Jade Halawani

Dr. Jade Jehad Halawani is the Principal at Al Fatih Academy. Having spent her career strengthening how teachers grow and how students learn, Dr. Halawani sees education as the practical work of building strong minds and strong character together. Her educational outlook drew her to Al Fatih Academy’s mission to cultivate a thriving American Muslim identity through balanced religious, academic, and cultural knowledge. Dr. Halawani holds a Ph.D. in Education from George Mason University, where her research focused on teacher professional development and instructional systems, an M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction from George Mason University, and a B.S. in Engineering Physics from Birzeit University. Dr. Halawani has over 13 years of experience in K–12 education, including nine years as a classroom teacher and five years in instructional leadership roles such as Science Department Lead, STEM Coordinator, and Dean of Students. She holds a Virginia Collegiate Professional Teaching License in Physics and an IB MYP Certificate of Teaching and Learning. Dr. Halawani has also led research and evaluation initiatives in international education development and has taught and led in Muslim educational communities in the U.S. and Palestine. She is bilingual in Arabic and English. When not at work, Dr. Halawani enjoys volunteering in the community, hiking, and camping with her family.