AMPLIFY NASHVILLE HONOREES

Daren Dickson and Todd Dickson are the visionaries behind Valor Collegiate Academies, a diverse-by-design charter school network serving Nashville students since 2014.

Daren, the chief culture officer at Valor, spent 16 years developing his skills as a therapist, clinical and program director, and social justice advocate in California. His work at Valor is a translation of the work he began in California’s Bay Area working with vulnerable youth and focusing on intentional personal growth, community-building, trauma-informed practices, and restorative discipline.

Todd, the CEO of Valor, became an educator and administrator at Summit Public Schools as a second career after successfully building a residential real estate company. Under his leadership as principal, Summit Prep was named one of the top 10 Transformational Schools in the country by Newsweek.

Originally sought out and recruited by Mayor Karl Dean, Daren and Todd cast the vision for Valor Collegiate Academies with a commitment to diversity and inclusion for the student body and faculty and an emphasis on excellence. Valor provides an enriching environment for their students, over 70% of whom identify as BIPOC and 60% of whom qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch.

To serve their students, they have developed a nationally recognized comprehensive human development approach, Compass, that is a key driver of their students’ success. At Valor, Daren and Todd have created a community that celebrates and empowers students from all races, nationalities, and socio-economic backgrounds by equipping them to thrive in a diverse world, benefiting Nashville and beyond, earning them the Bridge Builder honor at this year’s Amplify Nashville.