Principal’s Message

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh,

Welcome to Al Taleem Academy.

It is with great honor and a deep sense of responsibility that I begin my service as the Principal of Al Taleem Academy. I am grateful to Allah for this opportunity and look forward to becoming part of a school community that is dedicated to educating and nurturing our children.

As I step into this role, I come with a diverse professional background spanning education, teaching, educational technology, administration, language and culture, and school operations. My most recent position was as an Instructor at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the U.S. Department of State, where I taught language and culture to U.S. government and foreign affairs professionals. This experience gave me the opportunity to work with people from diverse backgrounds and strengthened my understanding of communication, culture, effective instruction, and the importance of adapting education to the needs of the learner.

My career in education has also included teaching Mathematics with the New Brunswick Board of Education and teaching Islamic Studies and Qur’an Studies at Noor-Ul-Iman School. These experiences allowed me to work with students in different educational settings and reinforced my belief that education is most effective when knowledge is combined with meaningful guidance, encouragement, and character development.

In addition to teaching, I served as a U.S.-based Office Manager for the National Institute of Technology in Jeddah, where I was responsible for administrative and organizational functions and gained valuable experience in educational operations, technology, communication, and management.

My academic background includes a Master of Science in Educational Technology, a Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications Management, and a CELTA Certificate from Cambridge. The combination of my educational, teaching, technological, and administrative experiences has shaped the way I approach leadership: with organization, collaboration, accountability, and, most importantly, a commitment to the success and well-being of our students.

My Vision for Al Taleem Academy

At the heart of my vision is one fundamental goal:

To protect and strengthen our children’s Islamic identity and character with pride while preparing them to succeed confidently as Muslim Americans.

Our children are growing up in a world that is increasingly diverse, complex, and rapidly changing. They need more than academic knowledge. They need a strong sense of who they are, what they believe, and what values guide them.

I want our students to grow up knowing that being Muslim and being American are not identities they need to separate or choose between. We can prepare our children to be successful, confident, educated Muslim Americans who understand their faith, are proud of their Islamic identity, respect others, contribute positively to their communities, and are prepared to meet the challenges of the world around them.

Our Islamic identity should not be something our children feel they need to hide or apologize for. It should be something they understand, value, live by, and carry with confidence and pride.

At the same time, our responsibility is to prepare students with the academic foundation they need to succeed. I want our students to develop strong skills in reading, writing, mathematics, science, technology, communication, and critical thinking while also developing adab, integrity, responsibility, compassion, discipline, and respect.

Building on Strengths

As the new Principal, I am not coming in with the idea that everything needs to be changed. Every established school has strengths, traditions, dedicated teachers, families who have invested their trust, and students who are at the center of everything we do.

My role is to listen, learn, evaluate, strengthen, and build.

I look forward to working with our teachers to support effective instruction and professional growth, with our families to strengthen communication and partnership, and with our students to understand their needs, interests, strengths, and goals.

I believe that a strong school community is one in which teachers feel supported, parents feel heard, and students feel known and valued.

Our Students Come First

Every decision we make should ultimately ask one important question:

How does this benefit our students?

Our children deserve a school environment where they feel safe, respected, challenged, encouraged, and cared for. They should know that their teachers believe in them and that their school is a place where they can make mistakes, learn, grow, and continue moving forward.

I want our students to leave Al Taleem Academy not only with academic knowledge, but with confidence in themselves, love for learning, strong Islamic character, and a clear understanding of their responsibility to Allah, their families, their communities, and society.

A Partnership With Our Families

Parents are an essential part of a child’s education. I believe the strongest schools are built when parents and educators work together rather than separately.

I welcome communication, ideas, questions, and constructive feedback from our families. We may not always agree on every issue, but when our conversations remain centered on what is best for our children, we can accomplish much more together.

My door is open, and I look forward to building relationships with our families and becoming someone you can approach, communicate with, and trust.

Jazakum Allahu Khairan for welcoming me into the Al Taleem Academy community. I look forward to serving you and, most importantly, serving our children.

Warm regards,

Amal Sheltoni
Principal
Al Taleem Academy