By Edmond Ortiz
This edition of News Briefs features the introduction of a trained counseling dog helping students at an Alamo Heights school, and the approval of key leaders for an upcoming San Antonio International Airport project.
Also, local residents recently applied their creative skills toward a mural project at a Tobin Hill neighborhood hospital.
Four-legged school counselor’s aid arrives in AHISD
The Alamo Heights Independent School District kicked off a new academic year by introducing Scout, an animal-assisted counseling dog based at Alamo Heights Junior School.
Scout, a 2-year-old Bernadoodle, is partnered with counselor Lisa Taggart, according to AHISD officials.
Scout joining the school staff is part of the Canines for Kindness initiative, which is funded by the Kellyanne Elizabeth Lytal Memorial Foundation.
In an AHISD video about Scout’s introduction, Taggert said a trained therapy dog on campus helps to calm students and give them a chance to better focus on their school work.
“The presence of a dog in schools makes kids feel at home,” Taggert said. “Animal-assisted counseling is goal-driven. It’s not just having a dog in the office. It’s very much driven by theories – cognitive-based theory, person-centered theory, narrative theory – it’s all based in counseling theory.”
The foundation was started by the family of the late Kellyanne Lytal, an Alamo Heights resident who was one of 25 campers who died at Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, in the July 2025 floods. She was 8 years old.
In the AHISD video, Wade Lytal said the initiative was sentimental for him and his family.
“It was another opportunity for us to remember (Kellyanne) and think about her,” he added.
Lyndi Ludwick, an AHJS seventh-grader and Kellyanne Lytal’s cousin, is also featured in the AHISD video about Scout. She said the canine’s presence helped to make her feel more comfortable in going about her school-related activities.
“It’s a beautiful thing to see Kellyanne’s legacy, what we continue to do in her name and bring joy and happiness,” said Malorie Lytal, Kellyanne’s mother.
Malorie Lytal said Kellyanne kept asking for a pet dog.
“Now, this was a way to get her a dog in Heaven because she deserved to have a dog, so I’m happy to do this for her and for the school district,” she added.
Earlier this year, the city of Alamo Heights honored Kellyanne Lytal by opening a public park, Kellyanne Park, in her memory.
Residents help to create new art works for Tobin Hill hospital
Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan recently hosted a series of events where attendees contributed to the creation of three large-scale murals, which will be installed on the exterior of the Tobin Hill hospital’s new 969-stall parking garage that is due to open this fall.
Local artists Sandra Gonzalez and Malachy McKinney, both of whom are tasked with developing the murals, led the events, where residents, hospital staff and local leaders helped to create artwork that reflect the themes of healing, compassion and light, according to a press release.
Two painting events took place at the Harvey E. Najim Family YMCA and D.R. Semmes Family YMCA at TriPoint. A third painting event was held at Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan.
“It’s incredibly powerful to see so many hands come together to create what will become a lasting part of our campus,” Greg Seiler, Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan CEO, said in a statement.
“Whether someone is arriving at our hospital to welcome a new baby, visit a loved one or receive care themselves, these murals will soon be among the first things they see. We hope they bring a sense of light, peace and healing, made even more meaningful knowing they were created with the help of the very people who call this community home.”
Known for developing large-scale public art projects across Texas, Gonzalez and McKinney typically invite community members to take part in their creative processes.
“It feels good to know that I’m going to be part of something that’s going to be lasting,” Jason Garcia, a registered nurse in the hospital’s emergency department, said in a statement. “Every day coming into work, I know I’m already part of a team, but to know that all specialties are coming together to do this, to make it for the hospital…I’m going to drive up and think, wow, I was part of the team that did that.”
The new parking garage to be adorned with the murals are part of Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan’s larger $200 million improvement project, which includes operating room renovations and a planned vertical expansion that will bring 58 more patient beds to help the near-downtown facility.
Joint venture to oversee airport terminal project
San Antonio City Council voted Aug. 20 to approve a construction manager at-risk agreement with two construction firms, which will both supervise the reconfiguration and rehabilitation of Terminals A and B at the San Antonio International Airport.
A joint venture of Manhattan – Joeris scored the highest among three candidates who were fully evaluated by city staff for the $220 million project, which will involve modernization of Terminal A, upgrade Terminal B, and align both older terminals with the newer Terminal C.
These initiatives are part of a larger, multi-year effort to update and enhance the airport in order to meet the evolving needs of passengers, and help the North Side facility to better compete with other major metropolitan airports.
The Terminal A/B project will be funded by the city’s airport revenue bonds and some monies identified within the city’s capital budget.
Manhattan – Joeris joint ventures previously worked on other projects, including improvements at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
