Welcome to ISANA! I am honored and humbled to serve as your CEO and represent an organization that believes in the transforming power of education.
At ISANA, we know that the key to ending racial inequities, discrimination, implicit bias, and acts of violence within our communities lies in our youth. This generation has the heart, mind, and soul to make this world a better place. Our job as adults and educators is to empower, nurture, and give our scholars the skills to be leaders and positive change-makers. Our scholars culminate from our schools embodying the meaning of “ISANA” – An Innovative, Socially-Aware, Network of Achievers!
To do our job right means we must examine what is taking place in our classrooms, and work hand-in-hand with families for student success. This is the only way to create lasting, meaningful change. As we start the 2020-2021 school year, you have my commitment that we will be intentional in eliminating any inequities found in our immediate educational environment. We will also take strategic and sustained action to empower our students and educators with the tools they need to create just practices in our classrooms and the communities where our campuses are located.
In June of 2020, the ISANA Board of Directors issued a statement in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement and established the following six objectives for our organization. They are in line with the established tenets of the ISANA educational model and are based on the themes of equity and justice.
Objective A: Acknowledge and address the impacts of systemic racism on and within our educational system.
Objective B: Engage explicitly in educator professional development around racial justice, equity, and implicit bias.
Objective C: Critically analyze our curriculum for issues of privilege and bias, and ensure that what we teach represents the histories of all peoples and prepares students to become critical thinkers and change-makers.
Objective D: Engage in instructional pedagogy that is culturally relevant and responsive, holds high expectations for students, and fosters student engagement.
Objective E: Embed in our school culture and structures opportunities to address the social-emotional well-being of students, educators, leadership, and the community.
Objective F: Develop a collaborative system for inclusive partnerships with parents and community/stakeholders to ensure a well-rounded and effective student support system that addresses racial justice, equity, and implicit bias.
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The decisions we make will always be made in the best interest of our students and in keeping with our promise to prioritize equity and justice for all. I look forward to sharing this journey with you and doing everything we can to create a stronger, more equitable, more inclusive, more aware world.
In solidarity,
Nadia Shaiq
CEO, ISANA Academies