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ISNA CONFERENCE
Crayons to College Are Islamic school serving to empower Muslim students in crafting a better future? BY FARHEEN KHAN AND SHAZA KHAN
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amaraderie. Solidarity. Collaboration. ISNA’s 11th annual Education Forum—which has found a permanent home in Chicago— attracted Muslim educators from around the country, and cultivated an atmosphere of energy and inspiration. With nearly 700 Muslim educators participating in this year’s event (2-4 April), the Forum experienced the largest assembly of Islamic school teachers in the history of its existence. This year’s theme, “Crayons to College: Empowering Muslim Students to Color a Brighter World,” was reflected upon in over 30 educational seminars throughout the weekend. Sessions included lectures, hands-on workshops, preconference seminars, bazaars, and formal banquet dinners. Participants attended seminars on topics ranging from Arabic curricula to the development of school business plans and considered issues such as emotional development of learners and effective character education. Speakers pulled from decades of experience and from a variety of areas of expertise. Dr. Mohammed Sadiq, a Canadian psychologist at Shifa Psychological Services and a human services activist for over 35 years, reminded teachers that they serve as “surrogate parents…and are helping parents raise their children.” Dr. Sadiq focused on self-reflection and self-awareness as educators, emphasizing that teachers must 22 ISLAMIC HORIZONS JULY/AUGUST 2010
“know themselves” in order to be effective. One track of the Forum was also dedicated to the young Muslim American generation. Fifty-eight youth from across the region participated in this track, engaging in age-appropriate workshops and lectures, one-on-one counseling sessions, and other breakout sessions meant to empower the youth to be confident and contributing members of their broader communities. Speakers included members of the national executive MYNA board as well as of the Majlis Youth Committee, such as Habeeb Quadri (principal, MCC Schhol, Chicago) and Iyad Alnachef (director, ISNA Dept. of Youth Programming and Services). A new addition to this year’s forum was the “Ask the Experts” segment, where school administrators could sign up for one-on-one consultations with experienced professionals. The forum also facilitated partnerships through a networking session on Saturday morning, bringing together approximately 500 teachers, board members, principals, and others committed to Islamic education. Daoud Ali (board member, Alhuda Academy, Worcester, MA) reflected on the “learning of different strategies…and networking with educators” to be among the most beneficial aspects of the Forum. In addition to the main sessions, there were three preconference workshops held at this forum — Guide to Starting Your Is-
lamic High School, Art and Science of Teaching, and Arabic Teaching. These fullday workshops honed in on specific areas of interest for educators and helped provide solutions to teachers and administrators based on research and national standards. Saturday’s luncheon program featured Dr. Edward Krenson (vice president, AdvancED) and Dr. Kem Hussain (acting president, Council of Islamic Schools of North America), who highlighted the ways in which full-time Islamic schools can attain accreditation and how AdvancED works with schools, teachers, and Islamic communities to meet the needs of their students more effectively. Their organization emphasized cultural sensitivity and meeting the specific needs of the schooling community. Saturday’s banquet dinner featured Imam Zaid Shakir as the keynote speaker, who addressed Muslim educators as “heroes,” reminding us that children are an amanah (trust), and emphasized the need to help students apply Islamic studies curriculum and critical thinking, which he posited as one of the goals of Islamic education. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Freda Shamma for her over 25 years of dedicated service to Islamic education. Year after year, the Forum provides Muslim educators from around the nation the opportunity to collaborate, inspire, and support one another towards a common goal. Dr. Mathew Moes (executive director, Good Tree Academy in Dallas, TX), a fre-