May 23, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 87 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E662-E663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING JOANN GAMA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. VICENTE GONZALEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 23, 2019

  Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor JoAnn 
Gama, an educator, innovator, and leader.
  JoAnn Gama was born and raised on the north side of Houston, Texas. 
In 1997, she joined Teach For America, committing two years to teaching 
in public schools in underserved communities. After moving to the Rio 
Grande Valley, JoAnn enrolled at the University of Texas-Pan American, 
now known as the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and eamed her 
master's degree in Educational Leadership.
  In 1998, JoAnn co-founded the IDEA Academy within the Donna 
Independent School District with fellow Teach For America corps member, 
Tom Torkelson. After one year as a ``school within a school,'' JoAnn 
and Tom applied for a state charter. Nearly 20 years ago, in August of 
2000, they opened the IDEA Academy Charter School with 150 students, 
grades 4 through 8.
  JoAnn is the co-founder and chief of schools, and led many efforts to 
replicate the original school. Currently, IDEA Public Schools educate 
nearly 45,000 students in 79 schools across five regions--the Rio 
Grande Valley, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso and Southern Louisiana. In 
2017, U.S. News & World Report ranked IDEA Donna, IDEA Quest, and IDEA 
Frontier in the top 1 percent of all public high schools in the United 
States and the top 40 best public charter schools in the nation.
  Madam Speaker, JoAnn Gama has worked tirelessly to give countless 
students the tools they need to succeed. She is a pillar of our 
community and an example to us all. It is an honor to represent a 
selfless, committed individual like her who has forever changed and 
strengthened the foundation of education in South Texas. I wish JoAnn, 
her husband Juan, and her children Gaeland and Jimena the best in their 
future endeavors

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