Title: Director of Operations
Company: The Academy Charter School
Location: Hempstead, NY United States

As the director of operations at The Academy Charter School, Donna M. Douglas believes strongly in empowerment through articulation. She wants to change the way students are allowed to articulate themselves; when the kids walk through the doors, they need to be listened to. The Academy Charter School was created to give the children of Hempstead, New York, an optimal environment to improve their academic skills. Before the charter school was formed, statistics painted a poor picture of students’ academic ability, and members of the community, like Ms. Douglas, felt that standing on the sidelines was not an option. After helping to found the school, she used her human resources expertise to serve as the co-chair on the board. Ms. Douglas eventually left that role to take on her current role of managing the school.

To prepare for her career, Ms. Douglas earned a Master of Education, a Master of Science, and a Bachelor of Science. She is also certified as a John Maxwell leadership coach, trainer, and speaker. Ms. Douglas was inspired by seeing other young women settling for less than they can accomplish; she knew she wanted more from life. She is a member of The International Women’s Leadership Association, and an executive board member of the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce.

Contact Donna M. Douglas