The 13th Annual ISNA West Coast Education Forum
By Crystal Habib
Mar/Apr 25
The 13th Annual West Coast Education Forum, hosted by the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) took place on January 17 and 18, 2025 at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa in Costa Mesa, California. This year’s theme, “Promoting Social Justice and Spiritual Resilience Through Education,” attracted 177 pre-registered attendees, including educators, administrators, and board members from Islamic schools across the nation.
This annual forum serves as a platform for professional development, networking, and community leadership with 25 speakers participating in 24 diverse sessions covering various topics such as Arabic language studies, curriculum instruction, leadership, and more.
Among the notable speakers were director of Islamic studies at the New Horizon Schools in Southern California Logan Siler; Maisa Meziou, who is currently pursuing a doctorate of education at the University of Houston in Clear Lake; Long Beach City College professor and leader of the New Muslims Program at the Islamic Society of Orange County Tahir Aziz; Arabic teacher Maria Kouli; Educational development professional and founder of Genius School Susan Labadi; and head of sschool and program manager at the Center of Innovative Religious Education at Al Faith Academy Ismail ibn Ali. They all contributed insights that resonated deeply with attendees.
Program Highlights
Thies year’s event featured an engaging program commencing with a welcoming introduction and the Principals Panel Discussion facilitated by Munira Ezzeldine, a college and career counselor dedicated to empowering Muslim students as they navigate their educational and professional paths. The Principals Panel featured Islamic school leaders who discussed the challenges and strategies for recruiting and retaining talented staff who would become future leaders in Islamic education.
“Relationships enhance our wellbeing,” said Ibrahim Yousef, the principal of Minaret Academy in Anaheim, Calif. This sentiment was later emphasized in the networking luncheon by ISNA Program Committee member Abir Catovic.
Following the panel, participants enjoyed a networking lunch before delving into a multitude of informative sessions, including “STEM Integration for Social Justice” by doctoral student Maisa Meziou. “Comprehending Arabic to Facilitate Quranic Contemplation” was offered by Arabic and Quran teacher Amal Sakr Elhoseiny, PhD, while “Integrating Justice and Meaning through 5D Thinking” was given by Nadine Kamal of the Institute of Integrated Knowledge in Abu Dhabi. “Recognizing and Addressing Mental Health Issues Within Schools” was a final session offered by licensed marriage and family therapist Yassir Fazaga.
This year’s forum also hosted a Celebration Banquet, where the ISNA Lifetime Service Award was presented to Dr. Omar Ezzeldine, Director of Operations and Community Engagement at the Rahma Center (a community center of the Islamic Foundation). He has a long history of service in Islamic schools and youth development. This moment was accompanied by a gesture of solidarity with Muslims in Syria and Gaza with a powerful testimonial from ASU medical graduate from Gaza, Dr. Ahmed Abdeen, and director of community and partner relations for Syrian American Council, Suzanne Meridan. Inspiring student presentations from the Minaret Academy followed. Head of Department Dania Silk was accompanied by the Minaret students in the recitation of Surah Al-Fattah, a poem about the struggle of Palestinian youth in securing freedom and peace in their land. They also sung ‘Mawtini, a song of tribute to the Palestinians of Gaza.
Quotes and Testimonials
The event included powerful testimonials reflecting the attendees’ enthusiasm and commitment to enhancing educational standards. Islamic Studies teacher Logan Siler remarked, “I had a great time this year at the ISNA Education Forum. It’s great to hear the passion [educators] have for teaching.” Similarly, computer science professor and leader of the New Muslims Program at the Islamic Society of Orange County, Tahir Aziz, emphasized the importance of heart in education. “If you are a critical thinker, you are a problem solver,” he said.
Speaker Nadine Kamal expressed appreciation for the forum’s theme. “I think and I hope that teachers will find a way to use this information and give them the inspiration to find a sense of purpose in their day job,” she said. Nadeem Siddiqi, Adjunct Faculty at Tayseer Seminary, highlighted the collaborative spirit of the participants, noting, “It was great to see all the collaboration and cross pollination of information and ideas.”
Sponsorship and Support
The forum was supported by six official sponsors, including Aldeen Foundation, Crescent Foods, and Amana Mutual Funds Trust. Each sponsor conveyed a shared commitment to educational empowerment. As Ali Wadi of Minneapolis-based Diwan stated, the forum was “a very well organized event with great topics. It was great to meet with the leaders behind great Islamic schools and organizations.”
With a robust program and impactful discussions, the ISNA Education Forum successfully fostered community, collaboration, and educational advancement for Islamic institutions. Basharat Saleem, ISNA Executive Director, noted the increased attendance compared to previous years and the involvement of international participants, reinforcing the forum’s role as a crucial gathering for educators dedicated to shaping the future of Islamic education.
The forum concluded with a call to action for ongoing collaboration and planning for the next 25 years to ensure that the mission of promoting social justice and spiritual resilience through education continues to thrive into the future.
Crystal Habib is the Communications and Social Media Coordinator at ISNA.