“As the years continue, we will be able to provide more and more opportunities here,” Alam said.
The pre-school through eighth-grade school was formed to meet a demand in the community for a Muslim faith-based education.
The Academy has lived up to that expectation, and then some, Alam said, citing growth, parent satisfaction, teacher retention, high test scores and expansion opportunities as examples of the success.
Classes larger than 10 students have an aide, and there are programs for gifted as well as students who need extra help. Students receive a curriculum rich in math and science, and community service is stressed.
“We want to make sure we reach every child and their potential,” she said.
Director and original principal Dr. Sardar Tanveer said the teaching staff, the parents and the community give much to ensure the school’s success.
“I’m proud of the community who has supported the school at different times when we were running into financial constraints, and they rescued us,” he said. “The parents are looking for a balanced education, excellence in education as well as keeping the morals high and keeping the children focused so they don’t digress into bad things,” he said.
Eighth-grader Melat Mohamoud, 13, said she likely will cry when she graduates from the school she has attended since the doors opened. It has become an integral part of her life.
“I think not only with my class, but with the rest of the classes, we’re really, really close,” she said. “It’s more like we’re family.”
She, like many of her peers, chooses to wear a hijab, or head covering, as a symbol of her Muslim faith.
They spend time each day praying together as part of the day’s five ritual prayers and they study Islam, Arabic and the Quran. The rest of the day is filled with science, literature, math, Spanish lessons, art and music.
“I think my parents did a good job of teaching me Islamic values,” she said. “And, I think going here has helped me too.”
When the International Academy of Cincinnati was formed 10 years ago, parents stressed the need for a school that focused on academics, cultural awareness and acceptance.
Principal Umama Alam said students are getting all those things, but especially are learning to be confident ambassadors of their religion.
For an exercise on peace and acceptance, students are writing pen-pal letters to children at a predominantly Jewish school.
“I think when you bring it to a level of children, and they find commonalities, they focus more on the commonalities than differences,” she said. “They may be from different faiths, but the one thing that brings us together is we’re American, and we’re both minorities in a majority.”
Maria Munir of Mason said she wants her children to look beyond religion to see people for who they are.
“As a parent, I always talk to my kids about different religions and how to treat people equally,” she said.
By placing her children in a school where that concept is reinforced, she said gives her confidence in their educational experience.
“We moved here and saw the school, and I just fell in love with it,” she said. “I just want them to have that strong Islamic basis. All the teachers, the staff — everyone’s so approachable and accessible.”
Third-grader Claire Kaddoura, 8, said she likes the subjects she is taught, the teachers and the opportunity to learn more about her faith.
“It’s one of the only Islamic schools in Cincinnati,” she said. “I can learn my religion.”
For the first time this year, Alam said there are two preschool children who are not of the Islamic faith attending the school.
One belongs to fourth-grade teacher Michelle Edenfield, who joined the academy six years ago after a professor recommended she apply for the job.
Parents and students gave her a crash course in the Islamic faith and cultures. She said she fell in love with the people and wanted to give her son the same learning opportunity.
“My husband and I want him to be comfortable around everyone,” she said. “Kids are kids no matter where you go,” she said. “They are amazing people.”
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