He’s bringing his journey from child actor to mentor full circle!
Before he was an award-winning actor playing the patient and wise first-grade teacher Gregory Eddie on Abbott Elementary, Tyler James Williams was a young dreamer himself, navigating the entertainment industry as a child star. From his early days on Sesame Street to leading Everybody Hates Chris as a teenager, he’s lived the reality of chasing big ambitions from a young age. Now, at 32, he’s stepping into a role that feels just as personal—mentoring the next generation as the 2025 “DREAMbassador” for the Disney Dreamers Academy (DDA).
Since 2008, Disney Dreamers Academy has given 100 high school students each year an immersive, life-changing experience at Walt Disney World, offering career workshops, mentorship, and inspiration from industry leaders. This year, Williams joined celebrity mentors like comedian Rickey Smiley and actors David and Tamela Mann, to pour into the next generation of dreamers.
“I know what it’s like to be a young person with big dreams,” he shared at the program’s opening ceremony in Orlando. “I knew from a young age that I wanted to be an actor. I got my start on Sesame Street when I was four years old. And then later down the road, some of your parents may have watched a little show called Everybody Hates Chris.”
He spoke about the struggles of proving yourself as a young person—especially when the world underestimates your confidence and vision. His advice? “Keep showing up.”
For Williams, returning to Disney also carries a special significance. While many recognize him today from Abbott Elementary or Everybody Hates Chris, some may also remember his Disney role in Let It Shine, the 2012 Disney Channel film where he played a shy but gifted rapper alongside Coco Jones and Trevor Jackson. Now, more than a decade later, he’s rejoining the Disney family—not as an actor, but as a mentor.
“I might not be a teacher in real life, but I do play one on TV,” Williams joked. “And if I know one thing, it’s the power of mentorship—the power of connecting with people who see the spark in you and want to help you grow. It happened in my career.”
For Williams, being this year’s DREAMbassador wasn’t just another gig—it was a responsibility. He emphasized the importance of each generation supporting the next, stating that without this effort, progress is lost. He sees his role at Disney Dreamers Academy as a way to step up and take responsibility in guiding the next wave of young leaders.
Throughout the five-day program, Williams engaged directly with the 100 Disney Dreamers, sharing his career journey, participating in career-focused workshops, and even leading a Magic Kingdom parade as the honorary grand marshal alongside Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Princess Tiana. Surrounded by ambitious, talented teens, he saw reflections of his younger self—reminded of how distant his own dreams once felt. His hope? That his presence made their goals feel a little closer, a little more within reach. According to some students, it already did.
“Seeing somebody that looks like me—somebody Black on stage and successful—telling us that I can do it too is really impactful,” said Disney Dreamer Joseias Esayas of Houston, TX. “Representation matters. Seeing people who look like you inspires you, especially in big spaces and corporate spaces like this.”
Williams took his mentorship a step further with a surprise that left two students speechless: an exclusive trip to visit the Abbott Elementary set in California later this year. The students will get a firsthand look at what it takes to bring a hit show to life, an experience that could spark the start of their own Hollywood dreams.
Now that’s paying it forward.
Williams hopes that years from now, a student will look back and say his presence at Disney Dreamers Academy helped them believe in their own potential. With past graduates of the program becoming doctors, performing artists, entrepreneurs, and engineers, the impact of mentorship is clear.
To learn more about Disney Dreamers Academy, visit DisneyDreamersAcademy.com or follow them on social media at Facebook.com/DisneyDreamersAcademy and Instagram.com/DisneyDreamersAcademy.
Cover photo: Tyler James Williams Goes From On-Screen Teacher to Real-Life Mentor at Disney Dreamers Academy/Photo credit: Courtney Jasmin