Global Management Team
Executive Director: Angie Pape
With over 25 years of experience in Christian education, Angie has served in South Africa as a primary school principal, head of department, and assistant director for early education at ACSI South Africa. As the principal of Calvary Christian College for a decade, she was then approached to join the small team responsible for launching the South African office of The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
Seeking a broader scope of experience, she joined one of South Africa’s top five charities, where she spent six years bringing hope to over 900 children with life-threatening illnesses. Her work in the non-profit sector earned her a bursary to study project management.
Throughout her career, Angie has worked with hospital staff, professional entertainers, and celebrities, as well as gaining extensive experience in school management and leadership, event planning, public speaking, training, and administration. She has also had the opportunity to address educators at Christian school conferences and conduct workshops in the United States, South Africa, and other parts of Africa.
As a passionate advocate for marginalized children and God’s people, Angie has served in local church ministry alongside her husband as both the praise and worship team leader and worship dance leader. With a heart that beats for those who are often overlooked, Angie is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others.
Associate Director: Dana Neff
Dana came to Open Schools through her work with TeachBeyond. She resides in Horsham, England home to TeachBeyond’s Global Centre. Dana’s most recent move was from Vietnam where she was involved with a national school. Dana taught Grade 2 ESL relying on her previous 8 years of experience in Christian school kindergarten.
Dana loves her role of helping with administrative work that integrates Open Schools into the larger TeachBeyond family.
Dana grew up in California and graduated from Arizona State University where she met her husband, Joe. They spent 4 years at Dallas Theological Seminary before a lifelong involvement in Christian schools that took them to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Wheaton, Illinois, and Little Rock, Arkansas before moving overseas. Joe and Dana have 4 grown children all involved in education.
Country Director Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda and Malawi: Mitchell Lawrence
Mitchell and his wife Carol serve God’s calling on their lives in Zimbabwe and Zambia where since 2012 they have travelled both countries extensively, training hundreds of volunteers, ministering God’s Word and living their passion to see the lives and social limitations of marginalized children being changed by the Open Schools program.
Mitch has been involved in Christian education since 1999 as a teacher and Deputy Principal and has assisted ACSI in South Africa and Zimbabwe to promote Biblical integration into local Christian school curriculum. He has been involved in planting churches in Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, the pioneering of Christian schools in Harare and in the leadership development of pastors in Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Mitch has served as pastor in a local church in Zimbabwe and has had the opportunity to work among the Tonga, Bushman, Ndebele and Zambian people. He has a deep love for God’s word and is a committed servant of the Lord Jesus Christ who has called Him to love those who seem to be forgotten.
Director of Development (Europe and Canada): Phil Peters
Phil earned a science degree at the University of Winnipeg in Canada, before leading and developing an experiential and outdoor youth program in central Europe for four years. After acquiring a graduate degree in educational ministries at Wheaton Graduate School in Chicago, he was Principal at Tauernhof, an international Christian training and retreat center in the Austrian Alps for 14 years.
He was passionate about the value of experiential and non-conventional education in facilitating significant personal development. Phil spent the next seven years as part of the leadership of an innovative church project in southern Germany, where he applied these developmental principles with children, youth, adults, and couples.
He was invited to become the Interim Director at Black Forest Academy, an international Christian school serving children who live in over 60 countries. Stemming out of this time, he initiated and developed several joint service projects with Habitat for Humanity, leading groups of students as well as adults to Romania to provide housing for orphans and the homeless. These experiences increased his burden and desire to mobilize capabilities and resources to help address the extensive needs of the poor and marginalized.
Phil is Canadian, married, and has three children.
Curriculum Development Numeracy: Alison Poulter
Alison resides in B.C., Canada. Her teaching background includes working with a girls’ education project in northern Ghana, and teaching at two Christian schools in B.C.
She has a M.Ed. in International Education and a passion to bring Christ-centred education to out-of-school children and youth.
Luisa Matatolu: Communications Director
Lulu lives in Inverness, in the Highlands of Scotland with her husband. Originally from the Fiji Islands and Kingdom of Tonga, she has lived in the UK for over a decade, working in retail finance and talent acquisition, and has previously worked as an English teacher in Tonga. A keen linguist, she recently completed her MSc in TESOL, at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, specialising in English for Academic Purposes. At the conclusion of her graduate studies, Lulu felt a divine calling to serve. This led her to join TeachBeyond, which connected her with Open Schools Worldwide. With a deep love for education and a passion for literacy, Lulu has witnessed firsthand how these can transform lives, including her own. She is excited to contribute to Open Schools Worldwide’s mission and help achieve its communication goals.
Country Director Brazil: Joanita Haeuser
Joanita is a dedicated educator who, along with her husband Raphael, have two wonderful children. She holds a degree in Christian Education and a postgraduate degree in Teaching Languages and has taught ESL for numerous years.
Having served with TeachBeyond for several years, she finds great joy in contributing to transformational education. In her free time, Joanita loves to connect with nature, finding inspiration and peace in God’s beautiful creation.
Country Director Dominican Republic: Cesar Valdez
Cesar is a full-time missionary with a background in school administration in bilingual school settings. He joined TeachBeyond in 2019 and has a dual role as the Teachbeyond Dominican Republic National Director and Open Schools Country Director.
He is passionate about Christian education and dreams to see at-risk children have access to transformational education. He loves to share his passion on biblical integration and biblical work ethics in educational institutions. Cesar is married, with two children.
Country Director South Africa: Jasper Subramoney
Jasper has followed in his father’s footsteps by joining Open Schools World Wide in January 2023. His heart for children at risk comes from ministering into Africa and around his home country of South Africa, where he lives with his wife, daughter, and mom.
He has a background in business development and entrepreneurship and is passionate about leading marginalized children to Christ through education.
Country Director Kenya: Wangũi Maina
Wangũi believes she is called to be a catalyst for God-Centred Transformational Education and joined TeachBeyond UK in 2022 after having served as a missionary teacher in Senegal. She is determined to ensure young people and communities learn innovative ways to problem solving using literacy as an agent for change. This led her to Kenya where she has the dual role as the Open Schools Country Director and the Project lead for Kusoma Tu Foundation. Wangui homeschool’s her four wonderful children.
