Our LEADERSHIP
DA Schools’ staff is the heartbeat of our school — you won't find a more dedicated, student-focused group of people anywhere.
Robb Warfield,
Superintendent
25+ years in 4 countries as educator, principal and director. Master's degree in School Administration, Master’s of Arts in Education, Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He came to Dakar Academy as the principal of Central Campus in 2015, became director in 2016, opened DA West in 2019, DA Co-op Campuses in Guinea in 2020 and DA South in 2022
Robbie Crane, District Team Leader and Head Chaplain
25 years as Senior, Associate and Youth Pastor & Mission Director/Strategist. Leadership of short-term mission teams & partnerships in over 20 countries, planted long-term missionaries in 3 countries, & established church planters in 2 states. Certified church re-planter with NAMB, Bachelor's & Master's degrees in Theology
Robbie Pope, HR Manager and Director of Communications & Marketing
15+ years of experience in public education as an educator and administrator, 10 years of experience in technology leadership and Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education
Jake Power, Secondary Principal, DA Central
14 years of experience in education, 9 years in the United States and 5 years in Senegal, Bachelor of Arts degree in French and currently pursuing a Master's degree in Educational Leadership
Andrew Smith, Elementary Principal, DA Central
25+ years of mission experience with 10+ years in West Africa, educator in 5 different countries, Post Graduate Certificate in Education, Diploma in Intercultural Studies, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree
Jon Hetland, Team Lead/Head Chaplain, DA Central
30+ years of military and business leadership, B.S. in Engineering from Annapolis, MBA in Business and M.S. in Engineering from George Washington University, and M.A. in Chaplaincy from Dallas Seminary. Experience teaching MS and HS math and science, couples counseling, men's ministries, addiction recovery, and community development in the United States, Asia, Europe, and West Africa.
Cheryl Turner,
Lead Principal, DA West
25+ years in 5 countries as an educator, principal and administrator, Master's Degree in Curriculum Development and Instruction, Certificate in Leadership & Cultural Diversity, Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Christian Education, grew up in Africa and raised her children as 'third culture kids' in Central & Southern Africa
Nathan Fosdahl, Lead Principal, DA South
10 years of international education experience in Afghanistan and Indonesia, Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration, Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science,16 years of international experience as a TCK
Randy Lodder, Facilities Manager
Served in Port-au-Prince, Haiti for the past 16 years leading a Christian School and organization, completed the Van Lunen Center's Fellows Program in Executive Management in Christian Education, Master’s of Education, Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education and Youth Ministry, background in education, construction, truck body manufacturing and camp ministry
Janine Stegall, Principal, DA Liberia Co-Op School
Lived and worked for 23 years as an educator, curriculum coordinator, and administrator in four countries, served in West Africa for the past 11 years with American international schools in Cote d’Ivoire and Liberia, previous curriculum coordinator at DA Schools
Bob Steiger, Team Lead/Chaplain, DA South
Ordained Gospel minister with the Navigators, Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies and Christian Ministry from Alaska Bible College, 15+ years of experience ministering in Francophone Africa
Bradley Wise, Operations Manager
Background in business development lending in the US, originally served as the Business Specialist for DA Schools, previous work experience in Niger
Matthew Barker, Curriculum Coordinator
8 years of teaching experience split between the US and Dakar Academy, Bachelor's degree in Bible, Bachelor's in Middle School education with a focus on social studies and math, and a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in educational technology
Dickens Likhanga, IT Manager
18+ years of experience in the IT field, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, 5+ years of experience in secondary and collegiate education in the US and Africa
Charles Ibsen, Business Manager
19 years in operations and management in NGOs in West Africa, Master’s degree in Business Administration in Global Economic Development, grew up in Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire. 8 years in multiple positions for Dakar Academy Schools