Former Division I defensive lineman Charles Dixon went from tackling his opponents on the gridiron to helping middle schoolers tackle learning disabilities in the classroom.
Dixon was a three-year starter at Virginia Military Institute with a championship ring and dreams of playing in the NFL when a botched knee surgery nearly killed him. Sidelined for good, Dixon, who now uses a brace and a cane, needed a new game plan.
Dixon’s family has been touched by autism, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities, and he’s seen how teachers have made a positive impact on his loved ones. As a person with a new disability, Dixon thought he could relate to youngsters with special needs and make a similar difference in their lives.
“I went from playing football to not being able to run at all anymore,” says the Chesapeake, Virginia, native. “I feel like I’m in a unique position to help kids accomplish their goals because I know where they’re coming from. I know what it’s like to have limitations and to want to push past them.”
He’s getting the skills to help students do just that in the School of Education’s new 15-month Residency for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (RETL), a partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences and Friendship Public Charter Schools in DC. Funded by a five-year, $1.8 million grant from the US Department of Education, the program enables candidates interested in working in diverse and special education classrooms to spend an academic year under the direction of a mentor educator.
Dixon—who taught fifth grade last year in Richmond—is now working with sixth graders at Friendship Armstrong Middle School in Northwest as part of RETL. “I’m still new to teaching, so I’m learning a lot about methods, classroom management, and how to work one-on-one with kids,” he says.
Just like running plays during practice, Dixon is getting stronger with every rep in the classroom. His mentors, professors, and fellow RETL residents “help me every day to become the best teacher I can be for my students.” They’ve also encouraged the former football star to find glory in his new pursuit.
“No matter what your disability is, you still have something to give—you just need somebody to push you toward your purpose.”