The Face of the Future of Education: Barbara A. Garza, AESA Prep Academy

September 1, 2026 - 22:06

Barbara A. Garza, the founder, owner, CEO, and Head of School of AESA Prep Academy in Austin, is celebrating a significant achievement for her institution and the wider AESA International School System. After a thorough review by Cognia, the largest education improvement and accreditation organization in the world, AESA received an Index of Education Quality score of 393 out of 400. That near-perfect result places the school in the top one percent of more than 40,000 public and private institutions evaluated across over 100 countries.

The recognition does not stop there. In July, Mrs. Garza was honored with the Educational Visionary Award, which came with a 24-hour feature on a Times Square billboard above the Pelé Store in New York City. The award highlights her more than four decades of innovative leadership and her steady commitment to academic excellence.

Mrs. Garza started AESA with a small loan from her mother and just four students, including her twin sons, Michael and Adrian. Watching them pursue competitive tennis, she wanted to build a school where young people could get a strong education without giving up their other passions. That idea grew into A.E.S.A, which stands for Academic Excellence for Scholars, Athletes, and Artists.

Seventeen years later, the school system has expanded into an internationally recognized network. It now includes specialized tracks like the AESA Entrepreneurial Institute, the AESA Medical and Veterinary Institute, the AESA Culinary Institute, and the AESA Business and Finance Institute. Students can also study abroad at AESA Prep Academy of Barcelona to gain a broader global perspective.

Mrs. Garza has redefined personalized education by blending strong academics with character building, international experiences, and learning plans tailored to each student. AESA continues to prepare its students not just for college and careers, but also for lives as confident, compassionate, and capable leaders.