Fernando Aguilar is deeply rooted in the area of Texas known as the Rio Grande Valley (RGV). Born in McAllen, TX, and raised in Pharr, TX (home of the Bears!), he is one of five siblings born to Mexican immigrant parents. Fernando and his wife have five children and have called Mission, TX, their home for the last twelve years. They take pride in being first-generation college students and having connections with family on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Growing up, Fernando faced financial challenges as his parents navigated life on minimum wage. Despite the hardships, they instilled in him the value of education, motivating him to pursue a college degree. Fernando earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Management and Business Administration from the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (formerly UT Pan American) and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Texas Permian Basin. Before joining IDEA Public Schools, he held management positions in various chain restaurants such as IHOP, Red Lobster, Luby’s Restaurant and Target retail stores, accumulating over 25 years of experience leading diverse teams to achieve objectives and operational excellence.

In 2012, Fernando became part of the IDEA Team & Family by joining the Child Nutrition Program. Today, he serves as the Vice President of the Child Nutrition Program, driven by the belief that school food services should ensure that all children have access to nutritious meals. He and his team are dedicated to advancing IDEA Public Schools and realizing a vision to be the exemplary school food service program in the nation.