Jahna Duda
Senior Director of Academics

As DMC’s Senior Director of Academics, Mrs. Duda leads the innovation and activation of deeper learning from early education through high school to build on learner strengths and needs, create new knowledge using real-world problem solving, and assist all students in identifying their identity and purpose. From academics to mental health, Mrs. Duda leads faculty in professional learning focused on creating favorable environments within the classroom, advisory, and student support framework so children and adolescents will flourish in thought, belief, and action. Her role includes fostering relationships with community partners like Heartland Christian Counseling to provide on-site mental health services and OneBody3 to train faculty in skills related to nurturing student identity and purpose.

Mrs. Duda began her career in Christian education in 2000 at Heritage Christian School located in the Iowa City area where she taught in a self-contained elementary classroom before becoming the middle school math and Bible teacher. In 2006, Mrs. Duda joined Des Moines Christian School as a sixth grade math, Bible, and history teacher. After a cumulative twelve years in the classroom, she moved into school leadership, first as the Director of Curriculum and Assessment in 2012, and then High School Principal in 2014.

Mrs. Duda holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education with a minor in mathematics, a master's degree in educational leadership, and is currently pursuing her PhD in education through Drake University.