About Us

🌻 Founder’s Story: Doree Collins

Planting Purpose. Growing Leaders. Cultivating Change.

I didn’t set out to start a school. I set out to respond.

For years, I watched children in my community—especially those from the East Side of Temple—struggle with access: access to quality education, access to nutritious food, access to opportunities that could unlock their potential. As a mother, educator, and community leader, I couldn’t ignore the gaps any longer. I knew that something deeper than tutoring or food giveaways was needed. Our children needed roots.

I began by gathering families. Reading with kids. Planting small gardens. Leading discussions about leadership and identity. Then, as more children came, and more parents asked to be involved, the Un-Included Club was born—a movement to be un-included from the habits, systems, and mindsets that lead to un-wellness in our communities.

But even that wasn’t enough.

In 2021, in the middle of national uncertainty and local challenges, Cultivate Academy-CTX was planted. Not in a traditional school building, but in faith, in truth, and in the soil—literally. I envisioned a school where students could grow food, grow in wisdom, and grow into their purpose. A place where literacy, leadership, Kingdom values, and agriculture were not separate subjects—but interconnected tools for transformation.

As a certified master teacher, a mother of seven, and the Executive Director of Un-Included, I’ve committed my life to building bridges between what our children deserve and what they’ve been offered. Today, Cultivate Academy is more than a microschool—it’s a movement of young pioneers growing microgreens, building businesses, teaching wellness, leading news segments, and serving their community with confidence and compassion.

This is personal. This is generational.
And this is just the beginning.

– Doree Collins M.Ed., Ec-4th Gen., Ec-12th Sped.
Founder, Cultivate Academy-CTX
Executive Director, Un-Included Club

🌟 Staff & Leadership Roles

The People Who Cultivate the Cultivators

At Cultivate Academy-CTX, every staff member is more than a teacher or administrator—they are mentors, cultivators, and purpose-builders. Our leadership model reflects our values of Kingdom stewardship, whole-child development, and servant leadership. Together, we are raising leaders who know how to grow food, grow faith, and grow community.

🪴 Doree Collins M.Ed., EC-4, Sped. Ec-12

Founder & Lead Teacher

Doree Collins

Founder & Visionary, Cultivate Academy-CTX
Executive Director, Un-Included

Doree Collins is a visionary educator, servant leader, and community builder with more than 20 years of experience in educational leadership. As the Founder of Cultivate Academy-CTX and Executive Director of Un-Included, she is committed to developing children, families, and communities through transformative, purpose-driven education.

She oversees curriculum development, leadership training, staff development, family engagement, and strategic partnerships while cultivating innovative learning experiences rooted in urban agriculture, literacy, entrepreneurship, and whole-child development. Through initiatives such as Kids R.E.A.D., 2T2L2 (To Teach Is To Learn Twice), and S4 Urban Agriculture, Doree equips students to become confident readers, servant leaders, and lifelong learners.

Her leadership is grounded in Kingdom Principles, believing that education should cultivate character as much as knowledge. She is passionate about restoring communities through literacy, healthy living, meaningful relationships, and opportunities that empower every child to discover and fulfill their God-given purpose.

Whether mentoring educators, teaching students in the garden, building community partnerships, or speaking to leaders across Texas, Doree's mission remains the same:

To cultivate leaders who love deeply, think critically, serve faithfully, and leave every place better than they found it.

"Planting seeds of purpose today to cultivate thriving communities for generations to come."

Dayla Leads Through...

🌎 State Study & Geography
📚 Reading and Storytelling
🌱 Garden Leadership & Plant Care
📸 Photography & Content Creation
📋 Administrative Support
🖨️ Classroom Preparation & Organization
📦 Supply Inventory Management
📢 Parent Communication
🧹 Organization, Cleanliness & Stewardship
💬 Facilitating Learning Through Questions and Gentle Redirection

🌱 Dayla Collins

Dayla Collins – Administrative & Student Leadership Coordinator

Dayla is a natural leader who helps create an organized, welcoming, and purposeful learning environment at Cultivate Academy-CTX. She serves as our Administrative and Teaching Assistant, ensuring that daily operations run smoothly while mentoring younger students with patience, wisdom, and encouragement.

She leads State Study and Geography, helping students explore the world through meaningful discussions, storytelling, and inquiry-based learning. A gifted reader and communicator, Dayla asks thoughtful questions and uses gentle redirection to help students think critically and discover answers for themselves.

As one of our Garden Leaders, she teaches students how to care for plants with consistency and excellence, modeling stewardship of God's creation through hands-on learning.

Behind the scenes, Dayla is the organizer who keeps everything in order. She manages classroom supplies, maintains clean and inviting learning spaces, prepares instructional materials, assists with parent communication, creates digital content, and helps document the story of Cultivate Academy-CTX through her outstanding photography. Her creative eye captures the moments that tell the story of learning, leadership, and community.

Students Can Come to Me For...

🌍 Geography and State Study
📖 Reading help
🌿 Gardening questions
📸 Photography and media
💡 Organization and planning
📝 School projects
🤝 Encouragement and leadership

Leadership Motto:
"Great leaders don't simply give answers—they ask meaningful questions, create order from chaos, and inspire others to grow with purpose."

Physical Fitness Leadership: Trayven leads students through basketball drills, agility ladders, obstacle courses, running exercises, jump rope, and teamwork activities. He coaches with enthusiasm, demonstrating discipline, perseverance, and healthy habits by example.
Walk Across Texas & Running: Holding a "Walk Across Texas" clipboard, he represents his leadership in tracking student steps and motivating participation in the 4-H Walk Across Texas program. Another scene shows him proudly running with a race bib and medal, symbolizing his success as an accomplished Central Texas 5K runner and the school's dependable "Runner" who willingly takes on errands and serves wherever needed.

🌱Trayven Collins

Trayven – Physical Fitness Leader | Cultivate Academy-CTX

At the center of the illustration is Trayven, standing confidently as the Physical Fitness Leader for Cultivate Academy-CTX. He is portrayed as a strong, dependable, and encouraging mentor whose leadership inspires students to become healthier, more disciplined, and more confident.

Around him are scenes that illustrate the many ways he serves the school community:

Storytelling & Literacy: Trayven is shown reading books aloud and entertaining students with expressive storytelling, character voices, and puppets. His storytelling captures children's attention while fostering a love of reading and imagination.
Strength Through Service: Another scene depicts him carrying a heavy bag of soil while working alongside students, symbolizing his willingness to use his physical strength to help others and support the academy's urban agriculture mission.
Music & Worship: One panel features Trayven teaching children to play guitar and leading songs, reflecting how he uses music to encourage learning, worship, and community.

🌱Theron Collins

Music Director & Assembly Leader

Theron – 2T2L2 Student Leader

Theron is a natural-born leader who is growing in wisdom, responsibility, and servant leadership through the 2T2L2 (To Teach Is To Learn Twice) model. With a heart for God, people, and creation, he leads by example—asking thoughtful questions, teaching others about plants and animals, and helping younger students discover the joy of learning.

As Cultivate Academy-CTX's Morning Assembly Leader, Theron leads each day through live guitar music, worship, and student engagement, helping create an atmosphere that energizes, unifies, and prepares the school community for learning. He is also developing music-based literacy tools and early learning videos that weave together Kingdom principles, agriculture, and reading to make learning meaningful and memorable.

A dedicated reader, researcher, and outdoorsman, Theron enjoys investigating God's creation through horticulture, wildlife, fishing, and agriculture. He earned top honors in the 4-H Horticulture Record Book Contest and is known for his curiosity, love of learning, and ability to connect knowledge with real-world experiences. Whether operating the tractor, caring for the land, teaching in the gardens, or leading on the basketball court, he demonstrates responsibility, initiative, and integrity.

Above all, Theron is committed to holding himself and others accountable to the mission of Un-Included and Cultivate Academy-CTX—serving with humility, leading with purpose, and inspiring others to grow in knowledge, character, and faith.

Ms. Nakita reminds students that growth takes time, faithful care, and a willing heart. Through her example, she is helping cultivate leaders who are rooted in purpose, equipped with practical skills, and prepared to serve others. 🌱🍰💚

🌱 Ms. Nakita

Ms. Nakita – Cultivating Growth Through Service

Ms. Nakita is a gifted gardener, compassionate mentor, and faithful servant who helps cultivate both plants and people. She generously shares her knowledge of horticulture by teaching students how to start seeds, care for young plants, and understand the beauty and purpose of God's creation through gardening.

She will play an important role in helping students manage and care for the Academy's starter plants, teaching them the responsibility, patience, and stewardship required to grow healthy plants from seed to harvest. Her love for plants and practical learning makes her a wonderful guide for students as they develop confidence through hands-on agricultural experiences.

In the future, Ms. Nakita will also help expand Home Economics at Cultivate Academy-CTX by leading cooking, baking, and gardening lessons. She looks forward to sharing her talents in creating beautiful homemade cakes and teaching students practical life skills that connect food, nutrition, agriculture, and hospitality. These experiences will help students discover how growing, preparing, and sharing food can become an act of service, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

Whether she is helping prepare for field trips, caring for seedlings, or encouraging students to try something new, Ms. Nakita leads with patience, kindness, and joy. Her willingness to serve and teach makes her a valued part of the Cultivate Academy-CTX community.

🌱 Mrs. Flowers

Mrs. Ethel Flowers
Home Economics Leader | Sewing, Quilting & Canning Mentor

Mrs. Ethel Flowers equips students with practical life skills that inspire creativity, service, and entrepreneurship. Through sewing, quilting, and beginning canning, she helps students discover the joy of making something with their own hands while learning skills they can use for a lifetime.

Her patient, encouraging teaching style gives students the confidence to create meaningful projects—from handmade book pillows and tote bags to their first quilting pieces and preserved foods. Under her guidance, students learn that craftsmanship is more than a hobby; it is an opportunity to bless others, build self-reliance, and create products they can sell or give as heartfelt gifts to family and friends.

As Cultivate Academy-CTX's Home Economics mentor, Mrs. Flowers helps preserve timeless skills while preparing the next generation to live with purpose, creativity, and generosity. She reminds every student that learning becomes most meaningful when it is used to serve others.

"Teaching skills. Building confidence. Growing purpose—one stitch at a time."

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