About Us

The vision of I Dream Big Academy was birthed in 2012 as a summer enrichment program to provide a safe and nurturing place for students to learn and grow throughout the summer months. This was inspired after recognizing the need within our community of students and identifying a pattern of students performing below grade level in both reading and math. IDB developed a strategic plan that would encourage and allow students to have fun during a summer camp while addressing their academic needs. This effort to prevent a summer slide of learning loss while exposing them to fun, creative, and STEM-rich activities laid the foundation for the I Dream Big Model. The summer program began in 2012 with just 15 students. Within the first two years of operation, district leaders across Tuscaloosa reported a significant increase in academic performance and behavior of IDB students returning to school in the Fall. Each year, the program continued to receive positive reviews and expanded its enrollment, staff, and summer offerings. I Dream Big Summer Academy now serves nearly 200 students each summer and is one of the largest summer programs in the Tuscaloosa area. In 2021, IDB began a partnership with Tuscaloosa City Schools to expand its summer program to multiple locations throughout the Tuscaloosa area.