Good morning CharterFolk.
Today it is our distinct pleasure to report that the readers of CharterFolk have selected Danielle West-Augustin, Chief Academic Officer and Director of Queen City Academy Charter School in Plainfield New Jersey, as the CharterFolk of the Year!
Without a doubt, Danielle is a shining example of what our movement is all about, creating improved educational opportunity for kids and families in a community that she cares so much about, while also providing critically needed advocacy leadership in support of all charter schools. Congratulations to Danielle and to everyone connected to Queen City Academy Charter School!
Congratulations also to our three extraordinary runners up.
- Jerel Bryant, Principal of G.W. Carver High School in New Orleans, Louisiana
- Delia Kumabe, Founder and Instructional Coach of EJE Academies in El Cajon, California
- Daniela Anello, Executive Director of DC Bilingual Public Charter School in Washington, DC
You are all amazing educators making a vital contribution to students and families and to the well-being of the national charter school movement.
In the coming days we will be reaching out to all winners to determine how best to forward award funding – $2,000 for the winner and $1999 for each runner-up. All we ask here at CharterFolk is that awardees remember that the purpose of the CharterFolk of the Year Award was to cast attention on the extraordinary contribution that CharterFolk are making, and for communities to have a chance to step back and celebrate that success. So when you’re able to get your school communities together to party like it’s 1999, please send us a picture or two. We’ll be sure to pass them along to the rest of the CharterFolk readership in hopes of catalyzing a broader commitment to celebration across the entire movement.
We would like to extend a special thanks to the hundreds of readers who participated in the CharterFolk of the Year voting this year. You helped us generate a sense of excitement about the award which we will look to build upon in future years. We would also like to extend a thank you to all of the leaders who were recognized as CharterFolk X this year. There is no greater testament to the impact that the national charter school movement is making than the stunning people who are being attracted to it. Your inspiring efforts help us all find within ourselves that additional level of commitment needed to push on in support of even better outcomes for students and communities in the future.
CharterFolk Extraordinaire 2020-21
Finally, we would like to thank everyone connected to CharterFolk for your support during our first year. We make this announcement on the anniversary of our first post, which was sent out on June 8th, 2020. It’s been a phenomenal first year, and we look forward to celebrating an equally stunning group of leaders in Year 2.
Kind regards to you all.