“A lot of them had believed that nobody would write them a note, and to see that their peers had written something for them had, quite literally, lit up their faces with joy,” Nguyen said.
This is one of the missions of the Hope Squad, a mental health support program that allows students in all three Tomball ISD high schools to become trained peer supporters.
In a nutshell
Hope Squad was created in 2024 amid a growing need to address mental health concerns in youth, according to a November 2024 news release about the squad.
Now, for the 2025-26 school year, the group is expanding to junior high campuses so it can reach students earlier.
“We know that the middle school years can be especially tough—emotionally, socially, developmentally—and if we can help students at that age build the skills to support one another and talk about mental health, it sets a foundation that can carry them through high school and beyond,” Director of School Counseling Steve Shiels said.
About the program
Shiels, who oversees Hope Squad districtwide, said the peer-nominated group of students is trained to recognize signs of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation in their peers.
“Their job isn’t to solve those problems, but to be a bridge—someone a student can turn to who will listen, show care and help connect them to a trusted adult,” Shiels said.
Throughout the last year, Hope Squad hosted a mental health awareness week, stress relief activities and passed out kind notes to their peers, Shiels said.
What they're saying
- “It’s helped create a ripple effect of kindness and awareness across campuses. We’re seeing a cultural shift where it’s more normal to talk about emotions and to ask, ‘Are you okay?’—and that’s powerful," Shiels said.
- “It’s more than just a program—it’s a reflection of our belief that every student deserves to feel seen, supported, and never alone," TISD Superintendent Martha Salazar-Zamora said.
Shiels said they plan to expand Hope Squad to all intermediate campuses over the next two to three years.
“Sadly, we’re seeing more and more fifth and sixth graders experiencing mental health struggles, including suicidal ideation. That’s a reality we can’t ignore,” Shiels said.
Nguyen said one of the big changes that will happen this year will be the formation of a cross-school committee of Hope Squad members to discuss and plan even bigger projects.
“I hope that with this, we can further help to challenge the issue of youth suicide and improve our peer-to-peer manner of reaching out to those in need,” Nguyen said.
