08/28/2026
A few weeks ago, School Discovery Network Founder and Exec Director Inga Cotton attended the Great Hearts ribbon cutting event at the historic Koehler House in Monte Vista.
When Great Hearts Monte Vista (GHMV) opened in 2014, the house belonged to San Antonio College. GHMV was given access to the spacious grounds for use as a play area. Later, Weston Urban bought the Koehler House intending to convert it into a hotel, but instead renovated and leased it to the school.
The first floor, basement, and carriage house have been converted to art and music classrooms and a school library. The second and third floors are office areas for district leadership. Outside, the space was covered with artificial turf so students can play more without worrying about mud.
The ribbon cutting ceremony reflected the unique culture and learning model of Great Hearts. School leaders expressed gratitude for the beautiful and historic building as a space for play, learning, and leadership. A faculty choir sang a selection from Haydn's "Creation" oratorio. Two students were asked to cut the actual ribbon: one is a 4th grader, the other is a senior and part of a founding family at GHMV.
Though the Cottons now attend different schools, they were also a GHMV founding family. And ever since those days, Inga continues to be an integral part of advocacy for school choice in the SA community. It meant a lot to have been included in this special event.
