schools
Hunt ISD establishes new awards to honor children lost in deadly July 4 floods
By Patty Santos, Santiago Esparza at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) — San Antonio
· July 2, 2026
· 3 min read
One of the region’s top academically performing school districts sits in the heart of the Hill Country flood recovery zone: the Hunt Independent School District.Students returned to class just weeks after the devastating July 4, 2025, flood that killed 119 people in Kerr County, including two chi...
Key takeaway Students returned to class just weeks after the devastating July 4, 2025, flood that killed 119 people in Kerr County, including two children who would have been students in the district, incoming Hunt ISD Superintendent Sarah Nichols said.
Why this matters in Terrell Hills News
The Hunt Independent School District's establishment of new awards to honor Renee Smajstrla and Lyle Zunker, the two children lost in the July 4 floods, is a poignant reminder of the community's resilience and commitment to its young people. As the district moves forward, it will be important to watch how these awards are integrated into the school's culture and how they impact the students who receive them. The fact that the community came together to support the district in the aftermath of the flood, with families and neighbors organizing special events and educators-in-training from Schreiner University lending a hand, suggests that the awards will be a meaningful way to keep the memories of Renee and Lyle alive. The district's approach to prioritizing students' well-being and taking care of the whole child will likely continue to be an essential part of its response to trauma and hardship.
About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) — San Antonio . Terrell Hills News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) — San Antonio . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: schools ·
Published: July 2, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) — San Antonio ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? One of the region’s top academically performing school districts sits in the heart of the Hill Country flood recovery zone: the Hunt Independent School District.Students returned to class just weeks after the devastating July 4, 2025, flood that killed 119 people in Kerr County, including two chi...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 2, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) — San Antonio and curated for Terrell Hills News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Patty Santos, Santiago Esparza at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) — San Antonio. To learn more about how Terrell Hills News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more schools coverage from Terrell Hills News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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