Klein ISD Board Trustee Dustin Creager spoke at a national conference about seat belt safety, carrying the mission of a foundation born from a Klein Collins High School student's death to a wider audience just days before the district's Wednesday, Aug. 12 first day of school.

Creager traveled to the conference on behalf of the Kailee Mills Foundation, where he serves as a board member, according to a Klein ISD announcement published Monday, Aug. 3. He advocated for policy changes in states that lack primary seat belt enforcement laws.

The foundation was created after 16-year-old Klein Collins student Kailee Mills died in a 2017 car crash. Kailee had briefly removed her seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle.

"As a firefighter and as someone who truly cares about saving lives, advocating for seat belt safety laws is a no-brainer for me," Creager said in the district's announcement. "Kailee's story is just one of thousands across our country where a three-second seat belt check can make all the difference between life and death."

Creager also serves as a member of the Klein Fire Department, giving him firsthand experience with crash aftermath.

Primary vs. secondary enforcement

Under a primary enforcement law, an officer can stop and cite a driver solely for a seat belt violation. In states with secondary enforcement, an officer must first pull a vehicle over for another reason before issuing a seat belt citation.

The difference shows up in the numbers. States with primary seat belt laws have recorded use rates above 92%, compared with about 83% in states without primary enforcement, according to My Neighborhood News citing NHTSA data. Nationally, seat belt use reached 91.3% in 2025.

Creager and the foundation are working with NHTSA to potentially position the Kailee Mills Foundation as the national organization for seat belt awareness, expanding beyond its current Texas-based work.

Local connections for Klein families

The Spring-based Kailee Mills Foundation runs school assemblies, seat belt checks and awareness campaigns. It has awarded more than $106,000 in scholarships to students who research seat belt safety and lead awareness efforts in their schools.

A National Seat Belt Day Billboard Art Contest is accepting entries through Sept. 30 for ages 14–22, with a $1,000 scholarship sponsored by Amazon Billboards.

Klein ISD Superintendent Dr. Jenny McGown praised Creager's work, saying he "consistently shows up for kids and Klein every day in various capacities" and "truly makes the effort to protect and champion not only our students but our entire Klein community."

The foundation's Monte Carlo Buckle Up Gala is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24, at The Citadel, 2130 Kirby Drive in Houston.