Joán Álvarez is currently serving as the National Vice President of Schools at IDEA Public Schools. Currently, the network serves over 80,000 college-bound students in 143 schools across Texas and its affiliates. IDEA has been recognized as a “Great Place to Work” and received national rankings in The Washington Post, the U.S. Department of Education’s list of Blue Ribbon Schools, and the U.S. News & World Report’s Top High Schools lists.
Today, Joán is proud to see many of his students fulfill the promise and mission of graduating from college. Joán enjoys traveling to his students’ college graduations and celebrating their family achievements. Joán served as the founding principal of IDEA College Preparatory McAllen, ranked the number one high school in the country in the Jay Mathews Challenge Index High School Rankings. In 2019, Joán was recognized as a recipient of the Ryan Award, a prestigious recognition awarded to two high-performing principals in the nation for their transformational leadership and results. Under his leadership, the school earned an A rating every school year, met 100% state distinctions, was ranked number one in the state of Texas for student achievement and progress, and sent 100% of students to colleges and universities across the country. Joán attributes the many campus achievements to the Dream Team of teachers and leaders on campus. Joán earned his bachelor's and master’s degrees from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where he is finishing his doctoral degree in educational leadership. His dissertation will focus on studying the grit levels among first-generation students who persist to and through college. Joán believes every student's graduation tassel is a proof point of success by design. Joán enjoys being outdoors, traveling, and spending family time where he grew up - Progreso, Texas.