Academic Director

 

Kiniesha L. Abraham is an innovative leader and mentor devoted to life skills and education for youth. She is the Founder and Director of Advantage and Protocol Services, LLC.  Advantage and Protocol Services, LLC provides educational and social services that creates productive habits of the mind as well as increases self-esteem, character, confidence, and academic success. Prior to founding APS, LLC, her commitment to our youth was the driving force behind her tenure of service at various Prince George’s County Public Schools.  As an educator, she accomplished her objective of promoting learning by creating and executing detailed lesson plans.  Additionally, Ms. Abraham employed diverse, differentiate, and brain-based teaching techniques to ensure effective learning to all age groups and all types of learners.  Her ability to analyze data in order to improve instruction resulted in positive outcomes with student achievement. 

 

Kiniesha has a Bachelors of Science, Elementary Education from Morgan State University, a Master of Science, Curriculum and Instruction w/ Administration from McDaniel College, Westminster, Maryland and she is pursuing a Doctorate, Leadership Administration at Argosy University, Washington, D.C.  She also holds the following certifications:  Administrative I Certificate, Professional Etiquette Consultant, and Advanced Professional Certificate. 

 

Kiniesha is a highly experienced, professional educator, having been responsible for educating countless children, adolescents and adults.  She brings over 15 years of experience in education and expertise in etiquette and protocol.

 

Athletic Director

Taj Hawkins is the Founder and President of New World Basketball Academy.  Started in 2007, Taj took his passion for basketball and youth and decided to combine the two for one of the first after school programs of its kind in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area.  To date, New World Basketball has worked with hundreds of kids throughout the DC, Maryland and Virginia area, as well as spending hours of individualized training with “Coach Taj” and numerous NBA and college superstars. 

 

Prior to starting New World Basketball Academy, Taj coached at the basketball powerhouse Huntington Prep Academy in West Virginia and was also Head Coach at Progressive Christian Academy.   During the summers, Taj was a coach for D.C. Assault Inc., one of the nations leading grassroots basketball organizations.  He has traveled internationally to train players in other countries by helping them to prepare both physically and academically in achieving the levels necessary to study and attend colleges and universities in the United States on basketball scholarships.

 

Taj earned a full scholarship to Division 1 Indiana-Purdue University and earned a dual Bachelors degree in Marketing and Marketing Distribution Management.  While at IUPUI, Taj was the starting point guard all four years he attended and holds a position in the top ten in the school’s basketball statistical categories.  Taj also knows and understands the importance of being a student athlete. Prior to going to college Taj attended Crossland High School where he was the starting point guard beginning his freshman year.  Taj later transferred to National Powerhouse Oak Hill Academy where he was also the starting point guard leading the team in Assists and Most Minutes Played.  Most importantly, Coach Taj was inducted into the National Honor Society and acknowledged for his academic achievements. 

 

New World Basketball Academy was created to respond to the widespread and concerns of drugs, crime, education, failure, and social decay of families and absentee parents.  These conditions are affecting some of our youth in ways that may lead to future generations of less male productivity and more incarcerations and dealing a serious blow to our economy.  The solution is competent parents, faith-based entities, schools, after-school programs and funding sources—all working together to strengthening families and communities.

 

Coach Taj’s fundamental belief is that children are capable of achieving great things.  There are many opportunities and each child has a specific gift or talent that can be used to help them succeed in life.  He is dedicated to their success—working one day at a time and one child at a time.