Dana started a non-profit school in Latvia. Her teaching approach focuses on enabling students to be resourceful and succeed in real-life situations. Almost all students have individual learning plans, and they are encouraged to take responsibility for their own development by planning their specific study topic. Learning outside school in other institutions and interacting with the community are also important components of her method, winning her and her team the Cesis municipality ‘Social Investment’ prize.
Dana has been recognized as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Latvia in 2015 in the category of contribution to children, world peace and human rights. She is also a Reach for Change, Change leader in Latvia 2015, receiving their top prize. Her distinguish as a leader in education has also led her to be nominated as a TOP 50 teacher in the Global Teachers Prize.