Sabiha Patel
Morton Grove,IL
Summary
Innovative educator and program director with 20+ years of experience in teaching, leadership, and community engagement. Expertise in ESL, dual-language education, workforce training, and adult literacy. Proficient in five languages, adept at curriculum development, program design, and community collaboration. Passionate about empowering immigrant and refugee families through education and support services.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director
Niles Township ELL Parent Center
Skokie, IL
01.2020 - Current
- Develop and oversee adult literacy, ESL, and workforce training programs.
- Design and refine the 'Parents in School' Program—a paraprofessional apprenticeship program to engage ELL families and provide a pipeline to careers in the school system.
- Provide career guidance for foreign-educated professionals transitioning to local workforces.
- Coordinate family engagement initiatives, and establish partnerships with schools and community organizations.
- Recruit, interview, and hire volunteers and staff.
- Build relationships with key partners in order to develop new initiatives.
- Establish partnerships with external organizations to expand outreach efforts.
- Implement strategies for improving existing programs, as well as creating new ones.
- Prepare and submit grant applications to various funding sources.
Arabic Language Teacher
MCC College Prep
Morton Grove, IL
08.2019 - 01.2020
- Designed and implemented an Arabic curriculum aligned with ACTFL standards.
- Conducted technology-integrated lessons to engage students in language acquisition.
Director/Lead Teacher for Early Childhood Program
MCC Academy
Morton Grove, Illinois
08.2014 - 05.2019
- Created and managed a bilingual Arabic-English education initiative.
- Promoted bilingual proficiency via equal immersion approach.
- Customized syllabi to facilitate above-grade-level performance in literacy and math.
Volunteer Educator
Parkview School and MCC Academy
Morton Grove, IL
01.2006 - 01.2018
- Taught character education and provided teacher training to Sunday schools.
- Assisted with bilingual parent engagement and literacy initiatives with neighborhood public schools.
Reading Intervention Specialist & ESL Tutor
Freelance professional
Morton Grove, Illinois
01.1994 - 01.2018
- Supported students with language delays and dyslexia in achieving grade-level proficiency.
- Provided targeted interventions for struggling readers and ESL learners.
- Created reading lists for students based on personal interests and reading levels.
- Analyzed student data and prescribed remediation and enrichment to meet learning needs.
Education
Master of Arts - Dual Language Teacher Leadership
Roosevelt University
Chicago, IL08-2019
Bachelor of Arts - Elementary Education
Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago, IL05-2002
Bachelor of Arts - English Literature With Minor in Hindi
Annamalai University
Madras, India05-1995
Skills
- Program Design & Management
- ESL and Dual-Language Education
- Adult Literacy & Workforce Training
- Multilingual Communication
- Teacher Training & Leadership
- Family Engagement & Community Support
- Curriculum Development
- Translation & Interpretation
Certification
- Illinois Professional Educator License -ISBE
- TAFL credential -Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language( (Mishkah University Online)
- Social Justice in Education Program -Certificate (Literacy Minnesota)
- Google Educator Certification (in progress)
Accomplishments
- Created and led a pioneering dual-language early childhood program.
- Successfully implemented workforce training programs for immigrant families.
- Recognized for excellence in multilingual translation and community outreach.
Languages
Fluent in English, Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, and Gujarati (Full Professional to Native Bilingual fluency).
Timeline
Director
Niles Township ELL Parent Center
01.2020 - Current
Arabic Language Teacher
MCC College Prep
08.2019 - 01.2020
Director/Lead Teacher for Early Childhood Program
MCC Academy
08.2014 - 05.2019
Volunteer Educator
Parkview School and MCC Academy
01.2006 - 01.2018
Reading Intervention Specialist & ESL Tutor
Freelance professional
01.1994 - 01.2018
- Illinois Professional Educator License -ISBE
- TAFL credential -Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language( (Mishkah University Online)
- Social Justice in Education Program -Certificate (Literacy Minnesota)
- Google Educator Certification (in progress)
Master of Arts - Dual Language Teacher Leadership
Roosevelt University
Bachelor of Arts - Elementary Education
Northeastern Illinois University
Bachelor of Arts - English Literature With Minor in Hindi
Annamalai University
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