Skip to main content

Metadata

ID:
2025-12-12-gary-ida-primer-fellowship-application
Participants:

Ida Villavicencio - Primer Fellowship Application

Date: December 11, 2025 Deadline: December 15, 2025 Location: San Antonio, TX (Launch Track)

1. Did you love school when you were growing up?​

The experiences that stood out most to me were classrooms where learning felt active and communal. I loved teachers who made learning fun, kept us curious, and invited us to participate through hands-on projects rather than just listening or filling out worksheets. When students were encouraged to share ideas, collaborate, and solve problems together, school felt more like a community than an institution. Those moments stuck with me and shaped how I think about what meaningful education should look like.

Education runs deep in my family. My entire family reached very high in their academic life. My mother was a curriculum specialist in math. My father, sister, and brothers are all in education. My grandmother had 10 siblings, and all were educated, which was rare for that era. I have 15 first cousins who became lawyers, surgeons, doctors, and business professionals. We always talked about starting a school together, one focused on creating global citizens with a more humanistic approach to learning.

2. Have you worked with kids?​

I have spent my entire career working with children and families across K–12 in a wide range of roles. I'm Pre-K through 12 certified and have spent 30 years in Education leading, mentoring, counseling, and  teaching at every grade level: elementary, middle, and high school.

Formal Credentials:

  • Bachelors degree in Communications
  • Masters in Educational Leadership & Administration
  • Masters in School Counseling
  • SBEC Certified Texas School Counselor
  • SBEC Certified Secondary Speech Communications teacher
  • Passed principal certification test first time (during COVID)
  • TBHEC Licensed Professional Counselor

Teaching & Counseling Roles:

  • Communications teacher for students ages 9–12
  • Character education and leadership development
  • Crisis intervention specialist
  • Guidance lessons and life coaching
  • Social Emotional Learning Counselor
  • 504 coordinator and IEP specialist for special education students
  • Academic Counselor
  • College and Career Specialist
  • Global Citizenship Coach
  • Project Based Learning advisor
  • Sustainability Dev. Goals Leader

Community Engagement Work:

  • Community engagement specialist
  • McKinney-Vento liaison for students experiencing homelessness
  • Parent facilitator
  • Built district care centers with 15–20 community partnerships (mental health clinics, food banks, clothing organizations)
  • Social Services Liason
  • Campus and District Wide STEM event Coordinator
  • School based Therapist at Bexar County Juvenile Justice Academy
  • School based Therapist at Communities in Schools (non-profit Organization)

Programs I've Led:

  • World Changers program implementing UN Sustainability Development Goals
  • STEM partnerships recruiting university professors, engineers, and scientists to teach students directly
  • Recruited community leaders and professionals to partner with schools
  • Stephen Covey’s Leader in Me program for Elementary and Middle Schools
  • Capturing Kid’s Hearts Character Ed. Guidance Program Elem. and Middle Schools
  • Young Achievers program for 8th graders in partnership with the Boy’s and Girls Club
  • SA Threads Lead to provide clothing throughout the school year to Middle school kids in need
  • SA Food Bank BackPack program for Middle School kids in need of weekend food supply
  • Parent, Student and Staff training at all levels for the following topics: Digital citizenship, Cyber Safety, Safe and Drug free schools, Anti-bullying, Fentanly and Suicide, Human Trafficking, Healthy Relationships, Mental Health, Nutrition series for better Mental Health, Nutrition series for families with Diabetes, mock court with Bexar County Juvenile Justice System,
  • Behavior Threat Assessment Team Lead on Campus and District committee
  • Lead responder to Anonymous tip line for Middle school campus crisis notices from studentsC
  • 504 Coordinator
  • MTSS Coordinator
  • Student Records (TREX) Coordinator
  • Mental Health Summer Camp for Elementary students
  • Designed opportunities for external partnerships to bring therapy animals to campus
  • Critical Response team forEducation Service Center Region 20 (responded to Uvalde Crisis, and Kerrville flood Crisis, and teacher deaths at District campuses)

I've maintained mentoring relationships with students from age 11 through college and beyond for over 30 years. These experiences helped students feel seen, inspired, and excited to learn.

3. What grade band(s) do you feel most comfortable leading?​

I feel most confident working with students ages 11–14, the middle school years. Middle school is the most malleable stage. Students are still highly influenced by teachers, mentors, and coaches, and guidance at this age can have a lasting impact.

I've mentored students in this age group for over 30 years and believe middle school is the ideal time to help young people build confidence, character, and a sense of direction—not just academically, but as human beings. In this world that seems to be so anti-human, these years are critical for grounding students in who they are and who they can become.

4. Do you have other educators in mind to refer as Primer Leaders at your campus?​

Yes. I have a strong network of educators, creatives, and community leaders who have expressed interest in working with students.

Key Potential Collaborators:

  • Father Alfonso Obregon – My father is a certified superintendent for Texas with a lifetime superintendent credential. He serves as a state mentor for new superintendents and has 40 years of relationships with superintendents across the state. He could potentially serve in an advisory or superintendent capacity.
  • Karen Giraldo – UT McCombs School of Business graduate who completed 3 degrees simultaneously. Former marketing lead at a top oil & gas company. Through a previous leadership position, she built a network of 3,000+ churches. She wants to open a marketing company serving God-aligned organizations and could help with outreach and communications.
  • [Media Company Friend] – Owns a media company, recently moved from NYC to San Antonio. Willing to teach digital media, marketing, and film. Previously offered to sponsor an after-school program with personal funds before the district failed to follow through.

I've also worked closely with universities, nonprofits, government organizations, and local leaders throughout my career. I'm confident I could recruit high-quality collaborators to help support and grow a program like this.

5. Are you involved in any organizations within your community?​

I am deeply involved through my work at a charter school and have consistently volunteered across San Antonio throughout my career. I've supported organizations such as the San Antonio Food Bank, ChildSafe, and various community initiatives across Bexar County.

Rather than focusing on one single organization, I've intentionally spread my efforts to meet needs across the city. I've built relationships in 5 different San Antonio school districts and maintain connections with community partners from the care centers I helped establish.

I'm also currently seeking a church community where I plan to become more actively involved in volunteering and service. I already have connections to a church that runs a food pantry 3–4 days per week and is eager to support educational initiatives.

6. Do you have students already in mind to enroll?​

Yes. I have multiple pathways to reach families:

Direct Relationships:

  • I've worked in 5 different school districts in San Antonio and maintained relationships with many families, including PTA leaders and parents involved in athletics, band, and school activities
  • At my current school location, 60 of the 120 students come from families connected to the church that owns the building. These families are already seeking faith-aligned education.

Network Access:

  • My friend Karen has deep ties to a network of 3,000+ churches from her previous leadership role. This could help spread awareness to families actively looking for alternative education options.
  • I have access to church and community networks throughout San Antonio

Market Context:

  • San Antonio's east side is one of the fastest growing areas in the country, with Toyota, Amazon, and other major employers building there
  • Voucher expansion means more families are leaving public schools and seeking alternatives
  • Many churches want to host schools but don't know how to do it or where to start

7. How did you hear about the Primer Fellowship?​

I heard about the Primer Fellowship through my friend Gary Sheng. We were discussing ways to make a meaningful impact in the community, particularly in education and technology. Gary discovered the opportunity with only 4 days until the application deadline and noticed that San Antonio was the only Texas city accepting applications.

When he shared this opportunity, it immediately resonated with me as a thoughtful and practical way to serve students and families. The timing felt providential. We'd always talked about starting a school together, and suddenly all the pieces seemed to be falling into place.

Additional Context​

Current Frustration: I'm currently working at a charter school where I feel underutilized. I'm spending more time on data entry than counseling students. When students report serious issues, administration doesn't act. I've told students to involve their parents because without parent pressure, the school won't do anything. I know I can do more.

Building Opportunity: The charter school I work at operates in a building owned by a church that previously ran Sunnybrook Christian School for 20+ years. The church has space for 200–300+ students, with an elementary building, cafeteria, and land for expansion. The church wants to return to Christian education. If the current charter's lease ends, this building could be an ideal location for a new Primer campus.

Vision: I want to help create a school that combines academic excellence with character formation. A place where students are seen, challenged, and prepared for the world—not just to survive it, but to change it.