IMPACT Fall 2022: Our Core Values

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Letter from the CEO & Superintendent In Memory of Al Lopez

Organizational Update

Thank You, Team & Family!

IDEA's Core Values

Always Do the Right Thing

Yaire Cisneros Tovar: Great Expectations

Strong Roots, New Beginnings in the Queen City

The Solidarity Initiative

How Louise and Mike Burke Help IDEA Scholars "Bee All They Can Bee"

Good Times, Great Learning in Southern Louisiana

Next Order, Please! IDEA's Rise and Thrive Cafe

EN ESPAÑOL

Para leer la edición de IMPACT en español, favor de revisar la contraportada de esta revista.

IMPACT | CONTRIBUTORS

CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Marco Carbajal

Matthew Dougherty

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Candice Burns

COPYWRITERS

Marco Carbajal Matthew Dougherty

Salinas

COPYEDITORS

Grace Allen Marco Carbajal Matthew Dougherty Sharise Johnson Massie Ritsch

TRANSLATOR

Melissa Aguilar

CREATIVE DIRECTION & DESIGN

Vicky Charleston

Andres Llanas

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Johnny Quiroz

Jorge Jayme | JC Video Productions Leo Reyes Marshall Tidrick | SWNG Productions

Stacey Matthews

COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?

Email communications@ideapublicschools.org

IMPACT is produced for IDEA students, families, employees, and supporters by the Marketing, Communications and Creative Services team at IDEA Public Schools.

CONTENTS © 2022 BY

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

RIGHTS RESERVED.

LETTER FROM THE CEO & SUPERINTENDENT

Dear IDEA Team, Family, and Friends,

The stories and perspectives that make up this issue of IMPACT open a window into the remarkable community of IDEA Public Schools. Your intersection with IDEA comes with unique stories and experiences, and how you engage with IDEA is different from how other readers of IMPACT engage.

So, what do we all have in common?

What has allowed a small afterschool program in South Texas to grow into a network of over 143 schools across four states?

What holds together a staff of more than 10,000 people and a school district that extends across three time zones?

What is the connective tissue within a community that spans a diversity of language, religion, national origin, race and ethnicity, socioeconomics, personal beliefs, gender and sexuality, abilities and educational background?

The answer: IDEA’s core values.

In this issue of IMPACT, you will read how the set of values IDEA most recently adopted in 2021 play out in our schools, workplaces and community. Here are IDEA’s core values:

COLLIN SEWELL Acting Chief Executive Officer IDEA Public Schools

• We act with integrity.

• We achieve academic excellence.

• We deliver results.

• We ensure equity.

• We build Team & Family.

• We bring joy.

• We sweat the small stuff.

We are all united by IDEA’s mission of sending every child to college, but what unifies our work and actions toward that goal are IDEA’s core values. As IDEA continues to grow, so grows the importance of staying grounded in these principles.

DR. JEFF COTTRILL Superintendent IDEA Public Schools

In this magazine, you will meet individuals who embody these values and seek to model them in their lives and work: a student who finds joy in writing, philanthropists who care for other children’s success like their own kids’, a mother with high expectations for her child’s school, a community leader advocating for educational excellence in her city, a team of educators committed to expanding opportunities for young people of all abilities, and inspiring IDEA students and graduates who are pursuing their dreams of a college diploma. We are grateful to all of them for sharing their stories — and to you for being part of the IDEA community.

With great appreciation,

COLLIN SEWELL AND DR. JEFF COTTRILL

LETTER

IN MEMORY OF AL LOPEZ

This issue of IMPACT is dedicated to Al Lopez. A father, husband, mentor, community servant and transformational leader. Al led IDEA Public Schools as Board Chair, Acting

Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with courage, vision and an unwavering commitment to the IDEA mission of College for All. Al passed away in February, but his warmth, humor, wisdom, and humble service will never be forgotten.

ORGANIZATIONAL UPDATE

We’ve missed you, reader! Check out some recent highlights happening across IDEA Public Schools.

This June, we welcomed Dr. Jeff Cottrill as Superintendent of IDEA Public Schools. Before joining the IDEA Team & Family, Jeff was a senior leader at the Texas Education Agency since 2017 and most recently served as Deputy Commissioner for Governance and Accountability.

Cottrill’s portfolio at the Texas Education Agency has involved him in the management of Texas school districts and charter schools large and small, urban, suburban and rural, including Houston ISD, Beaumont

ISD, Midland ISD, and several districts in the San Antonio and Dallas areas. As a district superintendent, he significantly increased enrollment through open enrollment and school choice, and consistently led high student achievement, earning A grades from TEA. Cottrill was twice honored as the greater San Antonio region’s superintendent of the year.

Congratulations to the following IDEA Team & Family members who were named to chief-level positions over the last year! We are so proud that these individuals are leading various teams across the network:

For the fourteenth consecutive year, IDEA was represented in the annual list of rankings by the esteemed publication that measures performance on state proficiency tests, participation in and performance on challenging college-level coursework, and other data, such as graduation rates, for nearly 18,000 high schools.

DR. JEFF COTTRILL NAMED IDEA SUPERINTENDENT

NEW IDEA LEADERSHIP ANNOUNCED

Layne Fisher, Chief Operating Officer

(Pictured from left to right)

Dr. Jeff Cottrill, Superintendent Leanne Hernandez, Chief Financial Officer Cody Grindle, Chief Information Officer Jessica Hess, Sr. Chief of Staff & Administrative Officer

15 IDEA HIGH SCHOOLS RANK AMONG BEST IN THE NATION IN U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

This spring, after a two-year hiatus,

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IDEA'S CORE VALUES

We put the best interests of the IDEA Team & Family— and most importantly our students—at the forefront of all our decisions and actions, taking personal responsibility to model the honest and ethical behavior we want our students and each other to demonstrate every day.

We believe ensuring college success for 100% of our students is the best way to help them succeed in life and in seeing obstacles they face as opportunities for learning and growth. Every member of the IDEA Team & Family works together to ensure each student on every campus and in every classroom receives a high-quality education.

We set ambitious goals, hold ourselves and each other accountable for achieving results, and believe that our students will succeed to and through college. Our results show what’s possible when the adults in the system get it right and represent the collective effort and focus of the entire IDEA Team & Family.

We set high expectations and share compassion and empathy for every member of the IDEA Team & Family. We differentiate our support and resources, proactively address racism and discrimination, and advocate alongside our students and staff to empower them with the opportunities to succeed and ensure the respect they deserve.

We foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity by treating every member of the IDEA Team & Family—our students, staff, families, and community—with compassion, respect, and humility. We maximize our individual best efforts through collaboration and support of each other in the focused pursuit of our collective mission.

We create a positive, uplifting, and joyful environment for every member of the IDEA Team & Family, every single day. We operate with a sense of optimism, and our traditions celebrate learning, growth, and the accomplishments of our students, staff, and community.

We embrace that achieving excellence lies in paying attention to and carrying out the details—the ‘small stuff’—that go into effective execution and positive implementation. Every step of the way, the IDEA Team & Family prioritizes actions contributing to our mission of College for All.

Alexiel Velez, a student at IDEA Hope in Tampa Bay, Florida, believes doing the right thing is the key to success.

ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING

We Act with Integrity: We put the best interests of the IDEA Team & Family — and most importantly our students — at the forefront of all our decisions and actions, taking personal responsibility to model the honest and ethical behavior we want everyone, including our students, to demonstrate every day.

ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING

PARENTS AND EDUCATORS spend the better part of their lives teaching children how to be good people. “Be honest,” “Be responsible,” “Do the right thing,” are mentioned seemingly on repeat as the years go by.

Long before children understand how challenging and complex life can be, they have a simple understanding of right and wrong. It is no secret that for great students to become great adults, they must learn the importance of integrity.

Natasha Claudio, whose son Alexiel Velez attends IDEA Hope in Tampa, Florida, like many parents, chose IDEA because of its rigorous academics and focus on the whole child.

“I was born in Puerto Rico and left when I was 19 years old to come to America,” she said. “I had a good education, but not as good as my son’s. I want him to have more opportunities than I did.” Claudio, who earned a diploma as a medical assistant in Puerto Rico, is unable to work in the medical field in the U.S. because she cannot speak English. However, she is slowly learning the language with the help of young Alexiel.

“My mother always helps me, so I want to help her,” said Alexiel. Like all IDEA students, Alexiel is learning about the importance of having integrity and why it is essential for success. Integrity means doing the right thing even when it’s hard or if no one would know otherwise. In life, many people will only do the right thing when they feel someone else may be watching. These instances of following the rules are insincere and motivated by fear of the consequences. True integrity is abiding by the rules because it is the right thing to do.

Integrity means doing the right thing even when it’s hard or if no one would know otherwise.

school. In fact, it was so bad at his previous school that she became worried about his safety and mental health.

“His attitude and behavior have changed one hundred percent,” Claudio said. “He came from a school where he was doing well academically, but unfortunately, was bullied constantly. At IDEA, he is more than fine. The principal encourages him to keep reading and students with good behavior and discipline are more motivated to succeed.”

Integrity plays a crucial role when it comes to classwork. Students who learn to model integrity are more likely to make ethical decisions, think critically, ask questions, and follow instructions even in challenging situations.

In research published in the International Journal of Academic Integrity in 2020, Jean Gabriel GuerreroDib, Luis Portales, and Yolanda Heredia-Escorza state, “Academic integrity is much more than avoiding dishonest practices such as copying during exams, plagiarizing or contract cheating; it implies an engagement with learning and work which is well done, complete, and focused on a good purpose – learning.”

It means the world to Claudio to watch her son enjoy himself at school while achieving good grades and learning how to become a responsible adult.

Our core value that highlights integrity is about taking the time to do what is right. This includes learning and following the rules, holding ourselves accountable, and treating one other, ourselves, and our school with kindness and respect.

Claudio said her son was once the victim of bullying in

“I like IDEA,” she said happily. “IDEA’s focus on the whole child is important to me because I want him to accomplish anything he wants by making good grades and becoming a good citizen. I am very happy, and one hundred percent recommend IDEA to any parent.”

Students at IDEA learn about the importance of integrity when it comes to learning and growing.

YAIRE CISNEROS TOVAR: GREAT EXPECTATIONS

We Achieve Academic Excellence: We believe ensuring college success for 100% of our students is the best way to help them succeed in life and see obstacles they face as opportunities for learning and growth. Every member of the IDEA Team & Family works together to ensure every student on every campus in every classroom receives a high-quality education.

Yaire Cisneros Tovar poses with Caprice Howard, Director of College Counseling, at IDEA Rundberg in Austin.

ON A COOL SPRING MORNING LAST APRIL , Yaire Cisneros Tovar joined her classmates at the Palmer Events Center in Austin for one of IDEA’s most iconic celebrations: College Signing Day.

Tovar was grateful to be returning to an in-person celebration after two years of virtual events due to the pandemic. She recalled her excitement and joy when she proudly displayed a Kalamazoo College banner over her head as the crowd cheered.

“At College Signing Day, I sensed the emotion coming from them,” she said. “It was just one of those moments when you felt like all those years of sacrifice and hard work paid off.”

The event fulfills IDEA’s promise to all families: if your child graduates from IDEA, they will go to college. Even still, every senior’s journey to this moment is unique.

Tovar was born and raised in the St. Johns neighborhood in north Austin and said she is proud of how her upbringing shaped the woman she is today.

“I am the daughter of immigrants born in Mexico, and I hold that identity near and dear to my heart because it

gave me strength and the mindset to always work hard,” she said.

Both of her parents experienced loss at an early age and stopped their education in middle school to help support their families before they met and married. They moved to the United States in the 1990s, where her mother found work cleaning houses and her father worked in a factory. They searched for a school with strong academics that would give their two young daughters more opportunity. That’s when a family friend recommended IDEA.

“IDEA Rundberg was a new school not far from where we live, and my parents liked that the school had high standards for all students,” Tovar said. “I was a founding class member in sixth grade, and the college preparation was immediate. We went on college field lessons, and everyone took AP courses. I felt like those classes would prepare me for college, and I was getting a sense of what college would be like.”

Tovar said that while IDEA does its best to prepare every student for success, there are times when the rigor can be particularly difficult to navigate. Still, Rundberg’s teachers and staff made a difference in motivating her to push through any academic obstacles.

“AP Calculus was challenging for me. I am not the greatest mathematician, but my teacher, Mr. Badillo, made it a point to use different teaching styles for us to be successful. He made us try our best, and that’s what matters,” she said.

In addition to her studies, Tovar experienced challenges at home when her father was diagnosed with kidney failure and unable to work. The family also learned that Tovar herself had a genetic condition called autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), which affects 1 in every 400 to 1,000 people and is the most common kidney disorder passed down through family members.

“When my father was diagnosed, it upset me, and I missed a couple of assignments, and then I was diagnosed with my kidney problems, but I still managed to pick my grades up once I was in a better place,” she explained. “I used my family as motivation. My dad didn’t let his condition limit him, and he inspired me not to let anything get in the way of what I want.”

...the greatest lesson they can learn is that sacrifice is always worth the reward.

YAIRE CISNEROS TOVAR: GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Tovar, a 2022 Dell Scholar and graduate of IDEA Rundberg, is now a student at Kalamazoo College tin Michigan.

Many staff members on campus made a difference in Tovar’s academic journey, but none more than her counselor, Caprice Howard.

“Before I met Ms. Howard, I was shy and not considering going to college anywhere other than here in Austin,” Tovar recalled. “But the more I met with her, the more I realized my full potential. She encouraged me to come out of my shell and helped give me the confidence to run for student government and explore colleges out of state.”

“Now I am class president and was accepted to Kalamazoo College in Michigan. Ms. Howard helped me realize how much I have going for me and who I am becoming as a person,” she added.

As an added blessing, Tovar is among 500 students nationwide to be named 2022 Dell Scholars and will receive a $20,000 scholarship, textbook credits, a laptop, and access to a support network of students, Dell staff, and peer mentors. The Dell Scholars program is a college completion program for high-performing students needing financial assistance. It is an initiative of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, established in 1999.

“I applied on the last day before the deadline for the Dell scholarship,” she said with a laugh. “And when I was

a semifinalist, I worked hard to get in my essays and recommendations. My parents were so happy and relieved when I won the scholarship because my mom is the only one working. So to get a college education basically for free means the world to them.”

This fall, Tovar will begin her studies as an International and Area Studies major and hopes to study abroad during her college career. Tovar realizes the significance of her college acceptance and how it will break barriers for future generations of her family. She said she wants to do what she can to honor her family’s sacrifice and set an example for her sister, Yaritza, a ninth grade student at IDEA Rundberg. When asked for the best advice for future seniors like her sister, she said the greatest lesson they can learn is that sacrifice is always worth the reward.

“At the end of all this, it will be worth it. I will have my college degree and a career, and I believe I have put too much into what I am doing to let the hard work and sacrifice go to waste,” Tovar said.

“I’m a young woman ready to leave and make tough decisions,” she added. “I might make mistakes along the way, but I will learn and keep going.”

YAIRE CISNEROS TOVAR: GREAT EXPECTATIONS

In her work as a Director of College Counselor, Caprice Howard is driven by the belief that every student can be successful in college and in life.

IDEA’S CORE VALUE BADGE for “We Deliver Results” depicts a flag at the top of a mountain. Just like a journey to a mountaintop, a student’s journey to and through college starts with years of preparation. That is how IDEA Greater Cincinnati, one of two new regions IDEA launched this school year, started.

Valerie Perez, a dedicated, loving mother and proud Cincinnatian, met with Matthew Kyle, IDEA Greater Cincinnati’s Executive Director, back in 2018 to discuss what she wanted to see in a new school in the area. “I felt like part of this planning from the very beginning,” said Perez. Perez noticed right away that Matthew Kyle and his team valued parent insight and feedback. “Being asked ‘What do you need for your child? What does an ideal school look like for your child?‘ —these questions meant everything,” said Perez. “Support, activities, education style — I had never had the experience of discussing these matters in such detail with school leaders.”

Perez mentioned that her son, Zacharia, does best in school when he has intervention and is given the opportunity to work in small groups with teachers. She is excited that Zacharia is now part of the IDEA Team & Family as a founding seventh grader at IDEA Price Hill College Preparatory. Zacharia will have the opportunity to improve his math skills — not his strong suit or favorite subject, he humbly admitted — through rigorous, nurturing classroom instruction and the iLearning Hotspot. The iLearning Hotspot is a special kind of IDEA classroom and part of the regular weekly school schedule. Here students practice

math through innovative software that targets the level of each individual student and presents lessons and problems in a format like a video game. What’s more, students can work on "Math Master" and "Math Genius" designation status—200 and 300 lessons completed, respectively— at home via an IDEA-issued Chromebook or similar technological device. To keep the learning going at home, close the opportunity gap, and deliver results, every IDEA scholar is issued the appropriate technology equipment to access the seamless delivery of quality instruction.

Zacharia, an avid gamer, is excited for the iLearning Hotspot as well as physical education and science class. “I love doing experiments,” he said. In seventh grade at IDEA, students continue to build their science and engineering skills through engaging, descriptive, comparative, and experimental investigations. Students study a variety of topics including DNA and genetics, plant and animal physiology, classification, photosynthesis and respiration, food webs, ecology and biomes, and evolution. Zacharia can’t wait to start the experiments!

What else is Zacharia excited about this year? “I like to play soccer, maybe football, gaming, and coding,” he said. Zacharia hopes to get involved, make new friends, have fun, and achieve stellar results as he continues his academic journey on the road to success in high school, college, and beyond.

Another extracurricular activity with important connections to academic and personal growth is dance. Marquicia Jones-Woods, or “Miss Quicy” for short, has lived in the same West End community of Cincinnati all her life, running her own dance company, Q-KIDZ DANCE TEAM, for 40 years. Miss Quicy has used dance practice, dance competitions — in which Q-KIDZ has won national awards and recognitions — and field trips to teach life lessons and better the lives of families in her hometown for decades. In fact, many former Q-KIDZ dancers, now mothers themselves, send their own children to be students

Just like a journey to a mountaintop, a student’s journey to and through college starts with years of preparation.

in the Q-KIDZ program. Miss Quicy serves as the program director while her daughters Mariah and Chariah now teach the classes. Q-KIDZ is open to all children, and Miss Quicy, in all her years as founder, director, and teacher, does the work for free. For many years, Miss Quicy kept a full-time job on top of Q-KIDZ.

Miss Quicy is a motivated and caring individual driven by her passion to do good and foster learning for children in her community. IDEA is proud to partner with Miss Quicy and have her as a Team & Family member. In fact, Miss Quicy currently serves on IDEA Greater Cincinnati’s regional fiduciary board where she plays a pivotal role in decisions ranging from planning the location of new IDEA schools to planning and speaking at prospective parent town halls. “I’m pretty busy!” Miss Quicy said with a laugh, but she wouldn’t have it any other way, especially when the work is so important. “When I found out IDEA Public Schools was coming to Cincinnati, I was excited,” she said. “One connection, in my experience, that I see between our city and IDEA is the willingness to try new things and be innovative.” At the end of the day, Miss Quicy is focused on what is best for the children in her city. “For me, it’s about having educational choices for our children, and giving them the support and tools they need to succeed.”

That journey to success at IDEA officially began on August 22 when IDEA Greater Cincinnati students, including Zacharia, stepped foot on campus at IDEA Price Hill and IDEA Valley View for the first day of school. IDEA Greater Cincinnati’s first high school graduating class will be in 2028. Until then, families like the Perezes, community leaders like Miss Quicy, and IDEA will all work together to prep early, stay strong, and eventually summit the mountain to deliver stellar results in The Queen City.

STRONG ROOTS, NEW BEGINNINGS IN THE QUEEN CITY

Miss Quicy (far left) and the Perez family are both so excited for IDEA's future in Greater Cincinnati.

THE SOLIDARITY INITIATIVE: YOUTH-LED CHANGE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND BEYOND

Core members of the Solidarity Initiative: Annarose Hernandez, Natalia Estevez, Michael Aguirre (top row left to right), Matthew Ondeyo and Natalie Garcia ( bottom row left to right)

DURING THE SUMMER OF 2020, Matthew Ondeyo and Natalia Estevez, then-to-be seniors at IDEA Weslaco, felt that social justice conversations among teenagers were often missing and sometimes even avoided. They were both passionate about changing this by embracing uncomfortable conversations and promoting healthy dialogue with their peers.

At IDEA, both Matthew and Natalia were taught that discussion, reflection, and examination were needed to address the root of any issue, no matter how big or small. Natalia joined IDEA College Preparatory Weslaco her freshman year and said she has appreciated IDEA’s mission of College for All, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, socioeconomic background, physical and cognitive ability, religion, and/ or political affiliations. Natalia has seen firsthand the opportunities and resources provided by IDEA and how they directly contribute to a successful educational career beyond high school.

Matthew joined IDEA in pre-K and has found in his many years with the Team & Family that everyone supports each other. “I’ve always found my IDEA teachers to be extremely helpful in supporting my needs, interests, and passions,” said Matthew.

With the support of the IDEA Weslaco Team & Family, the Solidarity Initiative was born. Matthew and Natalia began

a podcast to provide an open and comfortable platform for all listeners and participants, creating a place to learn and grow, and talk about current events related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Topics are wide-ranging and have included generational trauma, the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, financial literacy, suicide prevention, and so much more. “This initiative is really about making the content digestible and focusing on how we can grow to spark significant and permanent change in our society,” said Natalia.

In addition to the podcast, The Solidarity Initiative promoted fundraising and community projects to support engagement and collaboration within the community. Among various projects, the initiative partnered with the Palm Valley Animal Society - Laurie P. Andrews Center to offer volunteer opportunities. “Youth members are given the opportunity to be a part of a cycle that allows for awareness, motivation, and change in their community,” said Natalia.

Lastly, the duo and its strong core group of members utilized writing to promote awareness of current social issues. “This platform gives a voice to the unspoken, unearthing varying views and perspectives, and gives power to those who need it,” Matthew said. “What better way to do that than through writing? We support unity among all community members, and we often do that through our own written words and from books, articles, and case studies.”

Matthew and Natalia’s vision beyond high school is to continue outreach to promote healthy dialogue across the United States. This important work is already in motion at The University of Chicago and Gordon College, where Matthew and Natalia begin their college journeys this fall, respectively. Their goal is to share this initiative to promote an open space for important conversations, encourage community service among college students, and work collaboratively to embrace change. Though they may now be learning at colleges and universities hundreds and thousands of miles apart, these IDEA Weslaco graduates will always be connected by their school, their community, and their drive to ask important questions and never shy away from the challenge of striving for equity for all.

This initiative is really about making the content digestible and focusing on how we can grow to spark significant and permanent change in our society.

The Burke family at an IDEA celebratory event.

ALL THEY CAN

BUMBLEBEES AREN’T SUPPOSED TO FLY It’s scientifically impossible. Yet, fly they do!

In 2016, philanthropists and community supporters Louise and Mike Burke were asked to select a mascot for the new Burke-sponsored IDEA school opening on the far west side of San Antonio.

“Louise and I asked our five grandchildren to work together to decide on one,” said Mike. “Within a week, they came up with the IDEA Burke Bumblebees. Our grandkids pointed out that scientists had proven that bumblebees could not fly because their bodies are too big for their wings. But apparently the scientists forgot to tell the bumblebees! And our IDEA scholars are also going to achieve the impossible.”

IDEA students do just that. Statistics suggest that those from households where college isn’t the norm won’t attend and graduate from top-tier universities across the country. Yet more than 90% of this year’s IDEA seniors will be firstgeneration college students and are performing on par with scholars from other best high schools across the nation. This type of success would not be possible without the love and support of advocates like Louise and Mike Burke. For more than a decade, the Burkes have been exemplifying IDEA’s core value of building Team & Family by supporting causes in San Antonio like education and the environment. Though their impact has been great, Louise and Mike come from modest beginnings. Their motivation has always been the value of education and the love of family.

Louise and Mike come from low-income backgrounds. Louise grew up as a coal miner’s daughter from western Pennsylvania with six siblings and two wonderful parents. Mike grew up in a shotgun house on the banks of the Brazos River in Waco, Texas. They both had little but managed to receive very good educations. Most importantly, at an early age, they were exposed to the fruits of hard work, the joy of learning, and the value of friendships.

These pillars set Louise and Mike up for success in their professional and personal lives. A first-generation college student, Mike received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University and later a Master of Business Administration degree in finance and marketing from the University of Texas at Austin. It was when he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to work for PPG Industries that he met the love of his life, Louise, who was working as an executive assistant in corporate leadership.

Looking back, Mike noted with pride the love, care, and attention Louise devoted to their two children, Kendra and Michael: “Almost from day one, Louise sang, talked, and read to Kendra and Michael continuously. Louise pointed out everything she saw out the window when she was driving. When she went grocery shopping, she explained the various foods on the shelf.” This support continued

into high school, and when Kendra and Michael left home, they flourished. Both children graduated from Vanderbilt University with high honors and attained excellent careers. Now, Louise and Mike’s wonderful grandchildren — a total of five — are excelling in school as well.

“I love children of all ages,” said Louise, “and my heart aches when I think of young children who are not receiving an early education as our children and grandchildren have been so fortunate to receive. Those early years are so important, and a good start builds self-esteem and confidence that they can manage the many challenges in this world.”

Like Louise, Mike believes in the power of a strong educational foundation and exposure to stories and words. In fact, he has now penned a total of 57 personalized books for his grandchildren! Mike also wrote the family favorite, and the favorite of IDEA Burke Academy — you guessed it — Bee All You Can Bee. It is a wonderful, inspirational story of a resourceful and kind bumblebee named Bianca and her journey to help others and achieve great success of her own. It’s a story with a powerful message and memorable, supportive characters. “A strong, supportive family is critically important to appropriately raising successful children,” said Louise. “IDEA scholars are not just students. They are part of a kind, understanding, and loving family. IDEA not only feeds their minds with knowledge but also emphasizes integrity, ethics, and productive behavior. And let’s not forget feeding their tummies with nutritious meals!”

Together with the love and support of their immediate families at home and the support of teachers, principals, school staff, and community advocates like Louise and Mike Burke, IDEA students are on the road to success in college and in life.

MIKE BURKE'S BOOK: BEE ALL YOU CAN BEE

In closing, and in the true fashion of Mike Burke, we end this piece with a story.

Louise and Mike were touring IDEA Eastside, another IDEA campus that the Burkes were instrumental in launching. The school recently opened its doors to students for the first time. Together Louise, Mike, and campus leadership walked past the library. It was a large room with ample, empty shelf space. When Louise saw the need for more books for the children, she quickly made a decision. It was an easy one for her. The next day she mailed a check for $15,000 to buy more books for IDEA Eastside.

Three weeks later Louise and Mike were invited back to see the library teeming with books. Louise was invited to read three stories to the first graders. As Louise began to read, in walked all five Burke grandchildren and their mothers who had driven over from Austin, Texas, as a surprise.

Reflecting on this, Mike said it best, “It was a wonderful, unforgettable, teary-eyed moment.”

Most importantly, at an early age, they were exposed to the fruits of hard work, the joy of learning, and the value of friendships.

HOW LOUISE AND MIKE BURKE HELP IDEA SCHOLARS

GOOD TIMES, GREAT LEARNING IN SOUTHERN LOUISIANA

We Bring Joy: We create a positive, uplifting, and joyful environment for every member of the IDEA Team & Family every single day. We operate with a sense of optimism, and our traditions celebrate learning, growth, and the accomplishments of our students, staff, and community.

HARMONY BIVENS’ SIXTH GRADE year at IDEA Bridge College Preparatory was full of high notes. She achieved Royal Reader status by reading over over 3 million words and scoring 85% on her tests in IDEA’s Accelerated Reader Zone. She performed at the NCAA basketball halftime show in New Orleans with her campus cheer squad, and, last but not least, she became a first-place, award-winning writer!

When asked about her accomplishments, Harmony states that they stem from the joy factor. “I don’t think about the importance of a task or achieving success,” said Harmony. “I just love to read and write. They bring me joy.”

Harmony’s answer is music to the ears of her English language arts (ELA) teacher, Christie Patrick, who always brings joy to her reading and writing classroom. Ms. Patrick employs teaching strategies that make learning engaging and fun, which encourages students to be more willing to participate and retain essential subject matter.

“I try to find ways to make ELA interesting or entertaining by including things from our culture here in Louisiana and things that I know my students will like and be drawn to,” said Ms. Patrick. “That way, they are more apt to engage and learn the material.”

Perhaps the most memorable, culturally relevant example from Ms. Patrick’s classroom is the IDEA Southern Louisiana Mardi Gras essay contest. One day in January, Ms. Patrick announced that all IDEA students in the southern Louisiana region were welcome to participate in a narrative writing contest about Mardi Gras and submissions were due the next month. (During the interview for IMPACT Magazine, Ms. Patrick was eager to give a shoutout to her English Language Arts Curriculum Manager, Ms. Courtney Peterson, for spearheading the writing initiative and for working collaboratively with IDEA teachers.)

Meanwhile Harmony, being such a creative writer, had an idea. She decided to write a play on the classic story “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” (commonly known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”) by Clement Clarke Moore. It took plenty of drafting, revising, and editing, and in the end, Harmony’s essay expertly intertwined the classic story with vivid descriptions of her own childhood memories of celebrating Mardi Gras with her family.

AN EXCERPT FROM HARMONY’S AWARD-WINNING ESSAY:

My family and I drive from Baton Rouge to New Orleans,Louisiana to experience the parades and festivities.We spend a little time at the French Quarter where wesee elaborate costumes, people laughing, dancing, andcelebrating. … I hear jazz and zydeco music, second-line music, brass bands, and other music. I smell sweetbeignets, coffee brewing, gumbo, and jambalaya to namea few. We love to taste some of the Cajun cuisines. Whatsomeone sees, hears, feels, tastes, and smells are allpart of the Mardi Gras experience. We walk along paraderoutes to enjoy my favorite part of Mardi Gras — thecolorful floats with people with outrageous costumeson the floats throwing things like beads, candy, cups,stuffed animals, and other trinkets. My parents and oldersiblings love to catch coconuts that are thrown from theZulu Krewe float. We know to bring large bags to carryall the throws. The parades are long so remember towear comfortable shoes. Throw me something, mister!

Reflecting on the benefits and joy of writing the narrative, Harmony was most proud to share a snapshot of her Mardi Gras memories with others. “The Mardi Gras essay contest was special because I got the opportunity to share the things that I hear, taste, smell, and feel on Mardi Gras day,” she said. “It's important to share our culture with the world through writing and reading.”

And the moment she won? Harmony admitted that it felt surreal. She said, “I was surprised, but also very happy.” For a little extra joy factor, Harmony’s ELA classroom was gifted a surprise delivery of king cake, a Louisiana traditional dessert decadently iced in yellow, green, and purple — the official colors of Mardi Gras. It was the icing on the cake of Harmony’s creative writing journey that will surely have more chapters as she continues to learn and grow at IDEA. Harmony hopes her journey will lead her to Southern University in Baton Rouge after graduating from IDEA Bridge College Preparatory in 2028. It will be a journey filled with joy.

Left to right: Dr. Kilrain Popleon, Christie Patrick, Harmony Bivens, and Tyn Fleet are all part of the IDEA Bridge team and family and support one another.

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VICTORIA ALVAREZ, AN ACTIVE STUDENT in the THRIVE program at IDEA Toros, ensures coffee is brewed at the optimal temperature for the best-tasting cup of joe when she serves customers at the Rise and THRIVE Café. “It’s important to pay attention to the small details,” Victoria said.

The Rise and THRIVE Café is a coffee shop run by students who are enrolled in the THRIVE program. The café provides coffee and pastries for staff members at IDEA Toros. It promotes independence, responsibility, and social awareness, which are vital skills for adults. It started thanks to the support of IDEA Toros staff members, especially Joanna Tamez, Anna Gaona, Brenda Banda, and Yazmin Garza. These teachers have one goal in mind: to develop students into lifelong learners by facilitating a program that cultivates independence and responsibility. Much of this goal is accomplished through the IDEA-wide program called THRIVE. “THRIVE is a program that is set to provide students with disabilities a chance to enhance and develop job skills and independent living skills. We have students with different interests and needs,” said Ms. Tamez. Students who meet the criteria are enrolled in the THRIVE program and provided with a homogeneous setting of similar-age students. Teachers found that this program provides opportunities for young adults to develop the skills needed in adulthood and the workforce.

The THRIVE program allows teachers to differentiate instruction based on each student's needs, interests, and postsecondary goals. The program connects students with

outside resources so they gain real-world experience with employable skills. Currently, THRIVERS are enrolled in a year-round work experience program while a handful of students work via community-based vocational instruction to learn the skills needed to succeed in a year-round work program.

Each student is challenged by the rigorous effort it takes to sustain the café. The THRIVE Café simulates work opportunities through its various jobs. Like any job, students are required to complete a job application. Students can apply to become greeters, delivery specialists, managers, assistant managers, inventory specialists, cashiers, baristas, and cleaning specialists. Each one of these roles provides the opportunity for students to learn valuable skills needed to thrive in the workforce. As greeters or delivery specialists, students learn important social cues and build confidence. As a café manager or assistant manager, students are responsible for managing other employees and ensuring that each task is completed efficiently. Inventory specialists utilize their functional math and reading skills to ensure that the café has enough cream, sugar, and other essential items needed for the perfect cup of coffee. Cashiers use their math skills to accurately provide change to customers. Baristas carefully listen to each customer to complete their order. Lastly, each cleaning crew specialist ensures that throughout the day the café station is clean and organized to provide the best customer service experience. Students apply IDEA’s core value “We Sweat the Small Stuff” in each role as they continue to manage the Rise and THRIVE Café.

MEET SOME OF THE IDEA TOROS THRIVE TEAM!

JOANNA TAMEZ, transition specialist, has been in education for five years. She transferred from IDEA Donna to IDEA Toros and primarily focuses on working with students on functional math and functional living skills to build healthy daily habits like budgeting, self-care, and more.

The THRIVE Café is ready to serve its customers in the morning with guidance from the manager and the assistant manager, Victoria Alvarez. Victoria said her favorite part of the job is ensuring that all orders are done accurately and efficiently. Victoria also said, “I like to help people and deliver their coffee. My favorite part of my role is delivering coffee to my favorite teachers.” As the delivery specialist, Genesis Hernandez enjoys providing each customer with their order in a timely manner. “I like to help my friends in the café while they make the coffee,” said Genesis. Genesis and Victoria hold true to IDEA’s core value “Sweat the Small Stuff” as they prepare to open the Rise and THRIVE Café for their customers each day.

Like Victoria and Genesis, other students have benefited from the program by learning skills that translate to the workforce. “With the guidance of each transition specialist and job coach, students are given the opportunity to practice and utilize those skills,” said Ms. Banda. Mrs. Gaona stated, “The café provides an environment in which students learn skills that transfer into their daily expectations as independent adults.”

All teachers agree that the THRIVE program at Toros has provided opportunities for their students in the community. Because of the skills they learned through THRIVE, each student has had a successful transition out of the program and into the workforce.

As stated by Ms. Garza, “I am happy about the program. Programs like this are needed in the Valley.” Students in THRIVE have a busy schedule throughout the week. A typical day for each student consists of visiting volunteer sites such as the birding center or ordering off the menu at a local restaurant. Each opportunity allows students to learn and apply valuable life skills needed to sustain independent living.

“College for All is important. However, in this program, the focus is shifted toward creating individualized goals for each student, identifying their needs, and building strong skills that foster independent living as an adult,” Gaona said. “All teachers agreed that more programs like THRIVE at IDEA Toros are desperately needed in our community … providing the opportunity for all students to thrive independently in life.”

ANNA GAONA , began her journey with IDEA in 2014 as a high school RISE teacher at IDEA Mission. As the lead transition specialist, she focuses on setting goals and developing strong vocational skills.

BRENDA BANDA , lead job coach, began her career with IDEA five years ago and has always worked in the special education department. Her primary focus is obtaining community partners and helping her students grow the skills they’ll need to be successful in the workforce.

YAZMIN GARZA , has worked as a special education teacher for 13 years. She is currently a transition specialist who mainly focuses on teaching functional reading and communication. Part of functional reading is teaching students how to complete job applications and interpret job listings, which are two important processes needed to join the workforce.

These teachers have one goal in mind: to develop students into lifelong learners by facilitating a program that cultivates independence and responsibility.