Phillip Garza

Phillip Garza is a seasoned education leader dedicated to expanding college access and success for students. He joined the KIPP Foundation in 2025 as Chief of College Advancement and Partnerships, where he leads the KIPP Forward Counseling & Match and Postsecondary Scholarships & Partnerships teams. In this role, Phillip focuses on building strong pathways to postsecondary success and ensuring students have the resources to persist through college and beyond.

Before joining KIPP, Phillip spent nearly 14 years as Chief College Officer at IDEA Public Schools, overseeing college access and persistence initiatives for more than 30,000 students across 51 schools. Under his leadership, IDEA achieved nationally recognized outcomes in college completion, setting a benchmark for the field. Earlier in his career, he taught 4th grade reading and writing in Houston ISD, where his students exceeded state standards, and later served as Managing Director of Alumni Affairs for Teach For America Houston, leading efforts to connect alumni and advance educational equity.

Phillip is known for building strong teams, finding new ways to solve challenges, and using data to guide decisions. His personal experiences and deep commitment to equity continue to drive his work to help students succeed in college, career, and beyond.