Denise E. Johnson was born and raised in Washington, DC. She earned a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education at George Washington University and a Master of Education in Educational Psychology at Howard University. Pastor Johnson served as a teacher in the Maryland Public School System for 27 years prior to founding EXCEL Academy Public Charter School.
In 2006, Ms. Johnson opened EXCEL Academy Public Charter School, one of the first charter schools in Prince George’s County, MD. EXCEL Academy Public Charter School’s mission is to provide students with a standards-based, college preparatory education.