As a California native with Palestinian roots, I have dedicated my career in public education to promoting racial and social justice in the classroom and broader educational organizations and space I work in. In my current role as Manager of English Learner & Academic Support Programs, I see my role as visioning and advocating for the continuous improvement of the programs that serve our most vulnerable, but resilient, student populations. I oversee all district EL Programs, as well as AVID, Ethnic Studies, Guided Studies, and Family Engagement. As a long-time high school social science teacher, with a special love for working with English Learners, it has been an extreme privilege and personal and professional blessing to be leading Bridge, an alternative Newcomer Program for 11/12th grade multilingual students with limited or interrupted education. 

In addition to my work in high schools, I have served as a lecturer in the College of Ethnic Studies Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diaspora Program and the Masters of Public Health Program at San Francisco State University. Currently, I am teaching a graduate level course for High Tech High Master’s in Education Program on designing and leading adult learning; and collaborating with Ethnic Studies scholars and activists statewide to support districts in implementing Ethnic Studies in their school districts. 

I graduated with a B.A in Political Science with a minor in Spanish from UC Davis, an M.A. in Education from San Francisco State University, and an Ed.D with a focus on Organization and Leadership from the University of San Francisco. When I am not working with students, their families, or teachers and administrators, I enjoy running and reading, and share in being a proud parent of boy/girl twins, Falestine and Jihad and working for peace and justice in this world.