New Principal
Dear Parents and Community Members,
Assalamo Aliekom,
Manarah School Board (MSB) is pleased to announce that Dr. Aminah Rai Abdullahi (also known as Dr. Aminah Rai King) has been hired as the Principal of Manarah Islamic Academy effective July 1, 2025.
Dr. Aminah is an educator and non-profit leader. A graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Aminah has a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Development, a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Arizona State University, and a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership and Learning from Vanderbilt University.
Dr. Aminah began her career as an elementary school teacher and has served communities in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, and South Africa. In addition to her work as an educator, Dr. Aminah has held other roles in the non-profit sector, including Diversity Director for City Year New York, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Ember Charter Schools, Chair of the Board of Directors at READ 718- a literacy organization that provides affordable one-on-one tutoring for low income students, and professor of Women’s Studies at Rutgers University.
Dr. Aminah is deeply committed to Manarah’s mission of nurturing students in both faith and academic excellence. Her leadership will focus on:
- Advancing academic growth and innovation
- Strengthening Islamic values and identity across the school
- Building strong, collaborative relationships with families and the wider community
We believe Dr. Aminah’s leadership will mark a new and exciting chapter in Manarah’s journey, and we are confident that her vision, faith, and dedication will enrich our entire school community.
Dr. Aminah resides in New Jersey with her husband and five children, where she enjoys growing an extensive vegetable garden and raising her chickens.
We are all excited to have Dr. Aminah on board. Please join us and welcome Dr. Aminah to our great Manarah family and larger Lehigh Valley community.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ismail Kashkoush
President - Manarah School Board (MSB)
Manarah Islamic Academy
1988 Schadt Avenue
Whitehall, PA 18052 United States
http://mia.manarahfoundation.org
Tel: (610)799-6223
Fax: (610)799-6225
Manarah Education Foundation | 1988 Schadt Avenue | Whitehall, PA 18052 US