One-to-One Learning Model
K-12 Private School
South Florida
Reimagining Education
for a New Generation of Students
Vision
A rigorous, innovative, personalized education that honors each student’s individuality, where excellence, adaptability, and family engagement come together.
Mission
Our mission is to optimize student performance and development through a personalized learning model grounded in each student’s strengths, needs, and family life.
Leadership
Louis Hernandez Jr.
Louis Hernandez Jr. is the founder of For A Bright Future Foundation, a nonprofit expanding opportunities for underserved youth in education, healthcare, the arts, and leadership. Louis is the author of several books on technology, finance, and innovation, including Digital Tsunami (2025). Louis is an award-winning technology entrepreneur having founded and scaled global companies in fintech, e-commerce, and media technology companies with a focus on community impact, and is the CEO of Black Dragon Capital, a global technology-based investment firm.
Sarah Hernandez
Sarah Hernandez is the Founder and Executive Director of Dragon Elite Athletics, one of the largest youth sports and leadership organizations in the United States. Sarah is a licensed athletic coach and an accomplished executive. Sarah Hernandez has over 20 years of experience managing high-level projects in banking technology, media, and defense. Sarah has worked closely with boards and senior executives, building expertise in governance, accountability, and organizational efficiency. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Sarah brings discipline and leadership that strengthen her role as an accomplished executive.
Nigel Prince
Mr. Prince brings over 30 years of transformative leadership in the financial software services industry. He has successfully led global teams through complex mergers, acquisitions, and technology transformation initiatives across both privately held and publicly traded organizations. In his previous role as Senior Vice President at Axiom Bank, Nigel spearheaded fintech growth and forged strategic alliances with industry leaders such as Visa, Mastercard, and the City of Orlando Tech Hub.
Michelle Bateman
VP Product Management
Michelle Bateman is a seasoned product management leader with more than 25 years of expertise driving innovation in the payments industry. Known for revolutionizing payment systems through cutting-edge digital solutions, she has led the development of mobile, omnichannel, and cross-border payment processing, multi-network execution, and payments-as-a-service platforms that empower both consumers and businesses.As Product Management Leader at One Dragon Services, Michelle leverages her extensive domain knowledge across all major payment instruments, including card issuing, retail, commercial, and consumer payments, as well as cross-border transactions via wire, SWIFT, ACH, check, and instant payment networks such as FedNow, RTP, and Zelle. She excels at building and executing product roadmaps, commercializing SaaS-based platforms, and delivering scalable, user-centric solutions.
Amanda Gilmer
VP Marketing
Amanda Gilmer is the VP of Marketing at Black Dragon Capital. She has more than 15 years of experience in marketing, product management, and commercialization for technology-driven organizations, having worked with companies across complex, regulated industries.
Amanda has led her prior employers in executive messaging, product positioning, market segmentation, and cross-functional leadership. She has participated in digital transformation initiatives, new product launches, and enterprise marketing programs at Axiom Bank, FIS, and Miraclon, working closely with executive teams to align strategy, execution, and communication. Amanda holds an MBA from the University of South Florida and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Valdosta State University.
German Pousa
Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist
Germán Pousa is a Senior Social Media Strategist and Digital Marketing Lead at Black Dragon Capital. He has extensive experience in social media strategy, digital marketing, and creative direction, having worked with multinational corporations, market-leading companies, and high-growth regional brands across industries such as energy, healthcare, retail, sports, and technology.
Germán has guided his prior employers in social media strategy, creative direction, performance optimization, campaign development, audience segmentation, and SEO-driven content. He has participated in the development and execution of 360° communication strategies, full-funnel digital ecosystems, and scalable B2B and B2C solutions, leading multidisciplinary teams within top-tier digital agencies. Germán holds a strong background in marketing strategy, digital communication, and brand development.
Omar Martinez
Marketing and Community Engagement Specialist
Omar Martinez is a Corporate Communications professional and digital marketer with more than 10 years of hands-on B2C experience. A graduate of the National University of Córdoba with a specialization in Digital Marketing and Social Media, Omar combines academic expertise with real-world customer experience and a strong understanding of audience behavior.
Throughout his career, Omar has worked directly with consumers across multiple industries, developing a practical and well-rounded approach to communication and marketing. His experience ranges from customer service and client relations to digital strategy, audience segmentation, campaign coordination, and social media management.
Omar’s work is centered on improving the consumer experience through clear communication, efficient processes, and meaningful audience engagement. He believes strong communities and lasting customer relationships are built through trust, consistency, and authentic brand interactions.
His ability to balance strategic thinking with execution allows him to support content development, manage campaign workflows, and strengthen the connection between brands and their audiences across digital platforms.
Ariel Gigante
Finance Manager
Ariel Gigante is Controller within Dragon Performance Group at Black Dragon Capital, where he oversees financial reporting, budgeting, and controllership across Dragons Elite Athletics, Dragons Academy, and For A Bright Future Foundation. He brings extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, financial due diligence, and corporate finance.
Prior to joining Black Dragon Capital, Ariel served as a Manager in Deloitte’s Corporate Finance & Investment Banking practice, advising strategic buyers, private equity and venture capital firms, and institutional investors on valuation, financial modeling, and buy-side and sell-side M&A transactions across Latin America, Europe, and the United States. Previously, he was a Senior Associate in PwC’s U.S. Deals Advisory practice, supporting cross-border acquisitions through financial due diligence and quality of earnings analysis.
Earlier in his career, Ariel held finance roles at J.P. Morgan, Visa, and Banco Credicoop, where he gained broad experience in financial analysis, risk management, and capital markets.
Mr. Gigante holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) and is currently pursuing his Certified Public Accountant credential at the same institution.
Campus Leadership
Dominick Coppola
Director of Admissions and Academics
Dominick Coppola works primarily with middle and high school students in special education, literacy, and social sciences. His background combines education with business management and marketing, giving him a practical, real-world lens that resonates with older learners.
A certified Scholastic READ 180 specialist, Dominick focuses on reading strategies for students with learning differences. He is also an athletic coach, bringing structure, motivation, and accountability into his instruction. His teaching style emphasizes skill building, consistency, and measurable progress, helping students strengthen literacy skills while developing confidence and independence.
Lindsay Coppola
Full time teacher
Lindsay Coppola is a highly experienced literacy specialist focused on early and elementary reading development. With a background in Elementary Education and more than two decades in the classroom, she specializes in intervention-based instruction that helps young learners build strong reading foundations.
Her work is grounded in the Lucy Calkins Reading Program from Columbia Teachers College, with an emphasis on comprehension, fluency, and confidence. Lindsay is known for identifying gaps early and using structured, research-backed strategies to support struggling readers while still challenging advanced students. Her approach blends warmth, clarity, and academic rigor, helping students develop a lasting relationship with reading.
Mike Livoti
Facility Director
Mike Livoti brings a strong background in youth coaching, program development, and facility operations to Dragons Elite Athletics. While his playing career concluded after high school and his first semester of college, Livoti has spent several years working closely with young athletes and helping build structured baseball programs.
He began coaching in the Palm Beach Gardens Recreation League from 2018 to 2020 and later coached the Palm Beach Gardens Thunder 10U travel team. In 2020, he co founded the North Palm Beach Makos 11U travel team, where he coached and helped develop the program through 2022. Livoti also worked as a private hitting and fielding trainer at SGB Training from 2023 to 2024.
In 2024, he was promoted to Facility Manager, shifting his focus toward leadership, operations, and sales while helping oversee the growth of the training facility and its programs, now part of Dragons Elite Athletics. Livoti also studied Early Childhood Education, which supports his ability to communicate effectively with young athletes and families.
Amber Anderson
mathematics educator
Amber Anderson is a dedicated and passionate K – 12 mathematics educator with over 12 years of teaching experience. Amber holds a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Mathematics from the University of South Florida and is certified to teach gifted students, allowing her to support students with exceptional intellectual abilities. Amber brings extensive experience in developing innovative mathematics curriculum for her district, strengthening her instructional expertise and commitment to student success. Her teaching approach emphasizes engagement, exploration, and individualized support, helping students build confidence in mathematics. Amber’s students consistently achieve strong results on the state’s Algebra and Geometry End-of-Course exams, reflecting her ability to make complex mathematical concepts accessible and meaningful.
Grayson Seager
elementary specialist
Grayson Seager is a dedicated educator and mentor with a passion for helping students learn, grow, and build confidence. Originally from Troy, Michigan, Grayson holds a bachelor’s degree from Oakland University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree at Keiser University.
Grayson brings experience working with students across multiple age groups, including serving as an academic tutor in a high school and tutoring elementary-aged students. She also has a background in aquatics as a swim coach and lifeguard-certified professional, further developing her ability to lead, communicate, and support young people.
Grayson is passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences and seeing students reach those important “lightbulb” moments when a new concept finally clicks. She brings patience, enthusiasm, and a student-centered approach to helping young learners develop both academically and personally.
Family Partnerships
Dragons Academy was built on the belief that a strong partnership between families and educators creates stronger students. With one-to-one instruction, personalized learning plans, and clear communication, families play an essential role in shaping each student’s learning journey. Our model ensures parents are informed, supported, and empowered every step of the way.
A Collaborative Approach to Learning
In traditional schools, parents often feel disconnected from what their children are learning. At Dragons Academy, the opposite is true. Our structure creates a direct, collaborative relationship between families and educators.
Families stay closely involved through:
- Clear communication with certified teachers
- Regular updates on academic progress
- Participation in goal setting and student development
- Opportunities to support learning beyond the school day
This collaboration ensures that learning remains aligned, purposeful, and responsive to each student’s needs.
Communication That Builds Clarity
Because instruction is individualized, teachers maintain a consistent dialogue with families. This gives parents insight into strengths, challenges, progress, and next steps — without waiting for quarterly report cards to understand how their child is doing.
Communication includes:
- Ongoing teacher feedback
- Academic updates aligned with the student’s PLP
- Insights into growth in leadership, communication, and STEM skills
- Transparent expectations and academic pacing
Families appreciate knowing exactly where their child stands and how they can support development at home.
Flexibility That Supports Family Life
Modern families need more control over their schedules. Dragons Academy provides flexibility without compromising academic rigor.
Our model allows families to:
- Plan learning around athletics, arts, travel, or personal priorities
- Adjust academic pacing to match life events
- Maintain continuity during travel or seasonal training
- Support student well-being through a balanced school structure
By removing unnecessary constraints, families regain time, freedom, and peace of mind.
Families Play an Active Role in Goal Setting
Every student has a Personal Learning Plan (PLP) that includes academic and personal goals. Families help shape this plan from the beginning so learning reflects the student’s strengths, interests, and development areas.
Parents contribute to:
- Identifying goals
- Reviewing progress
- Adjusting expectations
- Celebrating achievement
This involvement strengthens accountability and reinforces the shared purpose behind every student’s success.
Quarterly Progress Meetings and Student-Led Conferences
Dragons Academy invites families into the learning process through structured check-ins throughout the year.
These include:
- Quarterly progress reviews
- Student-led conferences
- Reflections on academic, personal, and leadership growth
- Adjustments to the PLP based on progress
This consistent engagement builds confidence in students and ensures families always know how to support their child’s development.
Supporting Families Through Every Step
More than an academic program, Dragons Academy is a partnership rooted in:
- Transparency
- Communication
- Purposeful guidance
- Respect for family priorities
- A shared commitment to student success
Families appreciate the structure, clarity, and personalized attention that define the Dragons Academy experience.
A Partnership Designed for Student Growth
When schools, students, and families work collaboratively, students grow faster and with greater confidence. Dragons Academy’s one-to-one model makes this partnership practical and easy to sustain — strengthening the relationship between home and school.
Together, we build students who are capable, confident, and ready for what comes next.
One-To-One Instruction at Dragons Academy
At Dragons Academy, we understand that no two students learn the same way. This is why one-to-one instruction is a vital part of our personalized K–12 learning model. This powerful approach gives each child the focused attention they need to succeed, both academically and personally.
A Note from Our Founder
Welcome to Dragons Academy!
Selecting a school is one of the most important decisions a family can make, and we do not take that responsibility lightly.
Dragons Academy was created with a clear purpose: to improve learning and performance by rethinking how school works. We are a 1-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio academy, led by highly trained professors who work directly with each student. This structure allows for focused instruction, accountability, and meaningful progress that is difficult to achieve in traditional classroom settings.
Our program is built on the highest accredited curriculum in the United States, with an emphasis on creating high-performing students in math, science, reading, writing, social studies, and the arts. By concentrating on core academic disciplines, we are able to deliver a rigorous and effective educational experience without unnecessary distractions.
We believe that increased flexibility combined with more effective learning produces better students, happier families, and stronger outcomes at a reasonable cost because the traditional education model no longer reflects how families live, work, or learn.
Many families have grown disenchanted with public education as academic focus has drifted away from core subjects and student to teacher ratios have increased, making individual instruction difficult.
At the same time, families seeking flexibility are often pushed toward homeschooling, which places significant responsibility on parents to manage curriculum, accreditation, instruction, and evaluation. School schedules have also become one of the primary reasons families remain tied to a single location for much of the year, even as work and family life have become more flexible.
Dragons Academy exists to address these challenges directly by delivering focused, high quality instruction through a 1-to-1 student to teacher model, the highest accredited curriculum, and a structure that prioritizes mastery over seat time. This approach allows families to reclaim balance without sacrificing academic performance or purpose.
At Dragons Academy, there are no fixed schedules. Learning is structured around mastery rather than time spent in a classroom. This focused approach creates meaningful flexibility for students and families, allowing education to adapt to individual needs, interests, and goals.
For students with intense interests such as sports or the arts, this model allows flexibility in how and when they learn without compromising academic performance. For families, it creates space for balance, intentional living, and a more thoughtful approach to education.
We are honored to partner with you on this journey and look forward to supporting your family with clarity, purpose, and high expectations.
Louis Hernandez Jr.
Founder, Dragons Academy
Our Partnership with For A Bright Future Foundation
At Dragons Academy, we share For a Bright Future’s commitment to expanding access and opportunity in education for all students. For A Bright Future Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering underrepresented and underserved youth through education, healthcare, leadership, and the arts.
Together, we help remove financial barriers for talented students, ensuring that every young person has a clear pathway to thrive in school, in sports, and in life.
What the Partnership Provides
University Scholarships: Academy students may qualify for the Foundation’s annual University Scholarship Program.
Youth Development & Leadership: High-potential athletes with financial need can earn scholarships into the Dragons Elite Youth Sports and Leadership Program, aligning academic growth with athletic training.
FABF offers comprehensive educational programs that include scholarships, innovative project-based learning curricula, leadership development training, healthcare, Media, and Financial Technology (Fintech) Innovation Lab programs. These lab programs provide the most advanced technology, hands-on experience, and prepare students with technical, digital literacy, and leadership skills to thrive in today’s fast-paced and dynamic workforce.
Shared Commitment to the Future
Just as Dragons Academy is designed to deliver individualized education that adapts to each student’s goals, the Foundation is dedicated to ensuring equal access to opportunities.
This collaboration reflects our joint belief that financial limitations should never stand in the way of potential. By working hand in hand with For A Bright Future Foundation, Dragons Academy extends its impact, helping families create brighter futures for their children.