Imagine going from tackling opponents on the football field to tackling learning disabilities in the classroom. That's the remarkable journey of Charles Dixon, a former Division I football star now pursuing a Master of Arts in teaching (MAT) special education with a concentration on learning disabilities.

Growing up, Dixon witnessed firsthand how a positive educational environment could transform the lives of his family members with special needs. This experience, coupled with his own academic and athletic journey, shaped his path to becoming an educator.

"I graduated from Virginia Military Institute which really did a lot of good job shaping who I am," Dixon reflects. "When you play football and you go to school with them as a student, you're really with them, like all the time. They really help you grow. I was a better football player when I was a better student."

Dixon's football career was impressive - a three-year starter with a championship ring. However, his path took an unexpected turn when a failed ACL surgery nearly cost him his life. After twelve surgeries, he now walks with a brace and can no longer run. Yet, this setback only fueled his determination to make a difference. He always wanted to give back and help out the next generation, feeling as if his coaches were also his teachers.

In 2023, Dixon stepped into his first classroom as a teacher. He joined the MAT residency through the Black Male Teacher Residency program, which focuses on the professional development and personal growth of Black males and males of color in education.

Dixon thrives in the RETL model, which combines real-world teaching experience with classroom education. His unique background - including his time in a military college and his experiences with coaches and teachers - adds depth to his approach to education.

At the Armstrong campus of the Friendship Public Charter School, Dixon works alongside experienced educators while pursuing his MAT, which he aims to complete by May 2026. His vision of effective teaching is both inspiring and practical:

"I feel like an effective teacher is one who can get the classroom organized into a calm chaos, allowing the scholars to learn at their own pace," Dixon says. "They should be able to do their own thing in a way that doesn't disrupt other classmates around them. All the students should feel like they can speak their minds. The teacher facilitates that classroom and that culture to get everyone on the same page in order to help every student learn to their best capabilities."

But Dixon's ambitions don't stop at the classroom. Looking ahead, he envisions himself as a principal, aiming to broaden his positive impact on education.

From the football field to the classroom, and potentially to school leadership, Charles Dixon's journey is a testament to the power of resilience, adaptability, and a genuine desire to make a difference in young lives.

Learning in Action

Dixon's school teaches its students by integrating the Community-Based Experience model into classes. Below are scenes from Dixon's class at The Phillips Collection, which has an exhibit of Jacob Lawrence's "The Immigration Series," which Dixon is using to teach students about the 1914-1930 migration of Blacks from the rural South to the industrial North in search of jobs.

Learn more about the RETL program here, and more about the MAT in special education here.