School Health Advisory Council

Our Vision

Austin Achieve SHAC envisions a community where every scholar has the health and wellness foundation to reach their highest academic potential.

Our Mission

The mission of the AAPS SHAC is to foster a healthy, safe, and supportive school environment that empowers scholars with the physical and mental wellness necessary to excel at top universities.

What is the School Health Advisory Council?

A SHAC is a school board-appointed advisory group of individuals who represent different segments of the community. By law, a majority of the members must be persons who are parents of students enrolled in the district and who are not employed by the district. The AAPS SHAC is made up of parents, community members, and school staff working together to improve the health and wellness of all scholars and families. Texas law requires all school districts to have a SHAC. 

AAPS Wellness Policy

Wellness Policy Triennial Assessment

SHAC Annual Reports
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SHAC Recommendations to AAPS
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2025-2026 Meetings

Members

• Ellen Bond Harsh
• Ashley Harmon
• Theresa Cantu
• Tyler Heath
• Rafael Aldana Zayas

Join Our School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)

Are you interested in supporting the health and wellness of scholars at Austin Achieve Public Schools (AAPS) through an AAPS SHAC position?
Austin Achieve is a tuition-free, open-enrollment public charter school preparing Austin youth to attend and excel at top universities. To ensure our scholars have the physical and mental wellness necessary to reach their highest academic potential, we maintain a School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)

Apply HERE

Your Role and Impact

As an advisory body to the Board of Trustees, the SHAC provides essential guidance on health education curriculum and school environment policies. Your involvement will directly impact mandated focus areas, including:

• Mental Health: Suicide prevention and mental wellness strategies.
• Physical Health: Obesity prevention and physical activity planning through our standing subcommittee.
• Safety & Prevention: Programs addressing opioid abuse, human sexuality education, and violence prevention.
• If you're interested in joining the AAPS School Health Advisory Council, please submit your application here.