LBJ students call for student ‘Zen rooms’; district outlines telehealth, counselors and summer outreach

Students from Lyndon B. Johnson High School presented a student‑led mental‑health awareness project at a United Independent School District workshop and urged the board and district staff to pilot student “Zen rooms,” longer lunch periods and screen‑free days to reduce stress for pupils.

The district’s director of guidance and counseling, Melissa Ramirez, told the board the district already provides several supports, including a telehealth program that offers four 60‑minute sessions free to qualifying students through a memorandum of understanding with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, licensed professional counselors on campuses and partnerships with outside agencies. "We also have 4 LPCs," Ramirez said, describing the staffing model that supports campus counseling services.

The students said their project aimed to make mental‑health outreach more visible and age‑appropriate. "We purposely chose an ’80s theme to grab attention," said Pavlos, an LBJ student presenter, referring to the group’s awareness video. The student presenters reported survey results they collected: out of about 100 student responses, more than half described a negative emotion (especially anxiety) and nearly half selected more breaks or less homework as a top solution.

Student presenters proposed starting Zen rooms at smaller campuses and ninth‑grade centers before expanding districtwide. "USD main campuses typically enroll over 2,400 students in comparison to the ninth grade campus, which averages about 800 students, which is where we would start," a student presenter said. Students also proposed that access to Zen rooms be by staff recommendation and limited to non‑instructional times such as lunch or office hours to avoid removing class time.

Board members and district staff discussed next steps during the workshop. Ramirez said district counselors already provide classroom mindfulness, social‑emotional presentations and a mental‑health calendar to employees; she also said the district plans a landing page of resources this summer and an empowerment event open to families and students. Ramirez invited board members to the district and courthouse events described by partners: "We will send you a calendar of events, and I welcome you to come to the courthouse and to see what we are doing with the students," she said of a civic program collaborating with the district.

District staff listed additional programs: a screening and referral process for telehealth access through campus counselors, an arts‑based YART program piloted in select third‑grade classrooms, monthly faculty trainings and partnerships with regional agencies including AHEC, WestCare and the Mexican consulate for targeted supports. Ramirez said the district is planning a landing page and additional summer work to centralize resources for students and parents.

The students’ presentation and the district’s overview were informational; the board did not vote on policy or funding at the workshop. District staff said they will continue piloting practices and report back to the board on outcomes and implementation planning.