Dreamers Academy Founder: ‘Positive, Individualized’ Learning Experience Is Key to Success

How is it that Dreamers Academy–a Sarasota dual language Spanish immersion charter school in its second year of operation–scored near the top in Sarasota school rankings in the 2022- 23 Florida FAST standardized assessment and scored 10th out of 1,231 low-income Title I schools in all of Florida?

The Dreamers Academy scored higher in English language arts and mathematics than both the Sarasota district average and state average. It scored sixth in the ranking of all elementary schools in Sarasota, and it almost tied with the high-achieving Venice and Tatum Ridge elementary schools in English language arts and beat both schools in mathematics. These successes happened even though the school was not even two years old at the time of testing and had sought out students, particularly English language learners (ELL), who were amongst the lowest achieving demographic group.

Osprey resident Geri Chaffee, the founder and visionary of the Dreamers Academy, explained that as excited as she was with FAST testing results, the real proof of the pudding of the school’s effectiveness is in the day-to-day achievement of the students in Spanish-English language acquisition, reading achievement, cultural sensitivity, and an eagerness to learn.

“There is no teaching-to-the-test at the Dreamers Academy,” she said. “Instead, the staff turns learning into a positive, individualized experience.”

The Dreamers Academy currently serves 440 students, grades K-4, but student enrollment will rise to full capacity of 650 students next year with the addition of 5th grade and a new group of kindergarten students. There are three groupings of children at the academy: ELL students with Spanish as their primary language; children from dual language homes (Spanish and English) with a wide range of language skills; and Englishspeaking children with no exposure to Spanish.

Chaffee, who switched careers from communications to education and now has two master’s degrees in education, has just started a doctoral program at Vanderbilt University. She explained how Dreamers Academy’s dual language program works. “It is structured so that two classes in the same grade are paired together, with children in one class learning grade-level content and standards in English from a licensed teacher and children in the adjacent, connected class receiving the lesson in Spanish from a partner, the Spanish-speaking licensed teacher. The next day, the students switch and are immersed in the partner language,” she said. “They are learning content in and through two languages simultaneously.”

The two classes work together as a unit all year, so the children benefit from exposure to two different Florida-licensed teachers who also plan together, share insights on the children, and engage parents, an essential component of the program.

Studies of dual language programs have shown that children who become bilingual often show higher academic performance and enhanced cognitive skills. An article by the Association for Language Learning, “Immersion Learning: What Impact Does It Have?” said that dual language immersion students “typically develop greater cognitive flexibility, demonstrating increased attention control, better memory, and superior problem-solving skills.” Furthermore, they develop a more “positive attitude towards other cultures.” Finally, “immersion students are better prepared for the global community and job markets where a second language is an asset.”

In touring Dreamers Academy with Chaffee, it became clear why students are thriving. This is the academy’s first year at the Newtown site, a beautifully designed, bright, and airy two-story building with separate wings for each grade cohort. Dreamers Academy’s first two years were spent in temporary quarters on the campus of Temple Beth Sholom.

This is what Critical Times saw and learned on the tour:

The students observed were all eagerly engaged in learning.

The school staff, from the highest level of administration down to the cafeteria workers, were supportive of students and the school’s mission. They all seemed excited to work there.

The school founder, Geri Chaffee, has secured multiple grants, including a $100,500 grant to create a state-of-the-art culturally sensitive bilingual library. The school also raised $200,000 to build a student-designed playground and is now working on outfitting a sophisticated science lab.

Parent outreach and engagement are at the heart of the school; the ability of staff to converse with Spanish-speaking parents and guardians is a game-changer.

The Dreamers Academy has high-level support services, including a part-time bilingual psychologist and a full-time bilingual speech therapist—both based on observed need, with the full-time bilingual speech position being unique to any Florida school.

Chaffee’s own experience as an ELL student in New York City and especially raising her own two children bilingually convinced her of the value of the dual language approach. She was further convinced when she volunteered at a Sarasota Title I school.

In 2017, Chaffee approached the Sarasota County School District about establishing dual language programming, but only the superintendent at the time, Todd Bowden, was on board. He said he could not move forward without broader staff support and suggested that Chaffee develop a charter school to prove the model’s effectiveness. Simultaneously, she pitched her ideas to the Manatee County School District and found a receptive audience. With Chaffee’s help, they moved forward in establishing a dual language program in one school and have since expanded to five schools.

Currently, Chaffee is in contact with Sarasota school administrators and is hopeful that dual language programs in Spanish and Russian/ Ukrainian, a burning need in the North Port area, will be developed within the district.

It should be of no surprise that “think-outsidethe-box” Chaffee applied to NASA to receive a “moon tree” seedling. This is a seedling grown from seeds taken into orbit in NASA rockets around the moon. The sweetgum “moon tree” seedling will arrive shortly and will be planted on the Dreamers Academy’s campus. Chaffee is worried about who will care for the tree this summer. “It needs attention and loving care to thrive,” she said.

Now, isn’t this “moon tree” the perfect metaphor for Chaffee and her Dreamers Academy?

Carol Lerner is a retired educator and the director of Support Our Schools.