Call Summary: Discovering Primer Fellowship and Planning Christian Micro School Launch

Overview

In a divinely orchestrated moment, Gary discovered the Primer Fellowship micro school opportunity with only 4 days until the application deadline, with San Antonio being the only Texas location accepting applications. During a call where Gary used AI to interview Ida for the application while she drove, they uncovered perfect alignment between Ida's extensive educational experience, her frustrations with current charter school, and an available church building eager to return to Christian education. The conversation revealed God's hand in bringing together all necessary pieces for launching a transformative school by Fall 2026.

Key Topics Discussed

The Primer Fellowship Discovery

• Perfect Timing: Gary discovered opportunity with 4 days until December 15 deadline
• San Antonio Exclusive: Only Texas city accepting applications
• Gary's Shock: "I'm like, genuinely shocked. I continue to be like, sometimes I'm like, God, why are you nudging me to explore these crazy ideas?"
• Fellowship Structure:
  • $500/month stipend during training
  • Spring program, nights and weekends
  • 5-10 hours per week commitment
  • Launch school by August/Fall 2026
• Christian Founder: Gary discovered founder Ryan Delk is Christian who "attends this wonderful small church in San Francisco"
• Gary's Vision: "Operating system for micro schools" that he could potentially help develop

AI-Assisted Application Interview

• Innovative Approach: Gary had Ida talk to an AI interviewer while driving
• Ida's Reaction: "Oh my gosh, that was strange. I was like, yes, yes"
• Topics Covered:
  • Teaching philosophy and preferred experiences
  • Extensive work with at-risk students
  • Community engagement and partnerships
  • Network of potential families and educators
  • Vision for middle school focus (ages 11-14)

Ida's Educational Qualifications Revealed

• Certifications: Pre-K through 12 certified educator
• Teaching Experience: "I've spent 10 years in every grade level" - elementary, middle, high school
• Advanced Degrees: Masters in Educational Leadership & Administration
• Principal Qualification: Passed principal test first time during COVID
• Roles Held:
  • Communications teacher (9-12)
  • Crisis intervention specialist
  • Certified school counselor
  • Community engagement specialist
  • Parent facilitator
  • Homeless liaison (McKinney-Vento)
  • 504 coordinator, IEP specialist
• Programs Led:
  • World Changers implementing UN Sustainability Development Goals
  • District care centers with 15-20 community partnerships
  • STEM partnerships with university professors
• 30-Year Mentoring: Students from age 11 through college and beyond

The Perfect Church Building Opportunity

• Current Situation: Ida works at Da Vinci charter in church-owned building
• Church History: Formerly Sunnybrook Christian School for 20+ years
• Building Details:
  • Space for 200-300+ students
  • Elementary building, cafeteria, facilities intact
  • Land available for expansion
  • Church and school buildings physically connected
• Current Conflict:
  • Da Vinci promised church they'd allow Bible study and prayer - broke promise
  • Principal forbids students from praying even in parking lot
  • "The church and them have been fighting from the beginning"
  • Church runs food pantry 3-4 days/week, school refuses to let students volunteer
• Strategic Leverage:
  • 60 of 120 Da Vinci students are from church families
  • Half the staff are church members including pastor's son
  • Church owns building, could terminate lease
  • Gary's response: "Kick them out. Kick them out!"

Educational Crisis Context

• System Failure: Northside (one of state's biggest districts) going virtual
• Attendance Crisis: 30-35% of kids not showing up to school at all
• Voucher Impact: "More people are going to leave public schools"
• Da Vinci Collapse:
  • Down 40% in attendance/enrollment
  • Only 120 students total, 20 graduating
  • Losing momentum and students
  • 90-year-old superintendent only reason it exists in SA
• Ida's Frustration:
  • "I'm wasting my time" doing data entry instead of counseling
  • Students reporting serious threats/sextortion, administration won't act
  • Told students to tell parents because "without parent pressure, our school will not do anything"
  • "Unless you're a school that's doing it right" - same problems everywhere

Strategic Network Assets

• Father Alfonso:
  • Certified superintendent for Texas
  • Lifetime superintendent credential
  • State mentor for new superintendents
  • "He knows the whole state of Texas... 40 years of knowing superintendents"
  • Could serve as superintendent for new school
• Friend Karen:
  • UT McCombs School of Business graduate (3 degrees simultaneously)
  • Former marketing lead at top oil & gas company
  • Network of 3,000+ churches from leadership position
  • Wants to open marketing company for God-aligned organizations
  • "She's brilliant. She's brilliant"
• Media Company Friend:
  • Owns company, moved from NYC to San Antonio
  • Willing to teach digital media, marketing, film
  • Was going to sponsor after-school program with own money
  • District failed to follow through on building promise
• Community Connections:
  • Worked at 5 different San Antonio school districts
  • Maintained relationships with PTA presidents, band/athletics families
  • University partnerships from STEM programs
  • Mental health clinics, food banks, clothing organizations

Family Educational Legacy

• Generational Education: "Our entire family... they're all... reached very high in their academic life"
• Mother: Curriculum specialist in math
• Siblings: Father, sister, brothers all in education
• Extended Family:
  • Grandmother had 10 siblings, all educated (rare for that era)
  • 15 first cousins: lawyers, surgeons, doctors, import/export brokers
  • Ida having two masters is "probably the least educated"
• Long-Held Vision: "We'd always talked about a school... helping to create global citizens... more humanistic approach to learning"

Philosophical Alignment on Divine Calling

• Ida's Surrender Philosophy:
  • "Why do you think there's something you need to do if I'm telling you to do it?"
  • "All he wants and needs from us is to surrender"
  • "His will be done, not ours"
  • "Kingdom ramifications - thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands affected"
• Moses Reference:
  • "God was just like, just go. Figure it out when you get there"
  • Applied to her rabbi ministry experience
  • "We're just going to go, Gary. We're just going to do it"
• Gary's Awe:
  • "This is just God. I'm genuinely in awe"
  • "I continue to be like, God, why are you nudging me?"
  • Email from Toren Wells team same day about schools
  • "These extraordinary things... can only be God"

Immediate Action Plans

• Application Strategy:
  • Gary to write "the craziest positive recommendation letter"
  • Ida to get voice note from Bethany for recommendation
  • Karen to provide recommendation ASAP
  • Resume revision needed (currently counseling-focused)
• Gary's Dual Path:
  • Support Ida's application as school leader
  • Apply for senior software engineer position at Primer
  • "That would be extremely funny" - working for company after leaving Alpha
• Ida's Commitment:
  • Considering calling in sick: "I was going to get it, like coughing... strep throat"
  • "I'm not even going to work tomorrow. I'm serious"
  • Focus entirely on application
• Research Tasks:
  • Investigate church lease terms with Da Vinci
  • Explore demographic focus (at-risk vs. general population)
  • Understand financial aid opportunities
  • "Get in the process" first, research second

Vision for Impact

• Target Age: Middle school (11-14) as "most malleable"
• Teaching Philosophy:
  • Fun, exciting teachers who maintain curiosity
  • Hands-on activities and projects
  • Community problem-solving
  • Student voice and idea sharing
• San Antonio Growth: East side is "fastest growing area in the country"
• Corporate Influx: Toyota, Amazon, other giants building there
• Church Partnership Model: Many churches want to host schools but "don't know how to do it or where to start"
• Fall 2026 Launch: "We could literally be launching by the fall of 2026"

Key Quotes

On Divine Timing

• Ida: "These extraordinary things that seem to be falling into place can only be God. There's no other explanation"
• Gary: "This is just God. I'm genuinely in awe. I'm genuinely in awe"
• Ida: "Why do you think there's something you need to do if I'm telling you to do it?"
• Gary: "Only 4 days to join the cohort... That's just God"

On Taking Action

• Ida: "We're just going to go, Gary. We're just going to do it"
• Ida: "Just go. Figure it out when you get there"
• Gary: "I think we should start a school together"
• Ida: "That sounds good. That sounds like a good idea"

On Current Education Crisis

• Ida: "30-35% of kids weren't showing up to school at all"
• Ida: "I'm wasting my time" (on data entry vs. counseling)
• Ida: "Without parent pressure, our school will not do anything"
• Gary about Da Vinci in church: "Kick them out! Kick them out!"

On Qualifications and Network

• Ida: "My father is a mentor superintendent for the state of Texas"
• Ida about family: "Everybody's extremely educated"
• Gary: "I'm going to write the craziest positive recommendation letter for you"
• Ida: "I've spent 10 years in every grade level"

On Vision

• Ida: "Helping to create global citizens... more humanistic approach to learning"
• Ida: "Middle school is the most malleable"
• Gary: "Operating system for micro schools essentially"
• Ida: "In this world that seems to be so anti-human"

Action Items / Takeaways

• Application deadline December 15 (4 days away)
• Ida to potentially call in sick to focus on application
• Gary to review Ida's resume tonight
• Get recommendations from Bethany and Karen immediately
• Investigate church's lease terms with Da Vinci
• Gary to explore senior software engineer role at Primer
• Research financial aid and demographic targeting
• Plan for spring fellowship participation
• Target Fall 2026 school launch
• Leverage church building opportunity if Da Vinci exits

Divine Orchestration Elements

• Only Texas location is San Antonio where Ida lives
• Discovery with exactly enough time to apply
• Church building available and wanting Christian school back
• Father is superintendent mentor for Texas
• Network of 3,000+ churches through friend
• 60 church families already at current location
• Toren Wells email same day about schools
• Founder is Christian (unexpected for Silicon Valley startup)
• All pieces falling into place simultaneously