A Letter to My ISLA Family
Assalaamu’alaykum,
This is not a blog post. This is a letter written from the heart to my beloved ISLA family. It’s not an easy thing to write. It’s a difficult decision and an exciting future, couched in complete trust in Allah. I’m writing to let you all know that, inshallah, I plan to step down from the role of Executive Director at the ISLA.
Over the years, ISLA has been more than a job for me. It has been my life. You have been my family. But let me back up a little….
How My Journey with ISLA Began
At one of my first retreats as Interim Executive Director in TX (2018). Pictured with me are Dr. Samar Al-Majaideh, Dr. Patricia Salahuddin, Kathy Jamil, and Noor Saadeh.
Nine and a half years ago, our beloved sister, Karen Keyworth, ISLA’s founding executive director, passed away suddenly (may Allah have His Mercy upon her).
I was serving on the board of ISLA at the time. My youngest child was only two and a half months old, and I had stepped away from the classroom for a while to spend this precious time with her. But when this happened, I accepted the offer to step in as Interim Executive Director of the ISLA in a part-time capacity. I mostly managed the ISLA’s email listserv, the IECN, while our working board ran other major programs, like the Leadership Retreat.
However, it became clear early on that the role was not going to be temporary. I was trained as a teacher and researcher, so I took a course on nonprofit management to fill in some of the skill gaps. I kept pursuing training and coaching with the support of the ISLA board throughout my tenure to keep improving our service to the community.
Serving Islamic Schools Through COVID-19
Working…
When COVID-19 hit, it seemed like the entire world stopped, except perhaps the worlds of health care and education. We knew we had to keep serving. There was no choice. While one profession dealt with the physical health of humans, the other dealt with the holistic health and well-being of our children. ISLA jumped into action. We offered a course on hybrid learning design and began hosting weekly Admin Meetings to stay on top of changing regulations. Those meetings gave our leaders a space to share best practices, ask questions, and consult with one another.
Growing Together After the Pandemic
The groundwork laid by Karen, board members, educators, ISLA member schools, and early supporters created fertile ground for ISLA to grow and expand during and after the pandemic. ISLA continued to host monthly Admin Meetings and launched monthly webinars. We upskilled teachers with ed tech trainings and cultivated more partnerships to address key issues in education through research, resources and relationships. We also kept up our Leadership Retreats and other signature services, like job postings.
To say that some of my favorite moments have been with the ISLA community is an understatement. If you’ve been in our meetings, if you’ve seen me light up during a partnership exploration, if you’ve heard me talk about our research, then you know.
Why Now, and What’s Next
As I make the difficult decision to step down as Executive Director, I do so knowing that the field has truly grown. There are so many talented, experienced, skilled, passionate, and sincere workers of Allah seeking to take this organization even further. I truly believe that this is an incredibly exciting time to lead the Islamic School League of America. It is a time of growth at ISLA, in the field of Islamic education, and the ummah and humanity are thirsty for what we have to offer. We need the next leader of ISLA to have the sincerity, tenacity, and experience to drive ISLA and the field to meet the needs of this moment.
In Malaysia with other ISLA team members and leadership.
The Transition and Search for ISLA’s Next Executive Director
I will remain in my role through this year to support a smooth transition. The board has enlisted Forerunners, an impeccable organization that leads with an Islamic worldview, to drive the search for ISLA’s next Executive Director. If you know someone who would be a strong fit, or you are interested yourself, please share the position with them: https://tinyurl.com/ISLA-ED-Postion.
With Gratitude
I am grateful for the opportunity to have served this incredible community. Thank you to our board, to the school leaders and educators who showed up week after week, to our partners and supporters, and to my own family, who shared me with ISLA all these years. May Allah bless Karen’s legacy and all of you, and may He continue to make this community prosper!
With love and duas, your sister,
Shaza
