Member Spotlight: Danielle West-Augustin
Check out The Queen City Academy Charter School
Contact: dwest@queencity.edu
I am a proud native of Newark, where I lived until 2019. I attended parochial school from kindergarten through twelfth grade, completing my elementary education at Blessed Sacrament in Newark and graduating from Mt. St. Dominic Academy in Caldwell, NJ. After high school, I enrolled at Lincoln University, the nation’s first historically Black college and university (HBCU). It was there that I developed my passion for ensuring that Black and Brown communities succeed through equitable access to high-quality education.
I started my career as a teacher in Newark Public Schools, where I taught for eight years before moving to rural North Carolina to serve as a district-wide curriculum specialist. In 2010, I joined The Queen City Academy Charter School as Assistant Director, and in 2013, I became the school’s Director. Following two successful expansions and the launch of our high school, I was appointed CEO in 2021. Today, I am honored to lead the organization through a $40 million facilities expansion while also working to open an additional school to further our mission.
I now live in Berkeley Heights with my husband and our son. In addition to my work in education, I am actively engaged in community leadership. I serve as the Board Chair of the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association and am a member of the Berkeley Heights Zoning Board of Adjustment, where I am proud to be the only woman and person of color serving. Recently, I also joined the board of Elevate+, an organization dedicated to ensuring equitable access to paid internships. Beyond these roles, I run my own consulting firm, D. West Consultants, where I help organizations refine their reach and create strategic opportunities for growth.
My business is centered on creating thriving communities by ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to succeed—beginning with access to a high-quality education. As the CEO of The Queen City Academy Charter School and founder of D. West Consultants, I work to expand educational opportunities, build strong schools, and help organizations refine their reach through strategic partnerships. With over two decades of experience in teaching, leadership, and community engagement, I bring both vision and practical strategies to help families, schools, and organizations grow. Whether it’s leading a $40 million school expansion, opening a new charter school, or advising organizations on how to better serve their communities, my work is about building pathways for people—especially those in Black and Brown communities—to thrive.
I first heard about The Co-Co many years ago through various people in my network and began following the organization on social media. Andrea Silvershine, a former QCACS board member, was the first person I reached out to with questions, and from there, I “dated” the organization for quite some time before officially joining.
The Co-Co has opened doors for me to connect with people outside of my natural network, offering a space to think, collaborate, and engage with professionals from a wide range of fields. Through this community, I was able to recruit two phenomenal board members—Lynne Pagano, a Co-Co co-founder, and Danielle Mirsky, a friend of a Co-Co member. Most importantly, The Co-Co has supported my growth as a leader by helping me strengthen my fundraising skills and expand the ways I think about building community impact.