

  • Erin Cargile, Investigative Reporter
  • Arezow Doost, Investigative Reporter
  • Steffi Lee, State Reporter
  • Tom Miller, Education Reporter
  • Phil Prazan, Politics Reporter
  • Richie Bowes, Photographer
  • Ben Friberg, Investigative Photographer
  • Chris Nelson, Photographer
  • Juan Salinas, Photographer
  • David Barer, Investigative Producer
  • Josh Hinkle, Director of Investigations & Innovation

News Team

  • Robert Hadlock, Anchor
  • Jim Spencer, Anchor
  • Sydney Benter, Anchor
  • Roger Wallace, Anchor
  • Sally Hernandez, Anchor
  • John Dabkovich, Anchor
  • David Yeomans, Anchor
  • Amanda Dugan, Anchor
  • Eric Lefenfeld, Editor
  • Julie Karam, Photographer
  • Tim Holcomb, Photographer
  • Todd Bailey, Photographer
  • Todd Bynum, Chief Photographer
  • Gary Williams, Producer
  • Wes Wilson, Executive Producer
  • Heather Irving, Executive Producer
  • John Thomas, Executive Producer
  • Haley Cihock, Assistant News Director
  • Chad Cross, News Director
  • Mason Carroll, Investigative Intern
  • Alyssa Weinstein, News Intern

Support Team

  • Eric Lassberg, General Manager
  • Aly White, Research & Programming Director
  • David Cantu, Engineering
  • Cody Izzo, Engineering
  • Deborah Potter, Solutions Journalism Network
  • Carolyn Robinson, Solutions Journalism Network

Digital Team

  • Alyssa Goard, Digital Multi-platform Journalist
  • Tulsi Kamath, Digital Content Producer
  • Matt Prendergast, Digital Content Producer
  • Russell Falcon, Digital Content Producer
  • Andrew Schnitker, Digital Content Producer
  • Robert Sims, Digital Special Project Developer
  • Kate Winkle, Digital Executive Producer

Creative Services Team

  • Eric Henrikson, Producer
  • Kelly Lafargue, Producer
  • Matt Mitchell, Producer
  • Chanel Wang, Producer
  • Ricardo Ruano, Graphic Artist
  • Nate Mills, Brand Manager
  • Dax Dobbs, Creative Services Director

Engagement Team

  • Christopher Adams, Engagement Coordinator
  • Alex Hoder, Collaborator
  • Rissie Wolfe, Collaborator
  • Rachel Steading, Collaborator

Production Team

  • Kathleen Dunbaugh, Director
  • Michael Conway, Director
  • Kipp McCubbin, Floor Director
  • Armando Santos, Floor Director
  • Hilario Armendariz, Floor Director

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