Since March 2019, Tishanna Dixon has held the Education Specialist position at the Dream Academy Learning center at Memorial Middle School in Orlando, Florida. An Engineering and Mathematics instructor by profession, Tishanna also worked as Project Manager of International Educational Projects for over 21 years in four different countries. Ms. Dixon earned a Master's degree in Project Management at the University of Greenwich and a second Master's degree in Teaching and Learning at the University of East London.
Former U.S. Dream Academy DreamKid, volunteer, and mentor, Emy now serves as our Mentor Coordinator for the Orlando Learning Center. Emy graduated from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University with a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice and a minor in Pre-Law.
Our DreamTeens recently attended a workforce development event at Jones High School in Orlando. At the start of this academic year, the Dream Academy piloted a workforce development project in funded by USA Fund to compliment the college readiness focus of our programming.
Our goal is to prepare DreamTeens to secure meaningful summer employment that links to their career and college choices through training and internships. In partnership with SkillSmart’s customized online platform, we will help DreamTeens identify and build core employment skills to increase their marketability.
Our mentors work hard on behalf of our DreamKids – and deserve to play hard, as well. Recently, mentors mixed business with pleasure in an outing to a local restaurant in Orlando. Over dinner, the mentors first addressed issues of business. Center staff led discussions concerning our Center’s vision as well as intricacies concerning child trauma and effective tools for crisis response.
Once business was out of the way, mentors could play. Mentors relaxed and were able to bond with each other and Center staff, and be acknowledged and appreciated for their efforts. Thank you, Mentors! Keep up the good work!
The Dream Academy Learning Center in Orlando opened its doors at Memorial Middle School in 2007. The multiracial student body at Memorial Middle School comes from predominantly low socio-economic family backgrounds. The Center serves 60 children with multiple risk factors in and around the Rio Grande Community. The center also serves the 4th and 5th grade students of neighboring Catalina Elementary School.
The Dream Academy staff maintains a strong relationship with the school, and is viewed as a stellar academic enrichment program by the principal, guidance counselors, and many teachers. One unique asset of the program is Kids Court, a peer mediation activity that empowers students to take control of their actions and consequences.
American Heart Association
AMP Group
Edible Education Experience
Florida Hospital
Florida Hospital Children – Mission FIT
Florida Hospital Church
Fun Spot
Kroger Pharmaceuticals
Men of Integrity – UCF
New Covenant Christian Center
New Day Christian Center
Pre Physician Associates
Public Allies
SkillSmart
Strada Education Network
Stuph Clothing
UCF
Valencia College
CSCOPE 20/20
Girl Scouts of Citrus Council
Kingdom Church
National Society of Black Engineers at University of Central Florida
Orange County Public Schools
University of Central Florida - Leads Scholar Program
