Providing students with the best education and serving the “whole child” goes beyond books and innovative learning tools, it must include a healthy mind and body. Since its inception in 2007 Leander Educational Excellence Foundation (LEEF) has invested over $1,500,000 back into Leander ISD (LISD) and our future leaders, including over $250,000 in mental health and counseling funds. In honor of May and Mental Health month LEEF wants to thank our community and partners for trusting us with your dollars and investments. LEEF raised over $220,727 through grants funded from Moody Foundation, St. David’s Foundation and Austin Community Foundation to support the Leander ISD mental health initiative. LEEF and LISD recognized the need for counseling services following the isolation of COVID-19. LEEF’s funding enabled LISD to hire a full-time mental health professional for 3 years, providing early intervention mental health services to Leander ISD students and their families.
Theresa Libios, Leander ISD Mental Health Specialist, works full time as a member of the LISD Student and Family Support Team (SFST) and she’s serving primarily elementary high needs students and families and incorporating more family work together. Watch her video below. LEEF has also provided funding over the years to the SFST, including books for second step curriculum, professional development opportunities. For the 2021-2022 school year the Leander ISD SFST received 1,119 student referrals and we expect this number to increase for the 2022-2023 school year.
YOU can make a difference for Leander ISD students – our future leaders – by joining our Monthly Giving with a recurring donation that works for you. Every dollar counts and LEEF looks forward to continuing to serve our community by improving education for Leander ISD students and staff.
Watch LEEF’s video below to learn more about the SFST and hear from a student at Leander ISD.