In July 2013, I joined the Technical Academies of Minnesota Board and started organizing a start-up advisory council for the Willmar location. In May 2014, I was hired as the School Social Worker for DREAM Technical Academy in Willmar.

My husband Doug and I live on a farm near Spicer with our 5 horses, our dogs Diego and Aspen, and 4 cats. Between the two of us, we have four daughters, their significant others, and five grandchildren. I enjoy spending time with family, reading, gardening, camping and traveling.

I chose to work at DREAM because I believe a small learning environment that offers individualized, project-based learning is what many students need to have a successful educational experience. I also like the staff-led school concept, which allows the staff to make decisions collectively based on what’s in the best interest of the students.

If I were a student at DREAM, my projects would be based on traveling to different parts of the country, whether in person or virtually, to learn about different cultures. My favorite quote is “Find something you love to do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” This is my hope for students that they will follow their passions or their dreams, which will lead them to find a career they love.

“If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore.” —Michele Ruiz

Hello! My name is Siomara Garcia. I was raised in Marshall, MN. I enjoy hanging out with friends, listening to music, and shopping. I attended Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall and graduated in May 2023 with a social work major and sociology minor. Before graduating from college, I was working at a middle school in Marshall. It was there that I fell in love with working with future generations. I chose DREAM because I agree with the mission and overall objectives of helping students succeed.

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” -Albert Einstein

Top of the day!!  My name is Mark Meier but my friends call me “Radar”. I grew up in Minnesota until I was 31, moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, and just recently moved back to Minnesota. I have been in the teaching field since 1997. I enjoy almost anything outdoors, especially if it involves water and a golf course. I have a 14-year-old daughter who is my Pride and Joy. I am looking forward to an awesome and amazing year.

My name is Tori and I work as the Office admin at DREAM. I was born and raised in Willmar. I am a 2012 Willmar High school graduate. I also represented my community as the Willmar Fest Aqua Princess in 2013-2014. Since then, I have grown my family, gone to school and started a career I love. I have one daughter named Magnolia who is 4 years old. She is the light of my life and my world revolves around dance, barbies and dinosaur chicken nuggets! Magnolia also enjoys coming to school to visit all of the students and her teacher friends. Being a part of the DREAM Team has been extraordinary and I can't wait to see what the future holds for this school!

"Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you."- Walt Whitman

This is my second year here at DREAM and I am beyond excited for the year to begin. I enjoy anything that involves being physically active or outdoors. I own a Husky, named Miko, who is turning 6 years old this December. I am a graduate of New London-Spicer HS in 2013.  I then attended college and earned my Associate's Degree from Ridgewater College in 2015 and my Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2018. I have worked at a daycare, been a para, and also coached a variety of ages in both baseball and basketball. I grew up playing multiple sports, so they have always been a big part of my life and I do believe they teach valuable life lessons. I am excited about DREAM because of its uniqueness. I was curious to see how these learning styles would work coming from a public school system. However, seeing it first hand, I truly believe DREAM reaches all students and is the way to go.

“Be who you needed when you were younger.” -Anonymous 

I grew up in the Willmar area and graduated from Willmar Senior High in 2003. After that, I began a family and spent many years working as a program coordinator for a group home, helping adults with disabilities, and as a reading interventionist for an area school. Luckily, this is where I discovered my passion for teaching. I then attained my teaching degree through SMSU in Marshall. In 2010, I began my own art studio, Blue Ice Studio, where I developed and taught art programming for all ages for the local community. Through my art studio, I was fortunate enough to work with several area organizations. I also had the wonderful opportunity to paint several community murals. I enjoy sparking curiosity in kids and strive to inspire my students to fall in love with learning. At DREAM, I am finding the flexibility needed to meet each and every student's unique needs, interests, and learning styles. I love the sense of classroom community and belonging that I am able to help shape and foster in my space, which is encouraged by DREAM's unique setup. My dream is to help make real, positive differences in the lives of my students. In my spare time, I love spending time with my family, travelling, participating in local community activism, photography, listening to podcasts, camping, gardening, and doing home improvement projects. 

I am originally from Fairbanks, but finished high school in Oklahoma. Ten years and 5 universities later, I graduated from OK State with a degree in physics and a leisure studies minor (it's a real thing). I moved back to Alaska to work with the Upward Bound Program at UAF and as a guide and naturalist in Haines. I began teaching mathematics and engineering in Chefornak in 2009 with my wife, ChanaSue. I then taught in Kake, AK and Valdez, AK. I have two children, Vander and Johanna. I enjoy rafting, hiking on glaciers, and building robots.

I am a (too many years to count) veteran special and elementary education teacher and am excited  to begin a new journey at dream. I love good conversation, good coffee, my husband and kids, and I truly think teaching is the best job in the world. The difference between a successful kid and one who is not can come down to just one relationship. It is a privilege to be in a position to have such an impact! 

Hello, my name is Aida Bautista and I am a new Special Education Advisor here at DREAM.  I moved to Willmar, MN., four years ago. I am originally from Elsa, TX. I have been in Education for 21 years. I taught 10 years in general education, teaching all different levels from 8-12 and all different subjects in Social Studies. Then I moved to a credit recovery center in the same district and stayed 6 years. I moved to Willmar, MN, in 2019. I worked for three years for SWWC, a level four facility, as their S.U.N. (student with unique needs) teacher. In 2022, I worked for Willmar ISD as a D.C.D. (Developmental Cognitive Disabilities). This school year I am excited about starting the school year here at DREAM. I love teaching, learning and meeting new people. 

“Most of my work as a Math Teacher isn’t even Math.  It helps students believe they can also do math.  We don’t talk about that enough.” - Jose Vilson, Teacher.

I decided to begin a career at  DREAM because I am passionate about education and Math in general.  I am looking forward to sharing the passion I have with the people here at DREAM.  I am a mother of 5 children from Spicer and have personal connections with many current and past DREAM students and have always admired the concept of the charter school.

I’m Luz Juarez and I’m a para here at DREAM. I graduated from Willmar before coming to DREAM. Previously,  I worked in a group home as a program coordinator. I worked with individuals with a wide range of disabilities. Then I went on to work in retail for a short time. I wanted to be a part of DREAM to make a difference in the lives of our students and to help them realize their potential, their passion, and their dreams. My dream project would be to coordinate a homeless shelter in our community to help the less fortunate.

Hello there! My name is Brady Sargent and I am a new paraprofessional at DREAM. I am actually from Indiana, but moved to Minnesota for college where I met my wife, Lily. I am a new father and love working with young people. I wanted to work at DREAM because I know I could have benefited greatly with this type of learning environment and want to help give that opportunity to other kids. When I am not working, I spend time with my family or playing my drum set. I am excited about being able to play a role in the education of children in our community!

“Yesterday does not define who you are today!” -myself

Hello, My name is Tia Valdez. I was raised in Winthrop, MN, and lived in Willmar for 9 years, but, I have just moved to Fairfax, MN. I recently got married to my husband on Sep 30, 2022, after 10 years of being together. I have 4 kids, 5 stepkids (their partners) and 6 step-grandchildren, who do not live too far away from us. I am also a dog/cat mom (2 pitbulls and a black cat). When I am not working, I love to spend time with our kids/grandkids, thrift store shopping, cooking, cleaning or decorating. My oldest daughter graduated from DREAM in 2019 and is also a new paraprofessional. My oldest son lives in Delano. My 2 other children currently attend DREAM as students. I joined the DREAM team as a paraprofessional on Sep 19, 2022 and am so excited to be a part of this wonderful opportunity!

“No matter what side of the sandwich you flip, the bread always comes first”  - Anonymous 

Hey, my name is Jada Kizer, and I currently work as a paraprofessional at DREAM. I enjoy concerts/music, art, nature, and animals. I was born in March, which makes me a Pisces. I have a pitbull/lab mix, Sadie, and she’s the best puppy dog ever. I love being a dog-mom with a coffee addiction. I’m originally from Winthrop, MN but moved to Willmar, MN during my early teenage years. As a former DREAM graduate, it’s amazing to be able to see how the school has grown over the years. I’m excited about starting this new chapter in my life and encouraging the people around me to be the best versions of themselves. 

Hi, my name is Jennifer. I am originally from Texas but have lived in Minnesota for the last 12 years. I worked as a childcare assistant and a Personal Care Assistant before becoming a paraprofessional. I am glad to be part of DREAM this year!

"There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to do it." - Amanda Gorman

Hi, my name is Matthew Cates. I grew up in a small town in Iowa right on the Minnesota border. Growing up in the Midwest, I was kept busy fishing and playing too many video games. Now that I am an adult living in the Midwest, I keep busy with my two-year-old yellow lab Nala and my fiancée. As a family we keep busy taking short hikes around the Willmar area, and bowling. (we bowl way too much to be so bad at bowling!). I find joy in the small things each day brings and try to help share that joy with others.

“The best view comes after the hardest climb.” - Unknown

Hi, my name is Isabelle Keller, I am a Paraprofessional here at DREAM. I was born here in Willmar and moved around Minnesota until freshman year. I graduated from Atwater Cosmos Grove-City (ACGC) in 2022. I am currently attending Ridgewater college here in Willmar, where I am working towards my Associates degree. After I get my Associates degree, I plan to transfer to another college where I plan to continue my education. In the meantime, I plan on raising my daughter, Cataleya, who is currently 9 months old. She truly is my entire world. I do not know what I would do without that little girl. I am so excited to be a part of DREAM!

“If you have a dream, don't let anybody take it away.”- Selena Quintanilla

Hey, my name is Vivica and I am a paraprofessional here at DREAM. I was born in Willmar, but moved to California as a kid. My family moved back to Minnesota when I was in 4th grade. I graduated from Willmar High School in 2022. After I graduated high school, I worked at an elementary school for a year as a General Ed Para for preschool, then transferred to SPED. I got married to my now husband, Jose, in August 2023. We have our two fur babies (cats), Nimbus and Boots. I enjoy working at DREAM because it's a school that tailors education to meet the needs of each student.  It is a safe place for all students and staff to express themselves and be who they truly are.

When I was a child growing up in Arvin, CA, all I ever wanted to do was to go to school. Yet, my parents were farm laborers and in the years that passed they had no intention of letting me go to college. After many arguments, I finally broke through to them and attended San Diego State University and majored in English. It was hard attending SDSU because money was hard to come by, but I got through. Getting a college degree was one of the biggest goals of my life. I was so proud of myself. 

I then quickly began to attend National University and received my Masters in Cross-Cultural teaching and earned my teaching credential. So, I taught for ten years and during all that time I seemed fine. A few years later, some of my colleagues advised me that I should apply for Educational Leadership. I received my M. Ed. in Educational Leadership from UNLV. So, I taught for fourteen years and I loved school. During the 2015-16 school year, my behavior and composure changed intensely. My lesson planning, health, and differentiation of instruction, along with other teacher components failed me. Something was wrong with me.

I went to a doctor and was referred to a neurologist. I was tested and reaffirmed that I have Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis is different for everyone who has it, and it is different for me. My main issue is fatigue, but I take vitamins, medication, and I walk three miles a day to fight the fatigue.

I moved to Minnesota because of issues I had with my family. I wanted a better quality of life and to take even better care of myself. So, now I am here in Willmar having an amazing time getting to know new people thanks to my good friend Mark, who I met while working in Las Vegas.

“At the end of the day people won't remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.”

― Maya Angelou