Enriching your homeschool experience

Zeina Saymeh has spent over twenty years in Islamic education, with a founding role at the Islamic Academy of Youngstown, a leadership role at Noor Ul-Iman School, an administrative role at Legacy International Online High School and multiple board positions throughout the years. She has also homeschooled her four children for more than nine years through their very own, SABR School of Scholars.

Her diverse experience offers a unique lens into personalized, holistic education, organically blending academic excellence with tarbiyah. She attended public school and Sunday Islamic school as a child/teen, put her own children in a private Islamic school while simultaneously working as one of it's administrators, then made a joint decision to homeschool, while continuing to serve the community on many levels. After many years of searching and seeing it from almost every angle possible, she understands what families are looking for and what she envisioned for her own. That's where Ilmwood was born!

Ilmwood is built on shura and servant leadership, the belief that the best thing an educator can do is build something alongside families. She believes in the importance of attending ongoing professional development and brings research-informed thinking into every decision aligning with Ilmwood Academy‘s mission and philosophy.

Fatima Abdulrahman is a mother of two and a dedicated educator committed to nurturing purposeful, community-centered learning. She holds a Master's degree in Public Health from Rutgers University and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Educational Leadership. In addition to her academic training, Fatima has experience coordinating educational programs and community initiatives, bringing vision, structure, and thoughtful planning to every learning environment she leads. As both a lifelong learner and an advocate for holistic development, she is passionate about cultivating inspiring, inclusive spaces where children grow academically, socially, and with a strong sense of service and responsibility to their community.

Fatima Jan is a mother of three girls and holds undergraduate degrees in Neuroscience and Cognitive Psychology. She received her Montessori teacher training through the Princeton Center for Teacher Education and is a Certified Nature Teacher through the Association of Nature-Based Education. Fatima is the founder of Fitra Nature Education, a grassroots initiative based on a farm and forest property that utilizes project-based learning to educate the whole child - head, hands, and heart.

When she's not teaching outdoors, Fatima enjoys baking sourdough breads, reading aloud to her children, and planning in her traveler's journal (aka her external hard drive).

Hafiz Kadri is a mother of three daughters and a dedicated homeschool educator with a deep appreciation for both the arts and sciences. She enjoys hands-on creative work, from cooking and embroidery to exploring Islamic geometric design.

Her professional background spans data science, biomedical informatics, and analytical research. She holds a Master's degree in Biomedical Informatics and a Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy, and has worked as a Data Scientist and Data Analyst in healthcare and technology environments. Her work has included large-scale data analysis, statistical modeling, and the development of reports and dashboards to support informed decision-making.

She now brings these analytical and organizational strengths into educational and community settings through curriculum planning, program administration, and data-informed support of learning initiatives, contributing thoughtful structure and care to the work she undertakes.

Alisha Stegall is a dedicated community educator and program coordinator with a passion for meaningful family engagement and hands-on learning. She has served as the Convert Program Coordinator at New Brunswick Islamic Center for the past nine years and has long supported community and family programming, including NBIC's Mommy & Me initiatives.

Professionally, Alisha brings experience from over seven years at Dow Jones, where she supported educators through academic training and curriculum resources. She also has experience with Montessori-inspired education and nature-based learning programs through her work with Fitra Nature Education.

In addition to her educational work, Alisha is a textile artist and founder of "By A. Collective," where she teaches creative workshops centered on sewing, weaving, embroidery, and intentional craftsmanship. She is passionate about building strong community connections and creating enriching, thoughtful learning experiences for families and students at Ilmwood Academy of Greater Princeton.