About Us | Queen Academy

Our Mission

Intention and Purpose

The mission of Queen Academy is to transform the lives of young women in the foster care and alternative education setting through Christian mentoring and discipleship.

OUR VISION

Anything Is Possible

Our vision is to develop confident, Godly young women who are maximized to reach their

full potential because they are optimized in Christ.

Our Story

Our Founder: Danielle Washington is an educator with 15 years of experience as a classroom teacher, school principal, and district-level leadership coach and consultant. She has also served as a licensed foster care parent for the last two years in both Georgia and South Carolina. She launched Queen Academy as a mentoring program for middle school girls in 2012 to support at-risk female students with the transition into high school.

When Danielle became born again in 2014, the Lord Jesus Christ placed it on her heart to shift the focus of the program to not only support young women in acquiring the skills needed to transition into high school, but to instruct them in what it meant to have a strong relationship with Him as the foundation of everything in their lives. Since that time, the program has evolved to serve young women at various middle schools and churches, and has expanded to support young women in foster care and alternative school as well.

Our Board of Directors

Dedication. Expertise. Passion.

The Queen Academy Board of Directors is comprised of a group of dedicated, committed followers of Christ who each have more than a decade of experience in a variety of sectors, from education and youth services to criminal justice, healthcare, and finance.

Board President

Dr. Shun Waymon

Dr. Waymon brings many years of experience working with youth in the criminal justice system, as well as working with young adults as a college professor. Currently, he serves as the Achievement Facilitator for Atlanta Technical College's Job Corps Scholar Program. He is also a loving husband, father, and Elder at Omega Ministries Church & Worship Center in Atlanta, GA.

Board Treasurer

Joy Hutcherson

Ms. Joy Hutcherson has more than 16 years of experience in social services working with teenage girls involved in truancy and behavior issues at school and home. She also has experience working with kinship care families, implementing programs and activities aimed at addressing the trauma absent parents can cause on children and the relatives caring for them. Ms. Hutcherson is excited to join her work experience with her growing understanding of God’s word to help young women develop a relationship with Christ.

Board Secretary

Naeemah Ricketts

Ms. Naeemah Ricketts has been a born-again believer since 2016. She has been an educator for more than 14 years, serving as both a classroom teacher and the Founding Assistant Principal of a turnaround elementary school in Atlanta, GA. Working in an urban community and seeing firsthand the impact of trauma, it is Ms. Ricketts' desire to see young women truly healed and transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Board Member

LaTika Tillis

Mrs. LaTika Tillis is an experienced Financial Services professional and coach who is trained in all aspects of the financial planning and life, disability and long-term care insurance process. She has worked with financial advisors to assist them with growing their businesses by creating and monitoring processes and providing oversight and management of staff. Above all else, she serves the Lord Jesus Christ and seeks to display His character in every facet of her life including as a wife and mother of 3 daughters.