IDEA Weslaco

Her goals were to change the lives of students in her classroom and she began that mission in her neighborhood elementary school that she attended Roosevelt Elementary in McAllen. She continued that mission in Weslaco where she taught at Rudy Silva Elementary in Weslaco in a dual language elementary school and led the bilingual department at that school. She taught at several elementary grade levels and in her last year as a fifth-grade science teacher 100% percent of her students in her bilingual class passed the state exam and over 60% reached commended status. She earned her Master’s in Educational Leadership from UTRGV in 2010. In 2010 Sylvia joined IDEA Public Schools as a teacher recruiter. She was tasked with finding teachers like her, passionate teachers that would transform the lives of students in the Rio Grande Valley, for the fast-growing organization. She joined IDEA Weslaco Academy in 2011 as an Assistant Principal of Instruction and has made this campus her home ever since. She moved up the ranks and took over as the campus principal in 2017-2018. IDEA Weslaco Academy has been recognized as the best academy/ primary school 4 times during her tenure. In August of 2022, they were recognized as an A campus by the Texas Education Agency for the 2021-2022 academic school year. She is proud of serving the Weslaco community and ensuring that 100% of her students reach their full potential.

She began her teaching career in her hometown of San Benito, TX at her own middle school and taught courses ranging from 8th grade math to AP Calculus for 14 years. Leanna began working for IDEA Public Schools in 2010 as a high school math teacher, served as a grade level and content leader and was recognized as IDEA’s Teacher of the Year in 2012. She was promoted to school leadership in 2012 serving as an Assistant Principal of Instruction before joining the Principal in Residency program in 2015. Her principalship began in the fall of 2015 when she joined the IDEA Weslaco College Preparatory team. Her campus continues to matriculate 100% of graduates to college with over 30% to Tier 1/11 universities. Leanna believes in college for all children and operates daily knowing that adults who serve our students are successful when they are coached and developed. Teaching and learning are her passions.

Since joining IDEA in 2019, Meranda has worked to lead her campus to the top of district rankings in student persistence and served as a support for students and staff to meet and exceed personal and campus goals. Meranda is a strong believer in supporting others to ensure success and strives to continue to provide students with a consistent and organized learning environment. Her goal is to ensure a safe learning environment for scholars to meet their goal of getting to and through college.