Kristin Wright is a teacher and parent who knows the importance of building community.
“Our school district in Dripping Springs ISD is very community-centered,” said Wright of the northern Hays County educational system in Texas. “We have a big Founders Day celebration and neighborhood swim teams, but it’s also been important to us to create a community of faith here.”
After joining the parent board as a teacher at Sycamore Springs Middle School, Wright was asked to become an FCA Huddle Leader by the local FCA director.
Her investment in FCA came from the investment FCA made at a needed time for her family and community.
“In the summer of 2021, my son’s best friend passed away, and FCA was so supportive of the students and offered a lot of help,” said Wright. “I was impressed by the way they brought our community together.”
Using her teacher skillset, Wright began leading Huddles in 2023 and became an integral part of the FCA ministry in Austin.
“It was a joy to watch Kristin lead,” said Lynne Vallejo, FCA Hays County Representative. “I first met her through my grandkids. She’s their favorite teacher, and it’s easy to see why. There’s authenticity and grace in Kristin’s interactions with her students. I’ve witnessed her counseling kids through difficult family times and getting them into God’s Word. She coaches them to rely on Jesus instead of the circumstances around them.”
“I couldn’t wait to serve each week,” said Wright. “Students in my class would always ask me if we were having a Huddle that day and who the speaker would be that night. It was incredible to have this kind of faith connection with them.”
As Wright continued to serve the ministry, she found new ways to lift the community around her. She collaborated with Vallejo to start coaches’ goodie bags for local coaches in the school district. They sent out a list asking coaches to share their favorite snacks, sports drinks and candies. The response was overwhelming, and the bags were a great success.
“Those goodie bags were an incredible idea and a big blessing for our coaches,” said Vallejo. “With that kind of intention, Kristin was a community powerhouse. Not only did she bring her gifts of organization and planning to her FCA Huddle, but she also used her personal connections to enhance the experience by bringing in guest speakers.”
Over the last two years of leading Huddles, Wright became inspired by her student-athletes to pray with her fellow teachers and staff members.
“My favorite time during our gatherings was seeing young students pray out loud with their peers,” said Wright. “These kids were bold in their faith, and it really touched me. I grew up when prayer was reserved for big meals and other family gatherings, and I mostly kept my prayer life private. Witnessing public prayer in our Huddle has encouraged me to deepen my own faith.”
Wright helped open a new elementary school this fall and is excited to bring her years of experience as an FCA Huddle Leader to the project, building a strong faith community with her students and fellow staff members.
Wright has felt a unique responsibility for leading kids, both as a parent and teacher and wants to empower other parents to get involved in their schools and programs.
“To parents looking to get involved: Start small,” said Wright. “Bring the donuts. Bring the cookies. Ask where the sign-up sheet is. Ask what to pray for. Each small thing adds up and helps the community in significant ways.
Please pray for the continued growth of Dripping Springs ISD FCA and for the new elementary school and relationships being built.
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Photos courtesy of Kristin Wright