For Marcy Peña, IDEA has always been home. From her very first day of Pre-K to the moment she crossed the graduation stage at IDEA McAllen in 2022, Marcy experienced the full IDEA journey—shaped by caring teachers, her family’s deep ties to the IDEA community, and a belief in the power of education to transform lives.
Today, Marcy is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin, preparing to step into her own classroom as a bilingual education teacher. “I just want my students to feel the way I did with my teachers at IDEA: supported, encouraged, and understood,” she shared.
A Family Rooted in IDEA
Marcy’s story is not just her own, but her family’s. Her parents immigrated from Mexico in search of opportunity, and IDEA quickly became central to their lives. Her mother, Marcia Peña, has worked in the IDEA McAllen cafeteria for 12 years, her younger sister is currently a sophomore at IDEA McAllen, and Marcy herself spent her entire PK–12 journey in IDEA classrooms.
“IDEA has impacted me and my whole family,” Marcy reflected. “I’m grateful not just for what it offered me as a student, but also for the community and the opportunities it gave my mom and sister. The impact has been on all of us, not just me.”
Finding Her Voice
Through her years at IDEA, Marcy grew from a quiet student into a confident leader. With the encouragement of teachers and staff, she embraced new opportunities in academics and extracurriculars. Those experiences built the foundation for her success in college and beyond.
College Success with IDEA’s Support
When it came time for college, Marcy earned a place at UT Austin; debt-free thanks to a generous financial aid package and the IDEA Give Me 5 Scholarship, funded by contributions from IDEA staff and community supporters. That scholarship has made a tangible difference each year, helping her cover essential needs and stay focused on her studies.
“Because of Give Me 5, I’ve been able to focus 100% on my coursework and student teaching, without having to take on extra jobs,” she explained.
She added: “To the IDEA staff who give to Give Me 5, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your support makes it possible for students like me to keep going and give our best.”
Looking Ahead: Advocacy in Action
As she completes her final year at UT, Marcy is preparing for her future classroom, where she sees strong opportunities in bilingual education. She’s already an active leader in the Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE), where she has coordinated statewide student groups and spoken at conferences.
Full Circle
From the little girl in an IDEA classroom to the confident UT Austin senior preparing to lead her own, Marcy’s story embodies the power of IDEA’s mission and the generosity of those who give to sustain it.
“I am grateful to IDEA for everything it has offered to my family,” Marcy said. “The teachers, the resources, the scholarship— it all added up to make me who I am today.”
