Jones Elementary School
Student Resources
Kick Off
Vision
Program Leadership
Led and Facilitated by Patrick Walker-Reese
Patrick Walker-Reese, MPA, is the Founder and Chief Dream BLDR of Aspire. An educator, author, speaker, and leadership facilitator, Patrick helps students and professionals connect vision, personal strengths, and disciplined action to meaningful goals.
His approach combines research-based development principles with storytelling, reflection, and interactive learning. Through Aspire, Dream BLDRS, and Dream BLDRS+, Patrick has worked with schools, colleges, companies, and community organizations seeking to strengthen leadership and help people build better versions of themselves.
Bring Patrick and other Aspire speakers to your next keynote, student program, professional-development session, conference, retreat, or corporate event.
Karimah Taylor
Dream BLDRS Engagement & Program Coordinator
Daniel Westbrooks
Lead Facilitator and Youth Engagement, Mental Health, Reentry & Recidivism Specialist
Student Learning Outcomes
Clearer Vision
Articulate their aspirations and begin imagining a future they can build.
Future Readiness
Connect classroom learning with future college, career and life opportunities.
Passion and Purpose
Connect their interests and curiosity to problems they care about solving.
Problem-Solving
Apply their Passion and Strengths to real-world challenges and possibilities.
Team Collaboration
Improve communication and strengthen how educators work together.
Strengths Awareness
Identify the qualities and abilities they can use to move their dreams forward.
Practical Application
Translate retreat insights into clear, actionable next steps.
Confidence and Communication
Express their ideas, experiences and aspirations with greater confidence.
College and Career Readiness at Haynes Middle School
From school-based learning to real-world exposure
DREAM BLDRS is an award-winning college and career readiness program designed for learners at different ages and stages. At Haynes Middle School, the experience is tailored for students in grades 6–8 as they begin making important choices about high school, college and careers. Students develop statements, explore real-world issues, work with their peers and connect each lesson to their own aspirations.
Vision
Where do you want to go?
Students identify their aspirations and begin putting them into words. Through Vision development, Dreamers learn that a meaningful future becomes easier to pursue when they can see it, describe it and share it with confidence.
Students work toward:
- Identifying personal and future aspirations
- Developing and articulating a Vision Statement
- Creating language that keeps their dream visible
- Practicing confident written and verbal communication
Passion
What matters enough for you to act?
Passion helps students connect their curiosity and interests to the people, problems and possibilities around them. Dreamers explore world issues, consider what they care about and begin discovering the purpose behind the future they want to build.
Students work toward:
- Discovering their Passion through real-world issues
- Connecting curiosity with purpose
- Developing and articulating a personal “why”
- Practicing problem-solving and responsible decision-making
Strengths
What are your best tools?
Strengths helps students recognize the qualities and abilities they already possess. Dreamers build greater self-awareness, learn how different strengths contribute to a team and consider how their personal tools can help turn their dreams into reality.
Students work toward:
- Identifying their individual Strengths
- Building confidence and self-awareness
- Understanding different communication and collaboration styles
- Applying their Strengths to challenges, relationships and future goals
DREAM BLDRS at Haynes Middle School
DREAM BLDRS translates college and career readiness and social-emotional learning into experiences students can participate in, reflect on and apply. Students develop statements, explore real-world issues, work with their peers and connect each lesson to their own aspirations.
The Haynes Middle School experience draws from Aspire’s broader 18-module DREAM BLDRS curriculum. Each session builds upon the last, creating a structured journey from self-discovery to personal application.
Partner
Haynes Middle School, Metro Nashville Public Schools
Engagement Format
In-person, multi-week student experience
Facilitated by
Aspire Focus Areas
Through guided reflection, culturally relevant stories, individual activities and group learning, students connect who they are today with who they can become.
The experience focuses on three foundational DREAM BLDRS modules: Vision, Passion and Strengths.