The Department of Access and Opportunity presents February’s installment of Your Voice, Your Story, a series highlighting diversity and the many unique cultures within our community.
In honor of Black History Month, we spoke with Allison Thomas, an educational assistant at Stony Point High School and the sponsor of the Black Student Alliance.
Thomas spent her early years in San Angelo, Texas, attending a predominantly Black school where she felt at home. However, she said this feeling didn’t always extend outside her school walls.
“When we’d gather with other schools for events, we immediately felt unwelcome. You could feel the negativity,” she said.
Despite these challenges, Thomas said, she was taught to rise above.
“We were told to stay strong, to ignore the words… But it didn’t feel good,” she said.
These experiences ignited her desire to create spaces where future generations of students would feel valued and supported.
Thomas’ father was one of the first Black principals in West Texas, and her mother was one of the area’s first Black music teachers.
“Being a professional Black family in the ’70s wasn’t always welcomed, but our parents always stressed the importance of education. There were no questions about it,” she said.
Thomas attended Fisk University—an HBCU, or historically Black college, in Nashville—and later Huston-Tillotson University, in Austin, from which five generations of her family have graduated.
Although Thomas said she initially tried to avoid the classroom, she eventually returned to education. Today, she continues her family’s commitment to learning by guiding Stony Point High School students.
That’s where Thomas sponsors the Black Student Alliance, a group focused on community engagement and empowerment.
“We get students involved in volunteering and community service. It’s not just about earning hours—it’s about a true desire to help,” she said.
For Thomas, Black History Month and the BSA are ways to honor and showcase the contributions of Black people to the Round Rock ISD community and Stony Point.
“It’s a chance to explain our culture, share our accomplishments, and ensure we aren’t forgotten,” she said.
Thomas says her work with the BSA is a key part of this mission. The BSA participates in educational events, including university trips to HBCUs and other local educational days.
“My legacy will be the BSA. I’m proud of the work we’re doing,” she said. “Our students are top in their grades and eager to attend any educational function we organize. We also host the Black History Month program, which our whole school community looks forward to. It’s not just for Black students; it’s for everyone.”
