Sarasota County’s dual-language Dreamers Academy charter school announces first principal

Herald-Tribune | by Ryan McKinnon | April 6, 2021

Dreamers Academy, a new dual-language charter school opening in Sarasota this fall, has announced that Catherine Rodriguez will be the school’s first principal. 

Rodriguez has both local ties and a national presence in the dual-language learning community, according to a news release issued by the school on Monday.

She is currently  assistant head of school at Sarasota Military Academy, while also founding a publication on dual-language learning called “Biliteracy Focused” and speaking at national conferences. 

The new school’s opening has been delayed for two years, first by the challenge of finding a location and then by the COVID-19 pandemic. In February, school leaders announced they would be moving into Temple Beth Sholom’s educational complex that the Hershorin-Schiff Community Day School is leaving for a new building currently under construction.  

“We are honored to have such a nationally recognized and talented education leader head Dreamers Academy – Dr. Rodriguez has a history of significantly impacting students, and we look forward to her driving the Academy forward and giving our students the best possible education,” said Thomas Chaffee, chair of the school’s board of directors. 

Photo: Dreamers Academy founder Geri Chaffee, far right, with a group of bilingual teacher volunteers. Photo Courtesy Of Dreamers Academy