Dr. Jay Miller doesn't charge a dime for the hours he spends talking with students at Wylie High School.

Miller, a volunteer chaplain at the school, works with students dealing with anxiety, depression and other struggles, according to a profile published Monday, Sept. 14, in The Paw Print, the school's student newspaper. He is one of four chaplains now serving five campuses across Wylie ISD, according to the district's website.

He volunteers the time. No salary, no stipend.

Miller told The Paw Print he loves the work because he gets to talk with people and help those who are struggling. His advice to students who want to support their peers is straightforward.

"The best thing you can do for someone struggling is just listen, you don't have to have the answers," Miller said.

The chaplain program operates under Texas Senate Bill 763, enacted in September 2023. The law allows school districts to employ or accept volunteer chaplains to provide student support services. Chaplains are not required to hold state educator certifications but must pass criminal background checks.

SB 763 also permits chaplains to perform duties typically handled by school counselors, including mental health support. Districts may fund chaplain positions through the state's School Safety Allotment, a funding stream earmarked for campus safety and student well-being programs.

Miller works with both students and teachers at Wylie High, which sits at 2550 West FM 544 and serves about 3,189 students in grades 9 through 12. The broader district enrolls nearly 20,000 students across 21 campuses in southern Collin County, roughly 24 miles northeast of Dallas.

The Paw Print profile, written by student reporter Adelaide Sturgill, placed Miller's role in the context of a wider teen mental health challenge, noting that the World Health Organization estimates one in seven young people ages 10 to 19 worldwide experiences a mental disorder.

Miller is available to any Wylie High student who wants to talk. The school's main office can be reached at (972) 429-3100.