Retired elementary school principal finds her new calling as a CASA volunteer

CASA Volunteer Rene Shaw

Rene Saner spent three decades as an elementary school principal and teacher.

“My heart went out to students who were at risk,” she said of her time in education. “I looked for ways to make their life better at school.”

Now in retirement, Rene has found another way to help children — as a CASA volunteer.

Rene went through CASA volunteer training in the fall of 2022 and has advocated for two abused or neglected children since being sworn in nine months ago. Now, because of her amazing work, she is a CASA Volunteer of the Month for June.

“Rene has said she feels being a CASA advocate is what she was always meant to do,” said Kealy Griffin, Rene’s Volunteer Manager. “It is obvious that Rene was truly meant to be a CASA in how she has gone above and beyond to make that her CASA kids have the opportunity to thrive in safe and loving homes.”

Rene said she first saw the positive change that CASA volunteers can create when she was a principal and CASA volunteers would visit children at school.

“These kids were having a very difficult time and their CASA volunteers helped them to settle down and do better in school,” she said. “I went home and told my husband that I wanted to be a CASA volunteer when I retired.”

Rene said she thinks every child deserves to feel safe and loved.

“When I first see a child after they have moved and changed placements, it melts my heart when their face lights up and they come running up to me for a big hug,” she said. “Then I know that I am making a difference in their life.”

Rene’s duties include visiting her CASA child every month, gathering information about their life and providing recommendations focused on what would be in the child’s best interest. Children who receive a CASA volunteer do better in school, get moved around less frequently and rarely re-enter the foster system after their cases close.

“Being a CASA volunteer gives me the opportunity to become a servant for kids who need it the most,” Rene said. “If you have a heart for kids and want to see every child have a leg up in life, being a CASA volunteer is for you!”