Our StoryI Dream Public Charter School began as a passion project by educators. These teachers, principals, and community members believed that school could and should be different. Each member of our team has their own journey and reasons why they believe in this work (click here to meet our team).
As an organization, I Dream Public Charter School received early and critical support in our journey. We were able to do a spring break pilot program with the support of 4.0 Schools. We then received the Camelback Ventures Fellowship which empowered our leadership to invest in this organization and grow to the next level. CityBridge Education focuses on creating great schools in Washington, D.C., and their support was crucial in getting our charter application submitted and ready. Education Forward DC and NewSchools Venture Fund, along with CityBridge Education, and Camelback Ventures, expanded our founding team’s skill set during the planning year and provided resources to help us secure our temporary home in the East Washington Heights Baptist Church in Southeast DC. All along the way, our partners in community organizations, like the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington (FBR Branch), Community of Hope, Martha’s Table, and the Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative, supported our journey through invitations to events to get the word out about our school, training for our board and staff, and resources to support our learners and families. I Dream PCS received unanimous charter approval from the city of Washington, D.C.'s board approval process in June 2019. Our team worked hard with our community to create an innovative, exciting school. I Dream Public Charter School opened our doors east of the Anacostia River in Fall 2020 at 2220 Branch Ave SE, Washington, D.C. 20020. We are redefining success and achievement by equipping young people with the confidence, emotional intelligence, and skills to achieve purpose in life and learning on their own terms. Our learner-centered, strengths-based approach to teaching and learning is a collaboration between learners, staff, and families, that incorporates the assets of our community. Thank you to everyone--our friends, families, communities, learners, and partners--who have believed in our dream and shared theirs with ours. Our story continues. |
2017: the concept map the teachers, principals, and
community members created to envision what we wanted I Dream PCS to be when we began planning the school in 2017.
2018: Founder Janine Gomez at a town hall meeting to engage community members with the school's formation
2018: Spring Break "Dream Camp" to test our model and provide spring break enrichment
2018: Community Hall inviting Learners to share what they want to see in a school
April 2020: Our Vision Video
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