Today we’d like to introduce you to Zainab Jabak.
Zainab, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Looking back, I think my desire to become a teacher was rooted in a love of learning and a belief that education has the power to change the trajectory of someone’s life. I was always drawn to environments where people were encouraged to ask questions, think deeply, and see the world from different perspectives. When I became a teacher, I realized I had the opportunity to create that kind of environment for others every single day.
As a proud product of immigration, I grew up with oppurtunites that my parents did not have, and priveliges that were provided to me at the cost of their sacrifices. To see what my parents experienced to get to where they are today, has ultimately molded me into the person that I am today.
Being a Lebanese-American has also shaped the way I approach education. Growing up between cultures taught me that there is rarely only one way to see the world. It gave me an appreciation for different perspectives, languages, traditions, and stories. That experience influences everything I do in the classroom. I want my students to see themselves reflected in what they learn while also developing the curiosity and empathy to understand experiences different from their own. Global education, diverse literature, and meaningful conversations have become natural extensions of that philosophy.
As my career progressed, I realized that my impact shouldn’t stop at delivering great lessons. Some of the most meaningful moments in education happen outside the curriculum—when a student meets an author for the first time, attends a conference, earns a scholarship, travels somewhere new, or discovers a passion they didn’t know they had. That realization shifted my focus from simply teaching content to creating opportunities. Today, much of my work centers on opening doors for students and helping them believe that those opportunities belong to them, too.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I think the challenges have given me a clearer sense of purpose.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that great teaching alone isn’t always enough. Many of the students I’ve worked with are incredibly talented, curious, and capable, but they don’t always have access to the same opportunities as their peers. Early in my career, I realized that if I wanted my students to experience author visits, leadership conferences, global learning, scholarships, classroom libraries, or meaningful enrichment opportunities, I couldn’t wait for those opportunities to find them. I had to learn how to create them.
That meant learning skills I never expected to need as a teacher: writing grants, building partnerships, reaching out to organizations, asking for support, and sometimes hearing “no” more times than “yes.” It wasn’t always easy, but every successful partnership or opportunity reminded me why the effort mattered. It was the students, and I could never let go of that after witnessing their reactions.
Another challenge has been learning to embrace change. Each new role has required me to leave behind something comfortable in order to grow. Most recently, that meant becoming the founding Reading Language Arts teacher at The Young Women’s Leadership School. Starting from the ground up is exciting, but it also comes with uncertainty. Instead of seeing that as something to fear, I’ve learned to see it as an opportunity to help shape a culture where every student feels seen, challenged, and empowered.
Those experiences have reinforced something I believe deeply: education is about more than what happens during a class period. Sometimes the most important part of teaching is opening a door a student never knew existed, and then helping them believe they belong on the other side of it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At my core, I’m a literacy educator, but the work I do extends far beyond teaching students how to read and write. I specialize in designing learning experiences that help students see literacy as a tool for understanding themselves, connecting with others, and engaging with the world around them. Whether we’re analyzing a novel, participating in class discussion, creating multimedia projects, or connecting with authors and community partners, my goal is to make learning authentic and meaningful.
I’m especially passionate about creating opportunities that many students might not otherwise have access to. Throughout my career, I’ve worked to bring authors into schools, expand classroom libraries, build partnerships with community organizations, connect students to leadership experiences, and incorporate global education into everyday learning. I want students to leave my classroom with more than academic skills. I want them to leave believing their voices matter and that they belong in conversations that extend far beyond our community.
One area that has become especially meaningful to me is helping students develop global competence. As a Lebanese-American educator, I know firsthand how powerful it is to see multiple cultures, perspectives, and stories represented in education. That perspective influences the books I choose, the questions I ask, and the experiences I create for students. I want them to be thoughtful readers, empathetic leaders, and curious citizens who understand that their stories are connected to a much larger world.
What I’m most proud of isn’t a single award or recognitio, instead it’s the opportunities my students have been able to experience because someone believed they deserved a seat at the table. Seeing students meet authors they admire, present their ideas with confidence, travel, earn scholarships, discover a love of reading, or simply begin to see themselves differently reminds me why I do this work. If there’s one thing that sets me apart, I hope it’s that I don’t see education as confined to four classroom walls. I see it as creating experiences that expand what’s possible for young people and giving them the confidence to pursue those possibilities long after they leave my classroom.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Zainab Jabak (she/her/hers) is a Lebanese-American educator, avid reader, speaker, consultant, and proud product of immigration. She brings years of varied school experiences from the U.S. and abroad.
Having served as the Texas Council of Teachers of English Language Arts’s (TCTELA) High School Section Chair, Zainab enjoys collaborating with other educators from across the state, and now the country. Zainab currently teaches at The Young Women’s Leadership School in Houston,Texas, where she serves as the founding reading language arts teacher. She has worked with children and families for over ten years in various educator roles. She enjoys collaborating with fellow educators and advocates for social and political change in education. Zainab rejoices in collaborating with educators and allies toward growing a strong foundation for students to thrive.
Currently, she is embarking on her seventh year of teaching, teaching young women to foster a love for reading while juggling state standards, Ms. Jabak creates a meaningful balance for students to reap the benefits of reading for pleasure. Outside of her classroom, she partners with her school district’s professional development team to create and facilitate learning modules and live workshops for teachers to gain a better understanding of culturally responsive teaching.
Her affiliation with the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) has led to her involvement with various literacy initiatives including ALAN’s Elizabeth Walden Book Award Committee, NCTE’s Build Your Stack Committee, and NCTE’s Teaching Comics Cohort.
Zainab has received several awards and grants: the 2026 NCTE High School Educator of Excellence Award, the 2026 TCTELA High School Teacher of the Year Award, Fund for Teachers Fellowship, 2023 Promising Young Educator Award by Abydos Learning International, the Book Love Grant, and the Educators Making A Difference Award from the We Need Diverse Books Organization. She is the founder of the first Project LIT Chapter at her school district, where she ensures ALL students are provided with culturally relevant texts.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zainabjabak/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zainab-jabak/
- Twitter: https://x.com/ZainabJabak
