The American Heart Association (AHA) presented a CPR in Schools Training Kit donation to the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District at the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees on July 24, 2025. Each kit contains ten CPR mannequins and tools to teach Hands-Only CPR to students, staff and families.
The kits, valued at a total of $7,250, are intended to promote heart health education and to help empower students and staff with life-saving skills as well as foster a culture of wellness and empathy across the district. Flexible program options will be tailored to each campus.
“Everybody should be able to do a CPR demo, and everybody should be able to be comfortable responding to cardiac emergencies,” said Theresa Speiss, Executive Director of the greater San Antonio-area AHA when addressing the Trustees and Superintendent of Schools Paige Meloni. “Thank you for accepting it. And thank you to the Methodist Healthcare Ministries for sponsoring it.”
Samantha Fewell-Nuñez, VP of School Engagement for the AHA, echoed Speiss and emphasized the importance of early education in emergency responses. “These are the tools that can help us equip these kids, and even kindergarten students can be a part of the lifesaving process,” she said. They can call 911 and be a part of helping with the (compression) count.”
The AHA is planning to expand student participation in the Kids Heart Challenge, and shift its educational focus toward a service-learning initiative rather than fundraising. Through this partnership with the American Heart Association SCUC is cultivating a healthier, more resilient community, empowered to respond when it matters most.