Leaders in the education sector play a pivotal role in shaping the future of learning and development. They are responsible for creating innovative teaching methods, fostering a conducive learning environment, and ensuring access to quality education for all. However, they also face significant challenges that require their strategic leadership and problem-solving skills. Amal Issa (Director of Operations at Global Educational Excellence) envisions the field as a leader in culturally responsive education and holistic student development. Her goal is to expand the blended learning program under GEE Preparatory, allowing students to thrive Academically, socially, and emotionally.
A Journey Fueled by the Power of Education
Amal Issa’s inspiration to pursue a career in education stems from her profound belief in the transformative power of learning, particularly within underserved communities. Growing up in a family that valued education as a means to overcome adversity, she recognized early on her desire to be part of a system capable of changing lives.
Working with an Organization like Global Educational Excellence (GEE) ignited her passion for education. GEE’s commitment to community-driven and culturally responsive learning models deeply resonated with Amal, guiding her toward her true calling. The stakeholders at GEE motivate her not only to enhance her local community but also to adopt a global perspective, aspiring to be a leader who creates a broader impact.
Amal’s journey to GEE Preparatory has been shaped by diverse roles in education, ranging from teaching to administration. Each experience has equipped her to lead in alignment with the Organization’s core values.
Fostering an Inclusive and Responsive Learning Environment
Amal Issa’s leadership style is rooted in collaboration, empathy, and shared decision-making. At GEE Preparatory, she diligently works to ensure that the voices of students, staff, and community members are heard. Her approach aligns closely with GEE’s core values, emphasising inclusivity, culturally responsive education, and ongoing professional development for her team.
Transparency and trust are fundamental to her leadership, facilitating open dialogue and continuous growth. Amal believes in cultivating an environment where educators are empowered to innovate and students receive holistic support, addressing their academic, social, and emotional needs.
At GEE Preparatory, the diversity of the student body is celebrated, with efforts made to ensure that all cultures and languages are represented in the curriculum and daily interactions. The school serves a community rich in cultural and linguistic diversity, including many students from refugee and newcomer backgrounds. To create an inclusive atmosphere, Amal emphasises culturally responsive teaching practices, ensuring that students’ identities are recognized and valued.
Additionally, she prioritises strong communication with families by providing interpretation and translation services, creating spaces where all voices are welcomed. By integrating the experiences and perspectives of their diverse student body, GEE Preparatory enhances learning and fosters a strong, inclusive community.
Building Community
By strengthening community ties and enhancing resources, Amal aims to ensure that GEE Preparatory remains a nurturing environment where students not only achieve academic success but also develop into confident and engaged citizens.
Having served in various roles—including Arabic teacher at both the school and university levels, ELL teacher, student mentor, and interim principal—Amal possesses a comprehensive understanding of the educational landscape, from classroom instruction to administrative leadership. Her experiences as a teacher, especially with English learners, underscored the importance of differentiation and meeting students at their individual levels. Mentoring students highlighted the profound impact of personalised guidance, while her time as interim principal provided valuable insights into school-wide operations.
Each of these roles has shaped Amal’s leadership approach, reinforcing her commitment to empathy, adaptability, and lifelong learning.
Championing Growth and Equity
One of Amal Issa’s proudest accomplishments has been overseeing a remarkable increase in enrollment at GEE Preparatory. When she joined the school, there were only 120 students in the program; today, her team manages nearly 650 students. This significant growth reflects strong community support and a shared commitment to delivering quality education.
Amal is also proud of the successful implementation of the language support program, which has greatly improved academic outcomes for English learners. This initiative, developed in collaboration with the ESL staff, underscores the school’s dedication to equity in education. With backing from Global Educational Excellence, they launched a staff development program that encourages team members to pursue higher education, enabling many to earn advanced degrees, become certified administrators, and obtain multiple endorsements—thus enhancing the professionalism of their workforce.
Above all, Amal considers her greatest achievement to be the exceptional team that runs GEE Preparatory. This dedicated group of educators and staff is unique, and their commitment to students distinguishes the school from other programs.
At GEE Preparatory, multilingualism is integral to their educational philosophy. Integrating Arabic into the curriculum not only helps preserve the cultural identities of many students but also equips them with valuable language skills for an interconnected world. Learning a second language enhances cognitive development and problem-solving abilities while fostering a deeper appreciation for diverse cultures. By providing Arabic language instruction, GEE Preparatory offers students essential tools to become globally aware and better prepared for future opportunities.
Leading the Charge
One of the most significant challenges Amal Issa has faced at GEE Preparatory is the national shortage of qualified ESL teachers. To address this issue, she and her team have developed creative staffing solutions, such as hiring educators with teaching permits who show great potential, and pairing them with mentorship programs to enhance their skills. Additionally, they have bolstered in-house professional development opportunities, equipping staff with the training and resources necessary to effectively support students. This proactive approach has enabled GEE Preparatory to maintain high-quality instruction despite staffing challenges.
Amal and her team stay ahead of educational trends with the support of their leaders at Global Educational Excellence. Special recognition goes to Dr. Marwan Issa, the associate director, whose expertise in education and technology has been invaluable. GEE Preparatory was one of the projects he entrusted to Amal, ensuring the school remains at the forefront of educational technology. Furthermore, Principal Shawn Robson’s passion for artificial intelligence (AI) has led to its integration into both the curriculum and daily operations. Under his guidance, they utilise AI tools for personalised learning and classroom management, ensuring that students are well-prepared for the future and that educators have the resources needed to innovate.
Commitment to Student Well-Being
GEE Preparatory has been a hybrid program offering blended learning services since 2017, well before the pandemic. This early adoption allowed both staff and students to be familiar with remote learning. However, during the pandemic, the challenge shifted to keeping students motivated to log in and engage with their teachers online. To uphold academic excellence, Amal Issa implemented several strategies.
First, she organized regular online mental health assemblies led by the school’s dedicated counsellors and social workers, fostering connection and support among students. These sessions proved essential in helping students feel engaged, as many missed the social interactions and events that typically brought the community together.
Additionally, GEE Preparatory utilised interactive online learning platforms and maintained consistent communication with families to ensure everyone was informed and supported. Individualised assistance was provided to students struggling with the transition to online learning. To facilitate this process, Amal ensured that all students had equitable access to technology by providing laptops and internet access as needed.
Moreover, teachers received training in online instructional methods to enhance their ability to engage students virtually. Through these combined efforts, Amal successfully navigated the challenges of remote learning while striving to maintain the school’s commitment to academic excellence.
