Meet Our Team
Angela Peyton, Operations Coordinator
Growing up in DC from birth, I learned very early on the obstacles minority children in our area would face then and have only become more challenging now. Being aware of the negative traits of growing up in an underprivileged neighborhood only made me more desperate to develop the positive traits I wanted to sow into the next generation. I started caring for children as early as 12 years of age as a babysitter, and pursued childhood education in High School. Since then, I have lovingly worked in early childhood, and school age education in intervals over the last 20 years, with most of my experience serving Early Learning centers in Alexandria, VA. It is a tremendous gift for me to come back to my roots by way of serving my “home” with love and commitment to changing the world one dream at a time.
Growing up in DC from birth, I learned very early on the obstacles minority children in our area would face then and have only become more challenging now. Being aware of the negative traits of growing up in an underprivileged neighborhood only made me more desperate to develop the positive traits I wanted to sow into the next generation. I started caring for children as early as 12 years of age as a babysitter, and pursued childhood education in High School. Since then, I have lovingly worked in early childhood, and school age education in intervals over the last 20 years, with most of my experience serving Early Learning centers in Alexandria, VA. It is a tremendous gift for me to come back to my roots by way of serving my “home” with love and commitment to changing the world one dream at a time.
Christina Hinton, Learner Support
I have been in the special educational field for over 6 years and I am thrilled to be apart of the I Dream Team. I am excited to make connections with our learners. I Dream makes me feel at home as my voice is heard and I am able to be a free spirited rainbow. I will always make sure I do everything with love when it comes to the families and learners in my world. I believe we can do anything together.
I have been in the special educational field for over 6 years and I am thrilled to be apart of the I Dream Team. I am excited to make connections with our learners. I Dream makes me feel at home as my voice is heard and I am able to be a free spirited rainbow. I will always make sure I do everything with love when it comes to the families and learners in my world. I believe we can do anything together.
Deangelo Johnson, Security and Operations Coordinator
Baba Adebona, Physical Education (via Trax Sports)
Janine Gomez, Executive Director
I was that child who dreamed big. My favorite phrase was, "I can do that!" When I watched Bugs Bunny dig a whole through Earth and pop out in China, I said, "I can do that!" Two weeks of digging in our backyard with the spoon my mother gave me, and the help of my neighborhood friends didn't lead me to China, but I fell in love with rocks, learned about the life of ants, and observed the layers of soil. I have many stories about pursuing my dreams and passions as a child. My West Indian/Cape Verdean grandparents immigrated to the U.S. to pursue their dreams. Dreaming is in my DNA.
The idea to create I Dream PCS has been my dream for more than a decade. I believe every child has a right to dream, but that right to dream in school has only been for the affluent private school learner. I experienced the freedom to be curious and to dream in the private school I attended 1st - 3rd grades. I also experienced what is considered a traditional education for Black and Brown children in undervalued communities like the neighborhood I grew up in - compliance, skill drills and weekly tests, repeat procedures without understanding concepts. I want I Dream PCS learners to be free to think for themselves, to know themselves, to dream big, and to know how to pursue their dreams. I want every learner at I Dream to say with confidence, "I can do that!"
I was that child who dreamed big. My favorite phrase was, "I can do that!" When I watched Bugs Bunny dig a whole through Earth and pop out in China, I said, "I can do that!" Two weeks of digging in our backyard with the spoon my mother gave me, and the help of my neighborhood friends didn't lead me to China, but I fell in love with rocks, learned about the life of ants, and observed the layers of soil. I have many stories about pursuing my dreams and passions as a child. My West Indian/Cape Verdean grandparents immigrated to the U.S. to pursue their dreams. Dreaming is in my DNA.
The idea to create I Dream PCS has been my dream for more than a decade. I believe every child has a right to dream, but that right to dream in school has only been for the affluent private school learner. I experienced the freedom to be curious and to dream in the private school I attended 1st - 3rd grades. I also experienced what is considered a traditional education for Black and Brown children in undervalued communities like the neighborhood I grew up in - compliance, skill drills and weekly tests, repeat procedures without understanding concepts. I want I Dream PCS learners to be free to think for themselves, to know themselves, to dream big, and to know how to pursue their dreams. I want every learner at I Dream to say with confidence, "I can do that!"
Jasmine Merritt, Coach
Jeffery Peoples, Learner Support
Kevin Summers, Director of Culture and Learner Success
Lisa Monroe, School Based Therapist (via Paving The Way)
Loretta Durr, Instructional Coach
After 10 years of building the micro school, Bloom Academy, in Woodstock, Ga and thirty years in education, I came to I Dream PCS during the summer of their flagship year to continue purposeful project-based learning built on restorative justice and empowering children in authentic risk-taking. As a teacher here and now as a member of the School Team, I have been honored to work in joyful collaboration to elevate learner voice, build equitable, humanizing relationships, and partner with educators and families in DC’s 7th and 8th Wards to realize the power of dreaming into reality.
After 10 years of building the micro school, Bloom Academy, in Woodstock, Ga and thirty years in education, I came to I Dream PCS during the summer of their flagship year to continue purposeful project-based learning built on restorative justice and empowering children in authentic risk-taking. As a teacher here and now as a member of the School Team, I have been honored to work in joyful collaboration to elevate learner voice, build equitable, humanizing relationships, and partner with educators and families in DC’s 7th and 8th Wards to realize the power of dreaming into reality.
Marites Duldulao, Lead Coach
My career started as a high school biology teacher in the Philippines. I continued teaching High School Biology in the United States for a couple of years. But then, I realized that I can use my creativity to its full potential by switching to Early Childhood Education. I know that I found my mojo in this field. I am an educator of 23 years.
I strongly believe that each child has their own learning style and as a teacher I have to discover that style in my students. Blending cultures with education provides new learning platforms for my students. Partnering with the community in fostering a successful learning environment is my goal. I am a proud member of the I Dream family and look forward to building relationships and success for my students.
My career started as a high school biology teacher in the Philippines. I continued teaching High School Biology in the United States for a couple of years. But then, I realized that I can use my creativity to its full potential by switching to Early Childhood Education. I know that I found my mojo in this field. I am an educator of 23 years.
I strongly believe that each child has their own learning style and as a teacher I have to discover that style in my students. Blending cultures with education provides new learning platforms for my students. Partnering with the community in fostering a successful learning environment is my goal. I am a proud member of the I Dream family and look forward to building relationships and success for my students.
Matt Whitnall, Director of Operations
Monet Oliver, Lead Coach
My name is Monet Oliver, I was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia and have worked in the education field for over 6 years with all age groups. Growing up, I didn't like school because I had trouble comprehending reading and math and it would take me longer to do my work then others, but my teachers and mentors help me get through and taught me that no matter what situation is, keep going and to never give up. I have enjoyed working with children for as long as I can remember. Over the years I have found my passion working in collaboration with children to experience the wonders of the world around us. In every student, I strive to foster an appetite for connecting learning from the classroom to real world experiences. I treat each day as a new adventure from which to learn and grow. I look forward to the many adventures at I Dream PCS.
My name is Monet Oliver, I was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia and have worked in the education field for over 6 years with all age groups. Growing up, I didn't like school because I had trouble comprehending reading and math and it would take me longer to do my work then others, but my teachers and mentors help me get through and taught me that no matter what situation is, keep going and to never give up. I have enjoyed working with children for as long as I can remember. Over the years I have found my passion working in collaboration with children to experience the wonders of the world around us. In every student, I strive to foster an appetite for connecting learning from the classroom to real world experiences. I treat each day as a new adventure from which to learn and grow. I look forward to the many adventures at I Dream PCS.
Naomi Washington-Roque, Lead Coach
I believe that even at 4,5,6 or even 7 years old, children are a wealth of knowledge. As an educator, learner, movement artist, and practitioner I dream for every child to be able to realize the wealth that they have within themselves, grow their bank of knowledge and understanding and share it with the world in the special way that only they can. I myself never hated or loved school, but I was good at it, so I passed by. It wasn’t until college, where I got to manage my learning by choosing what was truly interesting to me, and then spending years pursuing those interests that I found the gift that I wanted to share with the world in the form of movement and education. I came to I Dream because I do not want learners to have to wait until college to encounter the seeds of their passion and their purpose. Here, they can have the unique opportunity in elementary education to encounter and explore those passions with the beautiful energy and fire that they have as young children.
I believe that even at 4,5,6 or even 7 years old, children are a wealth of knowledge. As an educator, learner, movement artist, and practitioner I dream for every child to be able to realize the wealth that they have within themselves, grow their bank of knowledge and understanding and share it with the world in the special way that only they can. I myself never hated or loved school, but I was good at it, so I passed by. It wasn’t until college, where I got to manage my learning by choosing what was truly interesting to me, and then spending years pursuing those interests that I found the gift that I wanted to share with the world in the form of movement and education. I came to I Dream because I do not want learners to have to wait until college to encounter the seeds of their passion and their purpose. Here, they can have the unique opportunity in elementary education to encounter and explore those passions with the beautiful energy and fire that they have as young children.
Neisha Speis, Coach
Nathan Dumas, Learner Support
Rachel Fisher, Special Education Coach
Hello my name is Rachel Fisher and I've been an educator for 20 years. I'm originally from Kansas City, MO. but have lived in the DMV area for 12 years. My goal is to strengthen the relationship between the I Dream community, the students, and their families. I believe that in order to achieve this, the needs of our learners must be met on a holistic level through providing accurate, relative, and meaningful learning experiences. Thank you for allowing me to coach your learner and I hope to make this school year a success, while also having FUN!
Hello my name is Rachel Fisher and I've been an educator for 20 years. I'm originally from Kansas City, MO. but have lived in the DMV area for 12 years. My goal is to strengthen the relationship between the I Dream community, the students, and their families. I believe that in order to achieve this, the needs of our learners must be met on a holistic level through providing accurate, relative, and meaningful learning experiences. Thank you for allowing me to coach your learner and I hope to make this school year a success, while also having FUN!
Sean Betts, Lead Coach
Ta’shawn Yates, Coach
Teresa Bearisto, COVID PCT (via OSSE)
Valisa Chase, Coach
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Reina Moreno and Carmen Sanchez, Custodians (via Smart Cleaning Solutions)
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