Straight Path Academy

Keep our children on the Straight Path!

The Prophet ﷺ said, "All of you are shepherds and each of you is responsible for his flock.”

Mission Statement

Straight Path Academy’s mission is to provide Islamic schools, principals, administrators, school board members, teachers, parents, and students with the best resources, guidance and support regarding Islamic education for our youth.

Our Services

  • Islamic Schools

    • Guidance on governance and board operations

    • Coaching for new principals and school administrators

    • Teacher recruitment, training, and retention

    • Assistance with developing a financial strategy, applying for grants, and fundraising

    • Strategies to increase enrollment and student retention

    • Curriculum development, strategies, and resources to help schools improve student academic achievement

    • Accreditation guidance and preparation

    • Consulting with Muslim communities on opening new schools or improving existing ones

    • And much more!

  • Teachers

    •⁠ ⁠Courses and workshops

    • Incorporating Islam into academic content and various subjects

    • Classroom management and student behavior

    • Character development

    • Pedagogy

    • Student engagement and motivation

    • Effective teaching strategies

    • Parental engagement

    • Teaching materials and resources

    • And much more!

  • Parents

    •⁠ ⁠Courses and workshops

    • Parenting strategies

    • Advocating for our children

    • Parental involvement

    • Academic and behavioral support

    • Counseling

    • Books and activities for students

    • Parenting materials and resources

    • And much more!

Our Team

  • Saajid Lipham

    Saajid Lipham is an American who embraced Islam in 2008 & went on to study at the Islamic University of Madinah in 2010 for over 8 years. After graduating from the Arabic Institute and then Faculty of Dawah & Theology, he moved to Jacksonville to teach as an Islamic school Qur’an, Arabic, & Islamic studies teacher. He also volunteered as a mentor for Muslim students & has served as Imam of the Islamic Center of Orange Park for over 5 years, teaching Arabic & Islamic studies to all ages. Brother Saajid has been very active in Dawah for the past 15 years, both off and online, founding the online learning platform, “Ilmstitute Academy.” He authored two children's books, two Arabic Language learning books, collaborated with other authors to help publish 5 other books, and is currently working on many more that may be used for the Straight Path Academy curriculum. He also helped successfully establish Al Madina Islamic School in Brikama, Gambia in 2022 which currently has over 100 students.

  • Omar Chatila

    Omar Chatila has extensive knowledge and experience regarding what establishing, growing & operating an Islamic school entails. He has worked in Islamic education for many years and has served as a Principal of Islamic Schools in Florida and New York for over a decade. He is also an education consultant and an expert on school accreditation and has led schools through the accreditation process, helped schools triple their enrollment, add middle and high school programs, decrease financial deficits by a quarter of a million within the span of a year, and much more. He has served in the past as the President of the Florida Islamic Schools Association (FISA), the Vice President of the Council of Islamic Schools of North America (CISNA), and on the Board of the Florida Kindergarten Council (FKC).