As part of our ongoing commitment to support students for their future careers, Leander ISD coordinates and connects students to local COOL Day opportunities. These collective opportunities, available the first two weeks of March, can be viewed on the COOL Days 2026 page. Students, follow the process outlined below to participate and review the opportunities available as businesses/organizations register.
Student + Parent/Guardian: Complete the Parent/Guardian permission form and have digital file ready to upload to interest form.
Student: Complete the COOL Day Student Interest Form to identify your area of interest and upload your signed Parent/Guardian permission form.
Priority Deadline: January 15, 2026; interest forms completed after this date will be considered as placements are available
Final Deadline: February 20, 2026
Student: Check out the COOL Day 2026 opportunities and note your interest in specific experiences (optional, but super helpful!).
COOL Days Committee: Review student interest forms and match students to aligned COOL Day opportunities, as available.
COOL Days Committee: Send confirmation email to students who are matched with COOL Day details.
Student: Review COOL Day details thoroughly. If student determines it's not a good match or availability has changed, reply via email ASAP to ensure the opportunity can be made available to another student. Meanwhile, the COOL Day Committee will be reaching out to the business partner/agency notifying them of which student(s) to expect.
Student: Plan to attend your COOL Day and the Know-Before-You-Go in-person meeting held at your high school campus.
Student: Go on your COOL Day! Be sure to get your Career Investigation Absence Form signed while you're there.
Student: Turn in your signed Career Investigation Absence Form to your campus Attendance Office upon your return to school.
What are the specific opportunities available and with what businesses?
The confirmed experiences are posted on the COOL Days Opportunities page. Take some time to filter or search for experiences, review the descriptions, and express your interest in being considered!
Can I go find my own opportunity?
Absolutely! You can follow the steps outlined on the COOL Days home page to set up and use one of your allotted COOL Days anytime!
What if I have my own contact for a COOL Day?
Follow the steps outlined on the COOL Days home page to set up and use one of your allotted COOL Days anytime! Of course we'd love to include your contact for future opportunities, and encourage you to share their information with a COOL Days Committee member so that we might reach out for further student experiences.
What if I want to use a COOL Day, but not in March 2026?
Our COOL Days Committee is working to curate opportunities only for March 2-13, 2026. However, you are welcome to follow the steps outlined on the COOL Days home page to set up and use one of your allotted COOL Days anytime!
How many COOL Days can I use?
The COOL Days Committee will be working to spread the opportunities out to as many students as possible, so through our LISD-Supported initiative, you only have the possibility of being matched to one COOL Day partner. However, you are welcome to follow the steps outlined on the COOL Days home page to set up and use one of your allotted COOL Days anytime! Students are allowed to use 2 COOL Days in their junior year and 2 in their senior year as excused absences.
What if I complete the COOL Day Student Interest Form and later realize my availability has changed or I can't participate?
We understand plans change. If your availability has changed, you can go back to the interest form and edit that information. If you've already been matched to an opportunity but are unable to follow through, reach out to your campus COOL Day Committee member to let them know as soon as possible so that the opportunity might be made available to another student.
Am I responsible for my own transportation?
Most opportunities will require students to arrange their own transportation as (drive self, parent drop-off/pick-up, carpool, etc.).
Is this considered an excused absence?
Yes, as juniors and seniors are allowed to use two days each school year for the purpose of investigating careers. Students must turn in the Career Investigation Absence Form to their campus Attendance office to ensure proper documentation. Students are responsible for missed academic coursework.
If you have additional questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to a COOL Day Committee member!
Assistant Director, CTE Work-Based Learning & Partnerships, Sarah Spradling - sarah.spradling@leanderisd.org
College & Career Transition Coordinators:
Leander High School, Megan Wolske - megan.wolske@leanderisd.org
Cedar Park High School, Chriss Hexter - chriss.hexter@leanderisd.org
Vista Ridge High School, Holly Lamb - holly.lamb@leanderisd.org
Rouse High School, Christina Wallace - christina.wallace@leanderisd.org
Vandegrift High School, Katie Kendall - katie.kendall@leanderisd.org
Glenn High School, Anne Kennedy - anne.kennedy@leanderisd.org
