Rian Townsend, Executive Director, IDEA Public Schools Tarrant County

In an interview with Invest:, Rian Townsend, executive director of IDEA Tarrant County, discussed IDEA’s first graduating class in 2026 and the school’s expansion to Dallas. Townsend emphasized integrating industry trends, supporting first-generation college students, and ensuring equity in education.

What have been the significant milestones and achievements for IDEA in Tarrant County?

This year we had six IDEA Elementary and Middle Schools Ranked Among the Best Performing in Texas by U.S. News and World Report (Achieve Academy, Edgecliff Academy, Rise Academy, Achieve College Prep, Edgecliff College Prep and Rise College Prep). All the schools in our region were among the top schools nationwide to earn a spot on the Alliance for a Healthier Generation 2023 list of “America’s Healthiest Schools” for their commitment to promoting quality nutrition, regular physical activity, and strong wellness policies.  

We’re heading toward our first graduating class in 2026 at two of our campuses, IDEA Rise College Prep and IDEA Achieve College Prep. We’ve also expanded to the Dallas area for the 2024-25 school year. Previously, all our campuses were in Fort Worth. This year, we’re opening our first campus in Dallas, taking over the charter for the previously established A.W. Brown.

What unique challenges does IDEA face?

Funding is always an issue, based on how much we will receive for the school year. There’s a lot of competition with so many charter schools and district schools in the metroplex. We must be competitive and ensure our programs are not only successful but also sustainable.  

We serve a diverse student population with varying needs. Addressing achievement gaps between different student groups is a significant challenge. Providing adequate services and accommodations for students with disabilities can be resource-intensive and requires specialized staff and training. Due to teacher shortages our schools face challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified teachers, particularly in subjects like math, reading, science, and special education. High levels of stress, workload, and sometimes inadequate support can lead to teacher burnout, resulting in turnover and impacting the quality of education a student receives. The emphasis on standardized testing can place pressure on students, teachers, and schools, sometimes leading to a narrow focus on test preparation at the expense of a broader curriculum. As you know, schools are often judged based on test scores and other accountability measures, which may not fully reflect the quality of education, or the challenges faced by the school community. Addressing the mental health needs of students is an increasing challenge, as schools are often the first point of contact for students dealing with issues such as anxiety, depression, and trauma. Finally, ensuring a safe and inclusive environment where students are free from bullying and discrimination is critical to their success.

How are you integrating industry trends into your curriculum?

We partner with community colleges for dual credit programs and stay updated on student interests. We’re also in talks with four-year universities and receive input from industry professionals about workforce needs. For example, one partner mentioned that the retirement of baby boomers could create a 48% workforce gap. We share such trends with our students to inform them about various fields. Many of our students come from low socioeconomic backgrounds and may not be aware of the wide range of career options. We want to ensure they have the same opportunities as their suburban peers and can plan their futures accordingly. We prioritize partnerships with local workforce organizations in Fort Worth. It is also important to introduce courses that align with high-demand career fields that reflect current industry trends.

How do you support first-generation college students and those from low-income backgrounds in navigating higher education?

At IDEA, we start with what we call field lessons in the Academy space, which is our K-5 program. These field lessons involve visiting colleges, and they continue until a student graduates’ high school. While I can tell you all about the University of Texas at Austin or Arlington, there’s no substitute for being on campus and seeing the college experience. By the time a student graduates from IDEA, they will have completed many hours of these field lessons. We take them to various campuses, not just local institutions, to give them broad exposure.

It’s essential to start this early. Waiting until their junior year to encourage college attendance isn’t effective. We begin in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade, constantly reinforcing the idea that they are going to college. But our focus extends beyond just getting to college; it’s about succeeding in college and life. Many students drop out after a semester or two because they’re not prepared for the demands of college life, both academically and intrinsically. To address this, we offer courses called Road To and Through College. Road to and Through College (RTTC) is a college-readiness curriculum that consists of monthly lessons in 6th through 8th Grade and a year-long course throughout each year of high school. The courses are designed to prepare students for success in college by supporting each of the four major buckets of college readiness: academic skills, college-graduating identity, college knowledge, community involvement and citizenship. We know that college graduation relies not just on our students’ academic readiness, but also non-cognitive skills and social-emotional competencies that will allow students to effectively set and work toward goals, build self-efficacy and take ownership, persist through challenges, and find a sense of belonging in new environments. which include financial literacy and other essential skills for college.

How are you addressing the varied needs of different student groups?

We take a comprehensive, inclusive and data driven approach to address the diverse needs of our student population. One of my main goals is to support our diverse student population. We have a special programs department dedicated to English Language Learners and our Special Education students. We also offer accelerated programs for our gifted and talented students to ensure they are challenged and engaged. For students who are below grade level, we offer intervention classes for remediation and acceleration.  

Additionally, it’s crucial for students to see themselves reflected in our staff. Diversity amongst our staff helps students see that success is attainable for them. While anyone can positively impact a child regardless of background, it’s particularly beneficial for students to see role models who share their cultural or linguistic background and who share and celebrate their culture.

What strategies are you employing to retain high-quality staff and support their professional development?

One of our main goals this year is staff retention. We’ve partnered with a group called The Educator Collective, which provides various activities for teachers to promote a healthy work-life balance. These activities include different social events.

In terms of professional development, we have instructional coaches who work with all our teachers, especially core teachers. We’ve also hired a new director of leadership development to work specifically with new teachers. This role isn’t just about instruction but also focuses on social-emotional support — checking in on how new teachers are feeling and addressing what’s been overwhelming for them. Last year, our data showed we lost too many first-year teachers, so we’re being intentional about retaining them.

Additionally, I conduct a listening tour at the beginning of the year, visiting each campus to hear directly from the staff about their needs. Some issues we can address immediately, while others might require more discussion. We also have our New Leader Institute and New Teaching Institute for professional growth. Overall, we focus on both professional and personal development for our staff.

How are you leveraging technology to enhance learning and support your students?

We have a one-to-one technology program, so all our kids have a device. Our state assessments are on the computer now, so we make sure every class integrates technology use. It’s important to teach students to be responsible with technology because it can be both a gift and a curse. All our kids have access to a device, and we are a one-to-one region, especially for our ninth- through 12th-grade students.

We are working with Tarrant County Community College to address STEM needs. We had our first dual-credit program at our IDEA Edgecliff campus last year. Edgecliff currently goes up to 10th grade, so these were ninth graders participating. We’re in the early stages of our students matriculating through to graduation, so there will be more success stories as we progress.

What initiatives are in place to address mental health issues?

IDEA DFW has partnered with Reconnecting Youth Inc., to launch the CAST (Coping and Support Training) program. Cast is a prevention program for middle and high school aged youth. It is a 12-lesson program that focuses on building self-esteem, setting goals & monitoring, decision making and personal control. The program is designed to help youth build coping skills, enhance social support resources and increase time spent in healthy activities. Our group of dynamic social workers and counselors will facilitate these groups as a preventative measure as well as an intervention for scholars who need additional support. This evidence-based program has been shown to reduce suicide- risk behaviors, depression, hopelessness, anxiety, anger and drug involvement, while increasing school bonding and social support resources. Importantly, we maintain communication and support even after the program ends to ensure long-term impact.

What are your top priorities and goals for IDEA in Tarrant County? 

My goal is for 100% of our students to not only be accepted into college but also to matriculate and graduate. I want them to become role models in our community. Additionally, I aim for IDEA Public Schools to be seen as the best option for parents in the DFW area, ensuring they feel confident that their students will succeed at our schools.

I think IDEA does a remarkable job focusing not just on getting kids to college, but also through college, especially since over 80% of our students are first-generation college students. IDEA started in the Rio Grande Valley, and our foundation and core values reflect that diverse population. We have students from various areas and countries, and our goal is to integrate all these individuals, help them succeed, and have them return as role models in our community.