Excellence College Prep is guided by leaders with expertise in educational leadership, school operations, finance, philanthropy, governance, and community engagement. Collectively, the founding leadership team is committed to building a high-performing public charter school that expands opportunities for students and families throughout the south suburban region. The Board of Directors supports the work of Excellence College Prep and provides mission-based leadership and strategic governance. The Board makes critical decisions pertaining to management, facilities, finance and fundraising and serves in the role of School Board. Our senior staff translates vision into practice and guides the strategic direction.

Darnell Leatherwood, Ph.D

President, Board of Directors

Educational Research | Governance | Equity

Dr. Darnell Leatherwood is a nationally recognized educational researcher and higher education leader whose work focuses on advancing educational equity, school effectiveness, and student success. He currently serves as a President’s Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Michigan and holds research and leadership appointments with Johns Hopkins University, Louisiana State University, and the American Educational Research Association (AERA). His scholarship examines the policies and practices that improve outcomes for students, particularly through data-driven decision-making, educational innovation, and systemic school improvement.

Beyond academia, Dr. Leatherwood is an accomplished civic leader and nonprofit founder. He is a founding board member of the Obama Foundation’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, a distinction that reflects his national leadership in advancing opportunity for boys and young men of color. He serves on the Matteson School District 162 Board of Education and the editorial board of The Journal of Negro Education and is the founder of the Black Male Educators Alliance of Illinois and the Black Boys Shine Campaign. His expertise in educational research, governance, community engagement, and organizational leadership provides invaluable strategic guidance as ECPHS develops a rigorous, equitable, and student-centered college preparatory model.

Joseph M. Johnson

Vice President, Board of Directors

Community | Faith Partnerships

Rev. Joseph M. Johnson is a respected pastor, community leader, Monee resident, and advocate whose ministry has been dedicated to strengthening families, developing future leaders, and fostering meaningful partnerships throughout the Southland region. Throughout his career, he has worked alongside civic leaders, educators, nonprofit organizations, and faith communities to address the social, educational, and spiritual needs of the communities he serves.

Recognized for his servant leadership and commitment to community engagement, Rev. Johnson has consistently championed initiatives that promote educational opportunity, youth development, mentorship, and community empowerment. His ability to unite individuals and organizations around a shared purpose has made him a trusted voice and collaborative leader across diverse sectors.

Rev. Johnson brings valuable experience in faith-based leadership, community outreach, strategic partnerships, and organizational development. His deep relationships throughout the Southland and unwavering commitment to service help strengthen ECPHS's connection to the families, organizations, and communities it was founded to serve.

As a founding member of the Board of Directors, Rev. Johnson provides leadership in community engagement, partnership development, and mission stewardship. His guidance helps ensure that Excellence remains grounded in integrity, service, and a steadfast commitment to preparing students for lives of purpose, leadership, and excellence.

Karrie L. Mills

Secretary, Board of Directors

Grant Writer | Resource Development

Karrie L. Mills is President of J. Mills Development & Consulting, where she provides grant development, funding strategy, and organizational capacity-building services for nonprofit organizations, municipalities, educational institutions, and businesses. Much of her work has focused on developing innovative programs that help young people overcome barriers and achieve long-term academic, professional, and personal success.

Over the past two decades, Ms. Mills has secured and managed state and local funding supporting youth development, violence prevention, workforce development, education, case management, and community-based initiatives. In addition to grant writing, she partners with organizations to strengthen governance, improve compliance, develop sustainable programming, and build long-term organizational capacity that produces measurable results.

Ms. Mills brings extensive expertise in grant development, nonprofit leadership, strategic planning, organizational development, funding strategy, and philanthropic partnerships. Her experience identifying and securing external resources, while helping organizations establish sound operational systems, will be instrumental as ECPHS builds a sustainable financial foundation and expands opportunities for students and families.

As a founding member of the Board of Directors, Ms. Mills provides strategic leadership in development planning, resource acquisition, organizational growth, and long-term sustainability. Her commitment to educational equity and community advancement supports the Board’s vision of ensuring every student has access to an exceptional college preparatory education.

Tiffany Hill-Moore

Treasurer, Board of Directors

Finance | Business Strategy | Philanthropic Development

Tiffany Hill-Moore is an entrepreneur, financial strategist, and business leader with extensive experience in accounting, tax strategy, executive advisory, talent acquisition, and business development. As Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hill Financial Solutions, she advises entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals on financial planning, tax strategy, business operations, and long-term wealth creation. Her leadership experience also includes executive roles in staffing and workforce development, where she has partnered with Fortune 500 companies to recruit and place finance, accounting, and technology professionals.

Mrs. Hill-Moore brings a unique combination of financial expertise, entrepreneurial leadership, and strategic partnership development to the Board of Directors. Her background in nonprofit and corporate finance, organizational growth, real estate investment, and philanthropic engagement provides valuable guidance in ensuring Excellence's long-term financial sustainability, governance, and resource development.

Bryan Hale, Ed.D

Member, Board of Directors

School Leadership | Operations | Organizational Development

Dr. Bryan Hale is an accomplished educational leader with more than two decades of experience in school leadership, organizational development, and educator effectiveness. He is currently the Founder and Chief Maestro of Culture & Wellness at United Educational Consulting, where he partners with executive leaders to diagnose cultural unwellness, align organizational systems, and build high-performing, wellness-centered organizations.

Previously, Dr. Hale served as an Education Program Specialist in the Effective Educator Development Division at the U.S. Department of Education, where he supported initiatives that strengthen educator preparation and leadership nationwide. He also served as Director of Day-to-Day Operations (Principal) at Southland College Preparatory Charter High School, following earlier service as a school principal, where he led efforts to improve school culture, operational systems, and student achievement.

Dr. Hale brings extensive expertise in charter school leadership, organizational systems, and strategic planning. His commitment to cultivating high-performing, wellness-centered school cultures aligns closely with the mission of ECPHS. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Kentucky State University, a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Cleveland State University, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration from Chicago State University.

Djimon Smith, Ed.D

Member, Board of Directors

Founder & CEO | Educational Leadership | School Improvement

Dr. Djimon Smith is an educational leader, school administrator, entrepreneur, and advocate for expanding educational opportunity through innovative school design and transformational leadership. He currently serves as an Assistant Principal and is the Founder of Excellence College Preparatory Charter High School. Throughout his career, he has led initiatives to strengthen school culture, improve student achievement, increase attendance, and implement systems that support long-term organizational success. In addition to his work in K–12 education, Dr. Smith serves as President of the Black Male Educators Alliance of Illinois, is an elected Trustee of the Richton Park Public Library District, a Principal Policy and Wellness Fellow with Boldly Moving Education Ahead (BMEA) in Detroit, a member of the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE), former Associate Board Member of Namaste Charter School, former Trustee of Central State University, and Chief Executive Officer of Maestro Music Services, a music education and performance company serving schools and communities.

As the founding visionary behind Excellence College Prep, Dr. Smith has brought together a distinguished team of educators, researchers, legal professionals, financial experts, and community leaders to establish a world-class public charter high school rooted in academic excellence, artistic achievement, and college readiness. His experience spanning school leadership, charter school governance, higher education governance, organizational development, and community engagement uniquely positions him to lead the successful launch and long-term sustainability of Excellence College Prep. Dr. Smith holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision from Liberty University, a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from Ball State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Central State University.

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