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TEPSA President Profile
Hollinger is the vice president of talent development for IDEA Public Schools, which has headquarters in Weslaco and schools throughout the Rio Grande Valley. In his full-time role, which he assumed this summer, Hollinger is charged with coaching and developing the principals of all IDEA schools. Prior to being promoted, he was the principal of IDEA Quest College Preparatory. Hollinger’s journey as an educator began in 1980 when he received two bachelor’s degrees — in Spanish and in Spanish education — from Ohio State University. A year later, he earned his master’s degree in deaf education, a pursuit inspired by his wife, Judy, who earned the same degree. A tight job market in Ohio led the young couple to Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, where they landed jobs in McAllen Memorial High School’s regional day program for the deaf. During his time at the school, Hollinger earned his mid-management administrator credentials from The University of Texas–Pan American. In 1989, McAllen ISD promoted Hollinger to supervisor of deaf education, overseeing instruction from pre-K to high school. Five years later, he became principal of one of the district’s primary schools, Fields Elementary. Hollinger admits that it wasn’t a good fit. “The previous principal had been there for 30 years. Every single person loved him at that school,” he recalls. “They were a pretty traditional school, set in their ways, and I came in. I was green and progressive.” From learning to leading After four years at Fields, Hollinger was reassigned to lead Christa McAuliffe Elementary School, which enjoyed a reputation as a forward-thinking campus, Hollinger thrived in the new environment. He received his doctorate in education from UT–Pan American in 2001 and was named a National Distinguished Principal of Texas in 2003. He also began teaching master’s classes part time in UT-Pan American’s Department of Educational Leadership. In 2005, Hollinger began mentoring principal interns as a founding coach at Teachers College in Columbia University. A series of random circumstances led him to the city of Donna for a tour of the first — and, at the time, only — IDEA Public School. “I wasn’t interested [in IDEA schools] for myself. I thought that it might be great for a friend of mine,” Hollinger says. However, he was so impressed with what he saw that he decided to apply for the principal post at the new IDEA Quest College Preparatory School; his friend applied for the primary school principalship, and they both were hired in the summer of 2005. “IDEA Public Schools is a public charter in Texas with open enrollment,” he explains. “Our target population is students from underserved communities. Our goal is to make sure that all of our kids graduate from high school college-ready, and that every single student enrolls in a four-year college or university. You can’t graduate from an IDEA school without two letters of acceptance from colleges.” This past July, Hollinger was promoted to vice president of talent development. His extensive experience in mentoring serves him well in his new job and in his new role as TEPSA president. Hollinger adopted a garden theme for his presidential term to stress the importance of individual growth and organizational growth. Under Hollinger’s leadership, TEPSA plans to tackle issues such as early intervention, teacher training and smaller class sizes. Accountability remains a priority too. Hollinger says that TEPSA is committed to seeing that Texas has a meaningful and relevant system of school and teacher accountability. “It would be different if the raw materials were the same, but every kid is different,” he says. “We are not opposed to accountability. We just want the system to be reasonable and fair.” When he’s not working, Hollinger spends his free time with Judy, his high school sweetheart and wife of 30 years. Ever the teacher, he leads worship and congregational singing and writes the order of worship every Sunday at The Life Church in Edinburg, where he also serves as minister of music. In whatever he pursues, Hollinger keeps his eye on the bigger picture. “It doesn’t matter which piece you look at, whether we’re growing our students to be future citizens, growing our teachers to be evermore successful teachers, growing our schools, or growing ourselves or our organization — we are always, in fact, growing our future,” he says. WHITNEY ANGSTADT is a freelance writer in Austin. |
Scott Hollinger might have begun his career educating kids, but he has made his mark as a leader and mentor among teachers and administrators. The IDEA Public Schools administrator is continuing to guide and champion educators as the president of the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association, a post he assumed in June.