IDEA Bluff Springs

Mariela Barrera has been in education for 14 years. Prior to joining IDEA, she taught 5th grade science in Rio Grande City. She would never have imagined that this small school would ignite the beginning of my passion. This campus had a population of 45% recent immigrant students. She began the year teaching 2nd grade but was moved 5 weeks into the school year to what would become her favorite content to teach. She taught 5th grade science at La Union Elementary for 2 years and championed her students to unseen results even with the language barriers at hand. After 3 years, Principal Barrera moved to the upper valley. The first year there, she taught 4th grade self-contained for La Joya ISD. The following year she was asked to follow her students to 5th grade. She taught content in both dual language and English for the next 5 years and encouraged her students to the district’s highest results placing them 1st in the district all 5 years.

A native of Austin, she is acutely aware of the educational inequities in her hometown. A Teach for America alum, she has taught and led in both traditional ISDs and CMOs in the Dallas area prior to coming on board as a Principal-in-Residence. This wealth of experience will serve her well as the leader of IDEA Bluff Springs College Prep.

Mrs. Potts is a native Austinite. She began her career in early childhood education in 2000. She then transitioned into school leadership in 2009, where she guided teachers and staff so they could reach their full potential, worked to strengthen the connection between school and home, and fostered a positive school culture. Mrs. Potts joined the Bluff Springs Team in 2019.