A Dream Fulfilled: I Dream Big Academy Opens on the Historic Stillman College Campus

Dr. Lucretia Prince and Dr. Angela Lang Founders

On the first day of school, there is always magic in the air, but this one felt different.

On behalf of New Schools for Alabama, I, ShaElla Askew-Henry, Communications Manager, along with Jackie Bretl, Senior Director of Leader Support, had the joy and honor of attending the grand opening of I Dream Big Academy Charter School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

This was not just a school opening. It was history in the making.

Located on the campus of Stillman College, a historic HBCU founded in 1876, I Dream Big Academy is the first charter school in Alabama to officially partner with an HBCU. It was a moment full of emotion, pride, and purpose, welcomed with a sea of purple, high energy from the Stillman College marching band, and even a tiger mascot who might give Kangaroo Willie a run for his money.

The halls were bright and spotless. The structure was flawless. Staff wore walkie-talkies to ensure seamless transitions, and students were welcomed in batches for breakfast. The nervous energy many students and parents felt walking in quickly melted away as they saw how ready and welcoming the school community was.

But the joy of the day was not just about logistics. It was deeply personal.

Dr. Angela Lang and Dr. Lucretia Prince, co-founders of I Dream Big Academy, have spent years building toward this moment. Raised in Tuscaloosa’s West End and a proud Stillman College alumna, Dr. Lang is a first-generation college graduate who has spent more than 20 years transforming education across several states. Together with Dr. Prince, they led the charge to make I Dream Big a reality through perseverance, deep community engagement, and a shared commitment to equity.

I Dream Big Academy was delayed but never denied. That journey made the opening day feel all the more powerful.

The school serves grades 6 through 8 and will expand each year, creating a school-to-college pipeline that begins in middle school. With access to Stillman’s resources, mentorship opportunities, and future programs in coding, entrepreneurship, and dual enrollment, this school is not just preparing students for college. It is placing them inside the college experience from the beginning.

At New Schools for Alabama, we believe deeply in the power of early exposure to college and career pathways. When children walk the halls of a college campus during their middle school years, it shifts their expectations and expands their belief in what is possible.

We are proud to support visionary leaders like Dr. Lang and Dr. Prince and honored to witness their dream become a reality.

This is just the beginning.

Follow New Schools for Alabama for more updates on new schools opening across the state and join us in ensuring every child has access to a high-quality, tuition-free public school where they can thrive.