OUR FOUNDER’S STORY
The Heart Behind the Why
One husband’s gift. One woman’s calling. One shared vision to empower the next generation.
In April 2021, my husband, George Marks, gave me an extraordinary gift: the opportunity to retire and pursue my dreams.
After nearly three decades of developing leaders, coaching professionals, and helping others discover their potential, I believed my next chapter would be focused on executive coaching and business consulting.
But God had another plan.
I began to recognize that the same communication, interpersonal, leadership, and employability skills I had spent years teaching adults were the very skills our teenagers needed to navigate their futures with confidence.
I thought about the students who were afraid to speak up, those who struggled to communicate their dreams, and those who hesitated to pursue scholarships because they feared rejection or failure.
I knew that if we could help teens discover their voices, build confidence, set meaningful goals, and develop essential life and future-ready skills, we could help change the trajectory of their lives.
And Dream Pusher Academy was born.
We Believed Before We Asked Others to Believe
As entrepreneurs, George and I understood that every meaningful vision requires an investment.
For approximately three years, we invested our personal finances, professional expertise, educational products, time, and resources into building Dream Pusher Academy.
Why? Because we believed the next generation was worth investing in.
Our inspiration is rooted in Genesis 37 and the story of Joseph, a young dreamer whose journey reminds us that dreams require faith, preparation, discipline, perseverance, and the courage to overcome obstacles.
We believe every teenager carries a dream. Sometimes they simply need someone to help them recognize its value, develop a plan, and believe they have what it takes to pursue it.
From Our Dream to Their Future
Since 2022, Dream Pusher Academy has served more than 750 teens, supported families, and mobilized volunteers and community partners to help young people prepare for college, careers, leadership, and life.
What began as our personal investment has become a growing community mission.
We know that preparing the next generation takes more than one person, one family, or one organization. It takes an entire ecosystem of parents, educators, mentors, businesses, and community partners working together.
George gave me the opportunity to pursue my dream. Today, together with our community, we’re helping teens pursue theirs.
That’s our why. That’s our passion. That’s our purpose.
And we’re just getting started!
Jeronda Marks
Founder & Executive Director
Dream Pusher Academy
WE PUSH TEENS TOWARD THEIR DREAMS.
WE PUSH TEENS TOWARD THEIR DREAMS™
Potential is the beginning.
Preparation is the path.
Our Mission
Dream Pusher Academy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing high school students with soft-skills training, workforce readiness, leadership development, and postsecondary scholarship strategies.
We partner with schools, families, and communities to help teens build confidence, strengthen communication and life skills, and put leadership into action today. Our vision: students who are confident in their voice, clear about their path, and prepared to succeed.
Bring DPA to your communityDreams supported.
Possibilities expanded.
Proud of the impact. Grateful for every dream pusher.
When we support a teen, we support a family. Together, we’re creating access to confidence, skills, and opportunity.
- 750+
- High school teens served, with support extended to their familiesSeptember 2022–present
- 32+
- Students awarded tuition-free enrollment in our online Scholarship Writing Course through sponsorship and corporate givingCourse launched summer 2026
- 150
- Parents participated in Parent Talks group coachingSessions launched spring 2025One part of our broader support for families
- $121K
- Estimated value of services, products, and resources provided at no cost to students and familiesSeptember 2022–present
- 3,180
- Recorded volunteer hours contributed by community and corporate volunteersSeptember 2022–present
DPA-reported cumulative impact, September 2022–present. The $121,000 estimated value of services, products, and resources is separate from volunteer hours. The online course launched in summer 2026. Its participants are not counted as additional to the 750+ teens served.
MEET THE DREAM PUSHER BEHIND THE MISSION
Confidence Isn't Given—It’s Activated.
Jeronda Marks is a speaker, author, learning and development leader, and the visionary founder behind Dream Pusher Academy.
Her book, Confidence Made Me Do It, reflects the heart of everything she does: guiding individuals to overcome self-doubt and step into their purpose. Through Dream Pusher Academy, Jeronda channels her extensive experience in leadership, business, and education into empowering the next generation.
She believes young people don't just need advice—they need advocacy, practical skills, and space to grow. By combining transformative coaching with real-world workforce and leadership development, Jeronda inspires teens and young adults to own their voice, unlock opportunities, and build a future on their own terms.
She’s a transformational leader called to...
“Every teen carries a dream. Inspiration sparks it. Education prepares it. Innovation elevates it. Empowerment activates it. Enrichment shares it. My mission through transformational learning is simple: to help teens believe in themselves and step confidently into their purpose.”
— Coach J
AN ACADEMY WITHOUT WALLS
We meet teens
where they are.
Our decentralized community academy brings specialized training labs and interactive workshops to school campuses, community clubhouses, and business centers across North Texas—with virtual and online options statewide and globally.