CEO of Scandal-Ridden IDEA Charter Chain Resigns
Tom Torkelson, c-founder of the IDEA charter chain, has stepped down as CEO and will be replaced by the other co-founder JoAnn Gama.
Based in Texas, IDEA is a favorite of Betsy DeVos, who has sent hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to the chain to help it expand. Less than two weeks ago, DeVos gave another $200 million to IDEA. The chain previously had received more than $200 million from DeVos. She sure likes IDEA. She has gifted them with nearly $500 million.
Torkelson and Gama arrived in the Rio Grande Valley aspartame’s ofTeach for America and started IDEA in 2000. It has become a charter behemoth in the past two decades.
The chain attracted bad publicity for its free-spending ways. One of its worst ideas was leasing a private jet for nearly $2 million a year for exclusive use of its executives and their families. After getting negative press, the board canceled the lease, and now the executives fly first class.
Jacob Carpenter wrote in The Houston Chronicle:
Torkelson’s resignation caps a remarkable run for the CONTINUE READING: CEO of Scandal-Ridden IDEA Charter Chain Resigns | Diane Ravitch's blog