THOMASVILLE — Favor Christian Academy will open for the 2017-18 school year with a new director.

Patricia De’Shazior-Hill has been appointed as the new director to take Dr. Linda McLean’s place.

“She comes highly qualified as an educator with a doctorate degree in educational leadership and 30 years of teaching experience,” said Curnell Henry, who has been acting director.

De’Shazior-Hill has assembled a new, highly-qualified staff, Henry said.

The 507 N. Broad St. school, which opened 18 years ago, opens at 8 a.m. Monday. Open house is from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Henry said De’Shazior comes to Favor Christian Academy with a wealth of experience.

“She is an ordained minister, which fits in well with the culture of the school,” he said. “She has two of her own children and four others who truly recognize her as their mother.”

De’Shazior-Hill was featured in a Public Broadcasting Service documentary, along with the late Maya Angelou, that highlighted her love and respect for education. She met Angelou during her undergraduate studies at Tuskegee Institute in the 1980s and danced as Angelou recited one or her famous poems, “Still I Rise.” She also performed with the late Nipsey Russell.

She was featured in “Reader’s Digest,” “Women’s Day,” “Women in Business and Industry” and several Internet articles. She has been the keynote speaker at several educational conferences.

“Favor Christian Academy is very fortunate to have such a dynamic new leader as (Dr. Patricia) De’Shazior-Hill,” Henry said. “Favor Christian Academy has been and will continue to be a valuable asset to the community under (Dr.) De’Shazior-Hill’s leadership.”