Bringing lifetime of tribal education leadership full circle

After several years leading Neah Bay Middle and High School on the Makah Reservation, Lucy Dafoe has returned home to take the helm once again at Chief Kitsap Academy.
Dafoe previously served at CKA as both teacher and principal from 2014 to 2021, helping shape the school’s foundation on its current campus. Her return marks a new chapter, guided by decades of experience in tribal schools across the country and deep personal connections to the Suquamish community.
“I wasn’t looking for a new job,” Dafoe said. “But when the phone call came about this opening, I realized how much I missed being home — being close to family, being part of this community. It was a fast decision, but the right one.”
“Lucy made a significant impact during her previous administration, leading efforts that improved behavioral and academic outcomes and helped cultivate a culturally responsive and supportive school environment,” said Suquamish Education Division Director Brenda Guerrero.
“Her experience and vision will be instrumental as we continue building on our achievements and strive toward our collective goals.”
Longtime CKA admin Trish Chargualaf, who worked closely with Dafoe during her previous tenure in Suquamish, said she’s “very excited to see Lucy come back. It feels like a weight has been lifted.”
In Neah Bay, Dafoe oversaw grades 6 through 12 at the small but dynamic public school on the Makah Reservation. The role brought her full circle there as well — she started her teaching career there in 1994.
“The parents of my students had been my students,” she said. “And many of the staff had been my students, too. It gave me this incredible head start.”
Over her four years back in Neah Bay, Dafoe helped lead a cultural and academic revitalization. Under her leadership, students earned state championships in sports, hosted culturally centered summits with other schools, and saw many students graduating with both high school diplomas and Associate’s degrees.
The school integrated outdoor education, traditional foods, language, and carving into core academics. “It wasn’t culture or school—it was culture and school,” she said.
That blending of Native traditions with academic rigor has been the hallmark of Dafoe’s career. In addition to Neah Bay and Suquamish, she’s worked with the Puyallup and Seminole tribes, always with the goal of grounding education in place, language, and cultural values.
At Chief Kitsap Academy, she plans to reinvigorate that focus with outdoor classrooms, place-based learning, and curriculum that reflects Suquamish knowledge systems. “This is such a unique location,” she said. “We’re near the water, the forests, and so many resources. We should be using all of it to support our students’ growth — academically, culturally, socially.”
Dafoe also acknowledges the challenges ahead. “It’s no secret that these last few years have been difficult,” she said.
“Our students are still recovering from the pandemic. Behaviorally, emotionally, academically — we’ve all had to rebuild. My goal is to create a consistent, structured environment where staff are supported, kids are seen, and families feel welcome.”
She wants to emphasize proactive communication, community engagement, and a renewed academic push. “We’re going to focus on instruction,” she said. “State test scores show there’s work to be done. But that work happens when kids feel safe, when staff feel supported, and when families are included.”
A lifelong educator, Dafoe was raised in Joyce, Washington, and earned her degree in music education from Western Washington University. She is Paq’wt̓šən First Nations.
Now back home full-time, Dafoe is settling into her office, catching up with former colleagues, and beginning to lay the groundwork for a strong school year.
“I feel energized,” she said. “This is a school our students get to come to, not a place they have to go. I want CKA to be a place of belonging, where culture and learning walk side by side.”

By Jon Anderson
Suquamish News Staff Writer