Qur’an Shakir, New ISLA Board Member
Exciting News!
Here at ISLA we are very excited! Long-time educator, community activist, school administrator, and vibrant voice in Islamic Education, Ms. Qur’an Shakir, has joined our Board!! Ms. Shakir has been an active ISLA supporter for many years, and most recently served as a co-chair for our contest “Celebrating African and African American Muslim History.” Over the summer she was one of our amazing presenters at ISLA’s Summer Virtual PD Week, speaking passionately on, “Culturally Relevant & Islamic Pedagogy.”
With over 30 years of experience in the field of education, Ms. Qur’an Shakir is a seasoned school leader and practitioner. She has served in a wide variety of roles including head master, curriculum coordinator, student relations, master teacher, board development, and many more. Throughout her career, she has developed and partnered with small organizations to establish in-house instructional functions, and has played a strategic role with larger organizations. Madame Q, as she is affectionately called, served as a Public Information Leader for three different public and/or non-profit agencies, supporting over 20,000 employees across the United States. Madame Q is passionate about education, building strong relationships, families, and communities.
A native Atlantian, Ms. Qur’an resides in Atlanta with her husband, William Abdul-Khaaliq, and serves as a school consultant, a radio talk show host, a freelance writer, a leader in interfaith relations, and a called-upon motivational speaker. She is a Jenga, future-proof certified master educator, guide and distinguished leader.
Madame Q as a limitless resume, here are just a few highlights of an illustrious career serving the Atlanta community, and Muslims throughout the US:
National Recognition:
Founder:
- Powerful Youth in Charge (PYIC) – an organization for tweens and teens that teaches them the power of leadership and being their own best advocates.
- Taalib-Din Company – which promotes learning Islam through games and competitions.
- Taqwa Productions Inc. – an Islamic media production company.
- UISA (United Islamic Schools of Atlanta) – an organization of Islamic school leaders
Board Member:
- Camp Butterfly Girls International – a space where girls ages 8-15 celebrate being a girl, learning valuable life lessons, and have fun.
- Drug Rebound of DeKalb Juvenile Justice – where she advises and supports the juvenile court in efforts to help adolescent participants learn to live drug free and crime-free
- Interfaith Children’s Movement – where she is committed to advocating for children and empowering them to advocate, lead and serve.
- National Education Council (NEC) of Sister Clara Mohammed Schools
- The Islamic Schools League of America (ISLA)
Here at ISLA we are truly grateful to have Ms. Qur’an Shakir join us and help us develop our strategic plans to provide Research, Resources and Relationships in the coming years to full-time Islamic schools here in North America!
