IDEA Public Schools

Weslaco, TX · Founded 2000

Charter school network preparing students for college success

Primary audience
K-12 Students
Work area
Education
Topic
Charter Schools
Contact
Samuel Goessling
Website Contact

About Organization

Prepares students from underserved communities to be successful college students and responsible citizens by providing educational services in grades Pre-K through 12. Based in Weslaco, TX, IDEA Public Schools provides tuition-free education to college-bound students across Texas, serving 11,505 employees and generating $951.1 million in annual revenue to support its mission.

What They Focus On

College Readiness

Preparing students from underserved communities for successful college careers through comprehensive academic programming.

Responsible Citizenship

Developing character and civic responsibility alongside academic achievement from pre-K through 12th grade.

Educational Access

Providing tuition-free education to college-bound students across Texas regions.

Financial Information

Form 990 data showing organizational financial health and growth.

Revenue (2021)

$951.1M

+15.7% vs 2020

Expenses (2021)

$915.6M

+23.3% vs 2020

Assets (2021)

$1.9B

+8.5% vs 2020

Employees (2021)

11,505

+34.5% vs 2020

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Employees
2021 $951,130,243 $915,595,156 $1,872,347,488 11,505
2020 $822,040,599 $742,490,040 $1,725,652,293 8,555
2019 $665,304,414 $607,925,666 $1,480,680,871 8,150
2018 $532,847,536 $493,910,106 $1,131,490,251 6,977
2017 $422,378,039 $390,430,413 $893,444,366 5,945

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. All figures in USD.

How They Work

Learn more
  • 01

    Tuition-Free Access

    Providing free education to college-bound students from underserved communities across Texas.

  • 02

    Comprehensive Education

    Delivering pre-K through 12th grade educational services with 11,505 employees across regions.

  • 03

    College Focus

    Preparing students for successful college careers through rigorous academic programming.

  • 04

    Regional Growth

    Expanding school creation support across San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and Permian Basin.

Programs and Initiatives

Services and programs offered by IDEA Public Schools

College Preparation

Preparing students from underserved communities to be successful college students through comprehensive academic programs.

Character Development

Developing responsible citizens through educational services spanning pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

Regional Schools

Operating schools across Texas regions including San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and Permian Basin.

Summer Programs

Providing summer boost programs and educational support to enhance student achievement and preparation.

Team & Leadership

Meet the people behind IDEA Public Schools.

Cody Grindle

Cody Grindle

President Cody's Biography  ›
Full-time
Compensation: $247,202
Angie Arismendi

Angie Arismendi

Executive Director, San Antonio Angie's Biography  ›
Full-time
Compensation: $227,793
Jessica Hess

Jessica Hess

Chief Governance Officer Jessica's Biography  ›
Full-time
Compensation: $168,780
Jill Dominguez

Jill Dominguez

Area Superintendent, Rio Grande Valley Jill's Biography  ›
Full-time
Compensation: $271,281
Dr. Jeffrey Cottrill

Dr. Jeffrey Cottrill

CEO and Superintendent Jeffrey's Biography  ›
Adam Miller

Adam Miller

National Executive Director of IPS Adam's Biography  ›
Simaran Bakshi

Simaran Bakshi

Executive Director, IDEA Jacksonville Simaran's Biography  ›
SG

Samuel Goessling

Chief Advancement Officer
Full-time
Compensation: $299,593
DG

Dolores Gonzalez

Chief Program Officer
Full-time
Compensation: $292,483
MW

Martin Winchester

Chief Human Assets Officer
Full-time
Compensation: $275,710
EG

Elizabet Garza

Chief Schools Officer
Full-time
Compensation: $275,500
LH

Leanne Hernandez

Chief Financial Officer
Full-time
Compensation: $248,466
PG

Phillip Garza

Chief College Officer
Full-time
Compensation: $247,020
NL

Nathan Lowry

Executive Director - Austin
Full-time
Compensation: $226,652
FG

Frankie Gray

Executive Director
Full-time
Compensation: $219,295
BS

Bethany Solis

Executive Director - Permian Basin
Full-time
Compensation: $215,196
NR

Natalie Rubio

Executive Director - Houston
Full-time
Compensation: $213,948
LF

Layne Fisher

COO (from October 2021)
Full-time
Compensation: $209,575
AS

Ana Shropshire

Executive Director - Tarrant County
Full-time
Compensation: $206,085
JA

Joan Alvarez

Executive Director - Coastal Bend
Full-time
Compensation: $178,471
JG

JoAnn Gama

CEO & Superintendent (to May 2021)
Full-time
Compensation: $163,283
IM

Irma Munoz

COO (to May 2021)
Full-time
Compensation: $124,344
AL

Alejandra Loya

Chief of Staff
Full-time
Compensation: $123,000
GC

Genevieve Cheng

Chief of Staff - Operations
Full-time
Compensation: $120,938
RP

Rolando Posada

Area Superintendent
Full-time
Compensation: $249,231
HM

Hailey McCarthy

Executive Principal
Full-time
Compensation: $240,668
EC

Ernesto Cantu

Area Superintendent
Full-time
Compensation: $220,120
CH

Carlo Hershberger

Senior VP of Finance
Full-time
Compensation: $214,639
DF

Daniel Fishman

Senior VP of Growth
Full-time
Compensation: $206,901
AA

Alex Anzaldua

Senior VP of Schools
Full-time
Compensation: $206,860
CC

Christina Cavazos-Escamilla

Executive Principal
Full-time
Compensation: $204,002

Milestones

2000

IDEA Founded

2000

Organization established to prepare students from underserved communities for college and citizenship.

2017

Major Expansion

2017

Network grew to 5,945 employees managing 422 million serving students across Texas.

2019

Continued Growth

2019

Organization expanded to 8,150 employees with 665 million in operations.

2021

Current Operations

2021

Managing 951 million with 11,505 employees and 1.9 billion assets serving pre-K through 12 students.

Associated People

Board members, advisors, and key contributors

Board of Directors

AR
Anthony Ryan Vaughan Secretary 3.00 hrs/week
Collin Sewell
Collin Sewell Chair 6.00 hrs/week
DE
David Earl Board Member 3.00 hrs/week
DS
Dr Saam Zarrabi Board Member 3.00 hrs/week
ER
Ed Rivera Treasurer 6.00 hrs/week
EH
Erich Holmsten Board Member 3.00 hrs/week
Gary Lindgren
Gary Lindgren Member Cincinnati Business Committee Member Biography  › 3.00 hrs/week
MA
Michael Adams Board Member 3.00 hrs/week
OV
Ovidio Vitas Board Member 3.00 hrs/week
RC
Reba Cardenas McNair Board Member 3.00 hrs/week
XG
Xenia Garza Board Member 3.00 hrs/week

Information compiled from IRS Form 990 and organizational materials.

Executive Compensation

Top compensated officers & key employees from IRS Form 990

Total Reported (2021)

$4.0M

Highest Paid

$324K

Samuel Goessling

Compensated Officers

15

Name Title Base Other Total Hrs/Wk
Samuel Goessling Chief Advancement Officer $299,593 $24,392 $323,985 40
Dolores Gonzalez Chief Program Officer $292,483 $20,354 $312,837 40
Martin Winchester Chief Human Assets Officer $275,710 $23,568 $299,278 40
Elizabet Garza Chief Schools Officer $275,500 $23,727 $299,227 40
Jill Dominguez Regional Superintendent $271,281 $12,788 $284,069 40
Rolando Posada Area Superintendent $249,231 $17,140 $266,371 40
Phillip Garza Chief College Officer $247,020 $16,270 $263,290 40
Leanne Hernandez Chief Financial Officer $248,466 $10,997 $259,463 35
Cody Grindle Chief Information Officer $247,202 $11,171 $258,373 40
Hailey Mccarthy Executive Principal $240,668 $10,228 $250,896 40
Angie Arismendi Executive Director - San Antonio $227,793 $11,457 $239,250 40
Ernesto Cantu Area Superintendent $220,120 $15,787 $235,907 40
Nathan Lowry Executive Director - Austin $226,652 $7,756 $234,408 40
Frankie Gray Executive Director $219,295 $11,453 $230,748 40
Carlo Hershberger Senior VP Of Finance $214,639 $12,196 $226,835 40

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. Compensation includes base and other reported compensation.

Individual Political Donors

People from this organization who contributed to political campaigns

$2K Total Given
Democratic $1,996 (100%)
19 Contributions
$105 Avg Each

Top Individual Donors

9 Individual Donors
KC
Kenneth Campbell 2 contributions • $250 avg
$500
JJ
Janna J. S. Wiley 1 contribution • $500 avg
$500
ET
Emily Tucker 3 contributions • $100 avg
$300
DM
Dina Mireles 2 contributions • $109 avg
$217
LV
Lisa Valera 3 contributions • $56 avg
$169

Other Individual Contributors $310 combined

#6
EK

Elizabeth Khirallah-Jackson

Coppell, TX

$110 Total
3 Contributions
COLIN ALLRED FOR SENATE
#7
JL

Jose Luis Vasquez Cruz

Mcallen, TX

$100 Total
1 Contribution
DNC SERVICES CORP / DEMOCRATIC N...
#8
CG

Clarissa Garza

Natalia, TX

$75 Total
3 Contributions
HARRIS VICTORY
#9
OM

Oscar Martinez Iii

Weslaco, TX

$25 Total
1 Contribution
HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT

Quick Insights

🏆
Most Active Donor Emily Tucker with 3 contributions
💰
Highest Avg per Contribution Kenneth Campbell at $250 each
🎯
Top Recipient HARRIS VICTORY — $691

Data from Federal Election Commission • Individual contributions only

Partners & Funders

Grant funding relationships from IRS Form 990 filings

$8.8M Grants Received
6 Organizations

Top Funders

6 total
AG
Accelerate Great Schools
$7.4M
I
50Can Inc.
$1.2M
TT
Tom T East Sr and Alice K East and Alice 2 grants
$80K
GR
Good Reason Houston Inc
$35K
TC
Texas Charter Schools Association
$20K
FI
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund
$8K
Accelerate Great Schools 50Can Inc. Tom T East Sr and Alice K East and Alice Good Reason Houston Inc Texas Charter Schools Association Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund
Accelerate Great Schools 50Can Inc. Tom T East Sr and Alice K East and Alice Good Reason Houston Inc Texas Charter Schools Association Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund

Source: IRS Form 990 Schedule I filings. Amounts may span multiple tax years.

Contact

Get in touch with IDEA Public Schools

Email

[email protected]

Phone

(956) 377-8000 (956) 351-4959

Social

Visit Website
2115 West Pike Blvd Weslaco, TX 78596