Administrators and district leadership at Bastrop ISD are stepping out from behind their desks and into the classroom this school year as part of a new districtwide initiative aimed at strengthening connections with campus staff and students.
The overview
Launched at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year, the “All In for BISD” program requires all Bastrop ISD Service Center employees to substitute in a classroom for at least one full day. According to Executive Director for Communications Evan Moilan, about 70 staff members are participating in the initiative.
The goal of the initiative is to support the district campuses, gain a better understanding of students and staff and strengthen the connection between administration and the schools, he said.
Moilan said while financial savings are not the intent of the initiative, each day a Service Center staff member serves as a substitute saves the district between $105 and $125— the cost of hiring a substitute teacher. Consequently, the total monetary savings will be minimal, he said.
How it started
The Bastrop ISD Board of Trustees introduced the Priority 5 action plan at the beginning of the school year. With the central idea of “their future is our focus,” Moilan said, the district created five essential areas to focus on:
District of choice
Student achievement
Exceptional people
Financial stewardship
Organizational excellence
The “All In” days support the exceptional people, student achievement and organizational excellence points of the Priority 5 initiative, he said.
“The best way to live out that commitment is to spend time on a campus [by] working alongside our educators and staff, experiencing the school day firsthand and stepping in when our campuses need us,” Moilan said.
How it’s going
The district is in the early stages of the initiative, Moilan said, with six staff members completing their “All In” day, including Superintendent Kristi Lee, who filled in at Bastrop High School.
"My ‘aha’ moment: always be ready for the unknown; students are hungry for genuine conversation and to know you are listening, even teenagers," a Service Center employee said in a survey after completing their “All In” day.
