OUR FOUNDERS
Geri Chaffee
Founder & Pathologic Improver
As the daughter of Hispanic immigrants and a former English Language Learner, Geri Chaffee understands, from the inside, what is at stake when schools fail to meet children where they are. That experience became a calling—and eventually a career dedicated to transforming outcomes for the students public education consistently underserves.
Geri is a passionate advocate for vulnerable children, families, and communities, consulting with school districts, government entities, NGOs, nonprofits, and schools to advance family empowerment and student success. Her work focuses on the ESSA subgroups that place the greatest demands on educators and receive the least support: English Language Learners, students from low-income households, and racially and ethnically diverse populations. She is a sought-after speaker in English and Spanish on topics ranging from family engagement and instructional innovation to systemic reform. Geri also hosts and produces Por Nuestros Niños, a national radio show and podcast with more than 100 episodes that connect Spanish-speaking families with the tools, resources, and experts that help their children thrive.
Her academic training reflects the same rigor she brings to practice. She holds a Master of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, with a concentration in Education Policy, and is a doctoral candidate at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. Geri founded Dreamers Academy to bridge the gap between research and reality—to demonstrate, in one school, that theory becomes transformation when the right model meets genuine commitment.
Thomas Chaffee
Co-Founder & Board Chair
Thomas Chaffee co-founded Dreamers Academy with his wife, Geri, driven by a shared belief that a child’s zip code should never determine the quality of their education. For Tom, that conviction was not abstract—it was a decision to act, fund, and build an educational model from the ground up, proving that a better way is possible.
Tom brings more than 30 years of executive leadership to his role as Board Chair, having founded, operated, and turned around companies across industries ranging from technology and energy to healthcare and financial services, and having served as CEO and Chairman of publicly traded companies. That breadth of experience is central to the school’s success; building an institution with sound governance, sustainable finances, and the organizational discipline to deliver on its mission requires the same rigorous leadership as any complex enterprise.
He currently serves as the Founder and Executive Chair of ePublishing, a Partner at Silvermine Capital, and Co-Founder of GlobalStake. It was his years coaching youth football—working daily with kids from under-resourced communities, learning their stories, and seeing how closely their struggles outside school followed them into the classroom—that made the mission personal. Long before the Academy opened its doors, Tom understood these students’ distinct needs because he had stood on the sidelines with them.
At Dreamers Academy, his objective remains straightforward: to ensure that the educators and leaders on the ground have the resources, training, processes, and culture they need to succeed, and that the institution itself is built to last.
BOARD MEMBERS
Humberto Alvia
Humberto has served the greater Sarasota and Manatee region as Deacon of St. Jude Catholic Church, considered the heart of the growing Hispanic community in the area. He is also Director of the annual Hispanic Fall Festival. Now in its 18th year, the Festival is one of the largest family-friendly events in Sarasota, attracting over 15,000 attendees and featuring cultural, culinary and arts/musical performances.
Aylette Figueredo
Born in Havana, Cuba, Aylette arrived to the United States at the age of 11 and had to learn English in school, while navigating an entirely new community and culture. She credits her teachers with helping her adapt to the American culture, which enabled her to pursue higher education and her dream of becoming an immigration lawyer. Aylette strongly believes in the importance of developing bilingual leaders. She expressed that working on the Dreamers Academy board is her way of giving back to the community, by being a part of these children and families’ lives, who like her, will have the personal and professional advantage of biculturalism.
Dan Kennedy
Former principal of Sarasota High School. Founder of several A-rated charter schools here in Sarasota County including Sarasota Military Academy and Sarasota Academy of The Arts. Dan is an educator’s educator.
Kaveecia Moore
A third-generation Sarasotan, Kaveecia brings a strong combination of leadership, planning, and quantitative skills to the Dreamers board. Her extensive business experience as an independent financial consultant are only rivaled by her passion for working with students of diverse backgrounds. She currently serves as Director of Homeowner Services for Habitat for Humanity. Previously she was Program Manager for Opportunities For All at the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. She serves on the board of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition. She holds a B.S. from the University of Florida and a MBA from Barry University.
Retired Board Members
Al Weidner
A 35-year veteran of the Sarasota School District’s finance team as its Deputy Chief Financial Officer. Recently retired, Al has a huge heart for the underserved, and a huge brain for school finance. Al served our board faithfully from our inception through launch, and was instrumental in shepherding the school finances through the rigorous application process, budgeting, financial reporting, and audit. All of us at Dreamers Academy will be forever indebted to Al’s commitment and servant leadership spirit.
