Biography of Dennis G. Queen, M.ED.

Dennis G. Queen, M.Ed., is a distinguished educator and public servant whose career spans over three decades of transformative leadership in education, social services, and public safety. His journey began in South Carolina, where he worked as a police officer while earning his bachelor’s degree from Southern Wesleyan University. That early experience in law enforcement, followed by work as a social worker, shaped his lifelong commitment to justice, advocacy, and support for youth and families.

Queen transitioned into education with a unique perspective on discipline, safety, and student well-being. He began as a teacher of physical education, history, government, and economics in Gaston County Schools before advancing into school administration. As principal of Hill Magnet School in Winston-Salem, he led a successful magnet arts program that achieved significant academic gains and cultivated a positive school culture. His leadership later took him to Montgomery County, Maryland, where he served as principal at Kingsview Middle School and Seneca Valley High School. At Kingsview, he was celebrated for improving academic outcomes and dramatically reducing suspensions, all while fostering deep parental engagement and community involvement.

Blending the structure of law enforcement with the compassion of social work, Queen developed a leadership style that is both disciplined and student-centered. His motto: “achievement is by design,” guided his school-based efforts and later informed his district leadership roles. These included serving as Regional Superintendent in Milwaukee Public Schools and Community Superintendent in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, where he coached school leaders, led school improvement initiatives, and championed equitable opportunities and access.

While working in Milwaukee, Queen contracted with the Chicago Executive Leadership Academy (CELA) as an educational consultant for Chicago Public Schools and Rochester (NY) Public Schools where he supported building principals through instructional and leadership practices and one-on-one mentoring.

As Executive Officer of Public Charter Schools for Metro Nashville Public Schools, Queen oversaw 29 district charter schools, implementing systems of support and accountability that elevated performance while honoring each school’s unique mission. His work included developing a performance framework, strengthening oversight, sharing of best practices, and promoting collaboration across the charter school sector and partnering district schools.

Queen holds a master's degree in educational administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and has completed doctoral coursework in Educational Leadership at Northcentral University. A former keynote speaker and national presenter, he has published in educational leadership journals and contributed to reforms in school discipline, gifted education, and middle school redesign.

Dennis Queen’s diverse background—as a police officer, social worker, teacher, and school leader—gives him a rare and powerful lens on the challenges and opportunities facing today’s students. His work is driven by a deep belief in the potential of every child and a tireless commitment to safe, inclusive, and high-performing schools.