Mission & Vision

Accreditation

Meet the Team

MISSION

The mission of RISE Education System is to promote the holistic development of the child covering the psychological, emotional, spiritual, physical, intellectual and social well-being. This is accomplished by educating the child in the formation of faith, family and community. RISE East Bay students learn to become responsible and productive members of the society through a faith-based education promoting tolerance, peace and justice.

OUR VISION

RISE Education System strives for the development of the whole child by providing excellence in academic preparation in a faith-based environment. It is our vision to guide and nurture students to become role models who will exhibit high levels of God-consciousness, professional excellence and civic leadership by serving society at large.

PHILOSOPHY

We, at RISE Education System, believe that:

  • A safe and comfortable environment promotes student learning.
  • Faith, knowledge and good deeds are the keys to our children’s success.
  • The Holy Household school of thought is the basis for our beliefs and practices.
  • Cultural diversity increase students understanding of different peoples and cultures.
  • Islamic environment helps students face the challenges they may face in their lives.
  • Every student is unique in physical, spiritual, social, intellectual, and emotional needs and attributes.
  • Students learn to make appropriate decisions if given a balanced supportive and challenging environment.
  • Staff, parents, and community are role models and share the responsibility for advancing the RISE Education mission.
  • Curriculum and instructional practices should incorporate variety of learning activities to accommodate differences in learning styles.
  • Students learn the desire to acquire knowledge as well as developing critical thinking and problem solving skills.
  • The commitment to continuous improvement enables students to become confident life long learners.

History of RISE Education System

The RISE Education System was founded in 2009 with the establishment of RISE Academy (formerly known as SABA Academy), a non-profit, full-time Early Childhood Education and K-12 Islamic school located in San Jose, California.

With the help of Allah, the school has continued to flourish, and as of 2021, the Academy graduated two 12th grade classes. In the fall of 2020, RISE Institute, a fully online K-12 schooling option, was established as a second member of the RISE Education System. And in the fall of 2021, RISE East Bay, the third school and second in-person campus of the RISE Education System, was established in Hayward, California. 

ACCREDITATION

RISE East Bay, as an extension of RISE Academy (San Jose), has the maximum accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges for all of its grade offerings

 LEADERSHIP  TEAM

Director of Mission

Sayed Abazar Wahedi

Sayyid Abazar Wahedi was born in Qom, Iran where he studied Islamic theology for over 13 years in the Islamic seminaries. He is a well known Qur’an reciter, having won 1st place in the international Qurʾān competition in Iran. As a Hafiz of the Qurʾān, he has recorded a recitation of the entire Qurʾān. He is currently leading the Islamic Center of Fatimiyyah in Hayward, CA, and in addition to being the Director of Mission at RISE East Bay, he is a Qurʾān and Islamic Studies teacher at RISE Academy. 

Principal

Sr Nazeera Salak

Sr. Nazeera Salak over the past 15 years has held several roles at various institutions as an educational leader including the roles of administrator, educational consultant, instructional coach, and teacher. Sr. Nazeera’s educational background includes a Master of Education: Specializing in Curriculum and Instruction, Multiple and Single Subject pk-12 Teaching Credentials, certification in School Management and Leadership, a Bachelor of Psychology degree, and certification in Positive Discipline.

Vice Principal

Sr Muna Abbas

With extensive experience first as a Homeroom Teacher and then as Lower School Director at RISE Academy (San Jose), Sister Muna Abbas is also the Vice Principal of RISE East Bay.

Board Aalim

Maulana Dr. Nabi Mir Raza (Abidi)

Maulana Nabi Raza Abidi studied in the Hawza of Qom while concurrently earning his PhD from the University of Tehran. In 2002, he moved to San Jose, CA to serve as the Resident Aalim of SABA Islamic Center, and has done so for the past 20 years. Under his guidance, SABA Center has expanded tremendously and incorporated many successful undertakings, including a full-time school, RISE Academy. Additionally, he has helped establish and advises many foundations and masaajid. He is also the founder of al-Kisa Foundation and its subsidiaries, including Kisa Kids.

Dean of Mission

Sheikh Dr. Salim Yusufali

Shaykh Salim was born and raised in the United States. After completing his BS and MS in computer science from Stanford University in California, he worked in Silicon Valley as a software engineer and then as an engineering manager.

In 2004 he left his job and moved to Qum to study in the Hawzah, and completed his MA degree in 2014. From 2014 – 2019 he was a spiritual guide to a private full-time Islamic school in Ontario, Canada.

As of 2020, he is the Dean of Mission at RISE Academy and the assistant Resident Scholar of SABA Center in San Jose. In 2021, he completed a doctorate degree in educational leadership from Western University.