SSHAC Heroes

School Safety and Health Advisory Council (SSHAC) Heroes, 2026

Julian Smith, WHS Student
Julian is a Freshman at WHS. On Jan. 14, 2026, we had a student riding a scooter to school where she was hit by a vehicle, causing serious injury. Julian discovered what had happened where he immediately ran into the front office to find a Principal and inform someone of what occurred. He was the only student that jumped into action to get more help. Julian also takes school safety very seriously. He often assists by checking student ID's to ensure that they should enter the school while reminding them to display badges at all times. Julian is an absolute pleasure to be around and always has a smile on his face.   

Kevin Pegues, Marco Garcia, Anthony Angel and Jerel Davis, WHS Security Officers
I want to recognize these four WHS security officers for the work they do on a daily basis.  Each day, they constantly check all of the exterior campus doors to ensure they are locked and not propped open where any person could enter that does not belong. This goes beyond the State requirements. They have built solid relationships with the students and are a key piece to keeping this large campus safe. In particular, I want to recognize them for their prompt response to an unexpected lockdown that occurred on Feb. 4, 2026.  Although this turned out to be an accidental activation by a student, everyone responded quickly to canvas the school to determine if there was a possible assailant on the campus. This crew did not flinch and assisted officers with navigating around the campus who were not familiar with the layout. Being unarmed, this did not deter them from finding out what was going on while the rest of the campus was locked down.  

Rachael Howard, Eanes Elementary Teacher
Rachael acted quickly, calmly and decisively when a student began choking in her class. She directed other students to get additional support while she performed the Heimlich maneuver on the student in crisis and was able to clear his airway.  Her actions in the midst of an emergency were life-saving and we are grateful for her level-headed response and for her jumping into action!

Carli Cavnar, Cedar Creek Elementary Counselor
She is always there for our students to support their emotional and mental health. When my daughter struggled with anxiety and social issues, Ms Cavnar guided her and calmed her nerves. I believe her presence is comforting, especially for kids who experience school resistance, anxiety or personal struggles. Our students feel safe with her and can approach their situations or conflicts with more clarity and support. She has also started an after-school group for girls that has been very impactful for my daughter and others who embrace skill and leadership building, communication and confidence. I feel she goes above and beyond to support the students and their families.

Charlotte Hachenberg, District Dietitian
Under the leadership of Charlotte and Richard, Eanes school lunches have become more wholesome, nutritious and appealing to our kids. I am so impressed with the transition made from processed foods (in the old government subsidized program) to farm to table meals prepared fresh in school kitchens for our students every day. I don’t think all parents in the district know about these impactful behind the scenes decisions that improve our children’s access to healthy food.

Jeremy Brown, Cedar Creek Elementary Instructional Aide
Mr. Brown is one-of-a-kind. From riding his bike to and from school every day, to greeting students at the door, to serving as the "yard teacher" at recess. He is energetic, goofy and always welcoming while helping CCE kiddos deal with all sorts of little scrapes, both literal and figurative. Mr. Brown knows every child by name and every child knows him as the Pie-in-the-Face guy after he accepted the EEF challenge to be "pied" in front of the entire school! Mr. Brown is a staff member, parent, neighbor and friend to all.

Brent “BK” Kelly, Police Lieutenant 
Lt Kelly has given several years of dedication and sacrifice to the Eanes ISD, especially Westlake High School. He stays late, works long hours and takes care of his students and staff with a caring heart. Lt Kelly takes time out of his schedule to get to know the students and what is important to them, building many important relationships along the way. He will be retiring at the end of this school year and should be recognized for his years of service to Eanes ISD. 

Ryan Sanderson and Farah Abuhantash, Barton Creek Elementary Coaches
I am honored to nominate Coach Ryan Sanderson and Coach Farah Abuhantash, the dedicated Physical Education teachers at Barton Creek Elementary, for the SSHAC Heroes Celebration. Together, they create engaging and meaningful physical education lessons that help students develop lifelong skills through play, movement and exercise, promoting both physical health and confidence. Beyond their work with students, Coach Sanderson and Coach Abuhantash extend their impact to staff wellness by creating an outstanding monthly wellness newsletter that supports the health and well-being of our entire campus community. Their newsletters provide practical strategies for managing stress, supporting emotional well-being and prioritizing self-care, such as breaking tasks into manageable steps, scheduling downtime and encouraging reflection on emotions. They also highlight the powerful role of physical activity in reducing stress, improving sleep, boosting mood and supporting emotional regulation, reinforcing the importance of wellness for busy educators. Through their innovative teaching, commitment to wellness and genuine care for both students and staff, Coach Sanderson and Coach Abuhantash exemplify the spirit of service and dedication that this award celebrates.

Avaneesh Senthilkumar, Westlake High School Student
Avaneesh has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to improving the safety and well-being of the Westlake community. Despite a demanding schedule, he has dedicated significant time to completing CERT trainings and instructor certification, with the goal of applying this knowledge here in the Eanes community. He has further strengthened his expertise by taking additional health and medical classes in the Westlake CTE program. As a highly engaged officer of the Westlake CERT program, Avaneesh plays an important role in trainings, planning and leadership. He has also committed to using his instructor certification to support Mrs. Phillips in teaching the CERT course during the 2026–2027 school year. As I prepare to leave Westlake, I am confident that I'm leaving the CERT program in the best hands possible.

Mark Mackey, Cedar Creek Elementary Parent
Early in the school year, just minutes before dismissal, there was a one-car accident at the corner of Walsh Tarlton and Pinnacle. Mr. Mackey was approaching campus to pick up this children from school. He immediately went to the aid of the driver, literally working with law enforcement to pull the driver's door from the frame to have access to the driver. Mr. Mackey provided comfort and aid to the individual, allowing CCE staff to pivot dismissal routes and procedures before students dismissed from school. He was calm, collected, professional and extremely respectful of the driver, first responders and school/district staff. We are so thankful Mr. Mackey was on campus and did not hesitate to render aid. 

LaDonna Cook, Cedar Creek Elementary
LaDonna has always been an extra set of eyes around the school and is always keeping an eye out for our kids or any suspicious behavior.  In a recent example, we did a security test run to see if a stranger could enter any or our locked doors.  Upon seeing the suspicious behavior she actually went and took a photo of the suspect vehicle's license plate. She is the definition of "see something, say something."  We are lucky to have her!  

Jordan Dunagan, Forest Trail Elementary Teacher
In January, a student in Mrs Dunagan's first grade class choked on a celery snack. She immediately recognized the signs of choking from her training and instead of panicking, she leaped into action and quickly dislodged the obstruction with the Heimlich maneuver. Mrs Dunagan is a joyful, dedicated and capable educator, heroic in the benefit she brings to the lives of all her students. That day, she showed a new level of heroism, and we are so grateful a life was saved today because of her swift actions.