What is AWAIR?

•  Educator's Network •  From the Desk of Audrey Shabbas... •  Curriculum Vita of Audrey Shabbas

Arab World And Islamic Resources and School Services (AWAIR) represents the long-term efforts by Audrey Shabbas and colleagues who share commitment to quality materials and services for educators teaching about the Arab World and about Islam at the pre-college level.

Recognizing that no work is of greater importance than the preparation of our young people for their roles as thoughtful and informed citizens of the twenty-first century, and recognizing too that U.S. involvement with the Arab World and with the wider world of Islam is certain to remain close for many years, AWAIR's goal is to increase awareness and understanding of this world region and this world faith through educational outreach at the pre-collegiate level.  

At the same time, recognizing that equipping students at all levels to function and contribute within our own diverse society presents a challenge to democracy, AWAIR seeks to increase the larger society's understanding of Arab Americans and of American Muslims as contributors to this society and as citizens with their own unique roles to play as part of a pluralistic America. In this regard, AWAIR shares with critical pedagogists the goal of encouraging voices of students and adults to be nurtured and heard.

A non-profit educational program, AWAIR is a tax-exempt organization supported by foundation grants, private donations, and the sales of relevant materials through this website as well as our printed catalogue.

 

Educator's Network

If you would like to become a part of AWAIR's Educator Network (now close to 10,000 teachers and librarians across the country), send us your name and address and tell us you'd like to be part of this network.  Your enclosed contribution in any amount ($10 is suggested) will make certain we can continue to keep in touch with you.

 

From the desk of Audrey Shabbas. . .

            “We continue to be buoyed by the reception we receive among teacher colleagues wherever we go – in all fifty states!  On November 6, 2004 at the conclusion of a teacher workshop at Yale University, the ninety-some participating teachers gave me a sustained standing ovation.  In all humility, I will take credit for a very small part of their enthusiasm.  I believe instead that what they were really saying is that, in this week in particular, they were grateful for being able to spend the day with colleagues and a workshop leader who shared their commitment to prepare future citizens who will be media literate, critical thinkers, and compassionate human beings who view themselves as part of one human family and as citizens of the world.

            We are hoping you will likewise show your gratitude for the work – for our existence – with a donation at this time.  AWAIR is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization; you will receive a letter acknowledging your tax-deductible contribution.

            For all your encouragement, commitment, and support, we are truly grateful.  Keep up you own very good work and InshaAllah, our paths will cross this year.”

Audrey
 awair@igc.org

 

CURRICULUM VITA: AUDREY PARKS SHABBAS

•  Educational Background

University of California at Berkeley, BA in Political Science and International Relations with an area concentration in the Middle East; minor in Near Eastern Languages.

San Francisco State University, completed second major and minor in American Government and Social Science, and earned a General Secondary Credential, allowing the teaching of any subject in grades 7-14.

•  Teaching Experience

Since the founding of AWAIR has done extensive teaching of teachers (See appended list of institutions and organizations for whom teacher workshops and teacher inservice training has been conducted.)

Castro Valley Unified School District - taught middle school level Social Studies, English, Humanities, full-time in 1988 to regain the experiences of the classroom teacher, prior to forming of AWAIR.

With the creation of an educational consulting firm in the early 1980s, began teaching and training teachers.

Taught secondary social studies for five years with the Vallejo Unified School District. Courses taught: Middle East, both modern and ancient; Sub-Saharan Africa, both ancient and modern (at a time before the rise of Black Studies programs, we developed our own curriculum materials). These courses, while covering history, politics and culture, were taught largely from an anthropological view. Also taught U.S. History and American Government.

•  Experience in Curriculum Development and Consultation

In November 1990 founded AWAIR: Arab World And Islamic Resources and School Services, a non-profit organization with 501(C)(3)status. AWAIR is dedicated to serving the needs of Pre-collegiate educators at the Kindergarten-12th Grade level. An outstanding Advisory Board and Executive Board are directed by Shabbas who serves as President and Executive Director.

With two other women, formed an educational consulting firm in the early 1980s. Devoted two and a half years of full-time work to the creation of a set of multi-media materials for elementary and secondary classrooms. Under the title The Arab World: Multi-Media Units, these materials remain unique and highly competent, highly praised. The Middle East Studies Association review called them "a source of much information and inspiration.. they succeed in making the area come alive for student and teacher alike." The Institute for Studies in the Humanities said of them, "They are fun for the pupils as well as first-rate learning experiences. Content-wise they are authentic and sophisticated; pedagogically they are effective." These materials continue to be well received, being used throughout the U.S., in English language schools abroad, as well as through UNICEF offices in New York and UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

For the greater Detroit public schools and social service agencies, served as cultural negotiator, assisting in development of strategies for resolving cross-cultural differences in serving a large immigrant community. As culture broker, interpreted differences in language or communication style, value preference and life-style to the professional educators and social workers who serve a large and diverse ethnic community.

Served on Advisory Board of the University of California's Social Science Adolescent Prejudice Project.

•  Publications

The Arab World Studies Notebook (Berkeley: AWAIR) 1998, is a 540-page looseleaf notebook rich in materials on Islam and the Arab culture in the Middle East and, to an important degree, around the world. Intended for teacher use with secondary students (as well as introductory courses at the college level), most of the work is organized around 25 major topics. Fifty lesson plans are included as well as extensive lists of available resources, including video. In 2002 - translated into Braille by the University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas.

A Medieval Banquet in the Alhambra Palace with accompanying music cassette and set of slides is the latest curriculum developed by Shabbas. Intended for an all-school "happening" the banquet set In Arab Spain is the culmination of a unit of study of Islam in the Middle Ages. It makes real the connections across Europe, Africa and Asia that were the product of the Arab/Islamic Civilization. Published in October 1991 by AWAIR. In 1995 it was made a required textbook by the state of Delaware, for a required course of study, "The First Renaissance in Europe: Islamic Spain." This across-the-curriculum work has been "performed" for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, for the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and by the Sidwell Friends School with President and Mrs. Clinton attending as "tenth grade parents" while daughter Chelsea role-played a historic person as a guest at the banquet.

"1492: A Time for Jubilation?" monograph published as AWAIR's Middle East Resources in 1991. The work was picked up and published in several journals: Synapse, At Issue, Al Miraat, NetNews, and has
been presented in several forums: San Francisco Book Festival, International Critical Thinking Conference, World History Association.

The Arabs: Activities for the Elementary and Middle School Level, is subtitled "The Things That Make For Peace: Empowering Children To Value Themselves And Others". The work was created during the
Gulf War in response to elementary peace educators' pleas to "Help us put a human face on these people!" Published in April 1991 by AWAIR.

The Arab World Notebook: For The Secondary School Level, for which Shabbas was the principle author and editor, 1990. The work is used as a textbook in several university Education Department "Methods"
courses, with its classroom activities serving as models of good pedagogy. Currently in the hands of 10,000 teachers, it has impacted (by conservative accounting) 25 million students.

"The Child in the Arab Family", monograph published by Americans for Middle East Understanding (A.M.E.U.) for the U.N.'s International Year of the Child, 1979.

"The Disabled Person in the Arab World", a monograph, was an A.M.E.U. publication commemorating the U.N.'s International Year of the Disabled Person, 1981.

The Arab World: Multi-Media Kits published in the1980s - these highly praised "kits" included: "Introductory Unit" - "Storytelling and Games" - "Language, Calligraphy and Art" - "Food, Farming and Ecology" - "Music and Dance" - "Arabs in America"

"Social Studies Review", publication of the California Council for the Social Studies, guest editor of issue devoted to teaching about Islam, Fall 2002. United Nations' Work

•  Work with United Nations 

1985 - Asked by the U.N. to organize in New York a workshop on the question of How To Work With Educational Institutions: Schools and Libraries.

1985 - Asked by the U.N. to develop a training program in How To Organize Successful Teacher Workshops for the International NGO Symposium in Geneva.

1984 - 1989 participated in U.N. forums on issues of Israeli/Palestinian peace.

Conflict Mediation: During many meetings at the United Nations, have Chaired Drafting Committees, Chaired floor fights over final declarations, acted as Rapporteur for Final Draft Declarations, have brought opposing factions together for resolution of conflict - mediating between opposing positions in order to bring them into common consensus.

•  Honorary Listings 

1992/93 and 1996/97 editions of Who's Who in American Education
1998-1999 Who's Who in the West
1989 Who's Who in American Education
1987 Dictionary of International Biography
1984-1985 The World's Who's Who of Women

•  Personal 

Born and raised in Berkeley, California; four children.

•  Professional Affiliations

California Council for the Social Studies (CCSS)
Gender Equity Special Interest Group of CCSS
The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Global Educators of ASCD
Coalition of Essential Schools
National Art Education Association
National Association for Bilingual Education
National Coalition of Education Activists
National Association for Multicultural Education
Educators for Social Responsibility.
Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA)
Association for Middle Eastern Women's Studies (AMEWS)

•  Recent Honors

Middle East Studies Association's Middle East Outreach Council's Lifetime Achievement Award, 2002 (only the second time in organization’s history anyone has been so honored).

•  Experience in Teacher Training

Director of NEH National Institute, Summer 1994
Director of National Summer Institute, Summer 1995
Director of National Summer Seminar, Summer 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999.

•  Training Workshops Conducted 

2006 Workshops

•  New Hampshire Humanities Council, Concord, NH - February 10
•  Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD - February 11
•  California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA - February 28
•  New York State Council for the Social Studies, Rye Town, NY - March 3-4
•  Burlington Public Schools, Burlington, MA - March 14-15
•  Allegany Teachers Center, Olean, NY - March 17
•  Milton Public Schools, Milton, MA - March 20
•  Boston area schools, MA - March 22 (Sharon, MA); March 23 (Brookline, MA)
•  Palmer School District, Palmer, Alaska - March 17
•  San Jose City College, San Jose CA - April 5
•  University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT - April 8
•  St. Paul’s School, Concord NH - April 11
•  Brookdale Community College, Brookdale, NJ - April 20
•  University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Southern Nevada Geographic 
•  Alliance and Clark County Schools, Las Vegas, NV - May 17-18
•  Anchorage Public Schools and University of Alaska, Anchorage, AK - June 21-23
•  University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI - July 10-12
•  City College of San Jose - August 31
•  The Taft School, Watertown, CT - September 21
•  Albany Public Schools, Albany NY - October 6
•  Hobart and Smith College, Geneva, NY - October 10
•  Long Island Council for the Social Studies, Long Island NY - October 16
•  Westchester Council for the Social Studies, Westchester NY - December 8

2005 Workshops

•  San Antonio Independent School District, San Antonio TX
•  Mississippi Gulf Coast Community Colleage, Gulfport, MS
•  Jefferson Parish School District, New Orleans, LA - FIVE days of programs that reached every teacher,     principal, vice principal, and counseling staff.
•  Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, Cincinnati OH
•  Institute for International Education, Houston TX
•  Colorado Council of Foreign Language Teachers, Denver, CO
•  California Council for the Social Studies, San Francisco, CA
•  Sun Valley Center for the Arts, Sun Valley, ID
•  Manhattanville College, White Plains, NY
•  University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
•  San Jose City College, San Jose, CA
•  Rocky Mt./Great Plains Regional Council for the Social Studies, Denver, CO
•  University of Wisconsin, Center for International Education, Milwaukee WI
•  University of Nevada, Clark County Public Schools, Geographic Alliance of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
•  Silicon Valley Academy, Fremont CA
•  Anchorage Public Schools and University of Alaska, Anchorage AK
•  Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
•  University of Nevada, Clark County Public Schools, Geographic Alliance of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
•  Yale University, New Haven, CT
•  New Hampshire Humanities Council, Concord, NH
•  Tarrytown Public Library, Tarrytown, NY
•  Tarrytown Public Schools, Tarrytown, NY
•  Niagara Falls Teacher Resource Center, Niagara Falls, NY
•  University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
•  University of Indiana Southest, Clarksville, IN
•  African Studies Association, Middle East Studies Association, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
•  Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, IL
•  University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, WI
•  New Hampshire Humanities Council, Concord, NH

2004 Workshops

•  Institute for International Education, Houston TX
•  Flagstaff School District, Flagstaff AZ
•  University of Denver, Center for Teaching International Relations
•  The Town School For Boys, San Francisco CA
•  University of Wisconsin, Madison WI
•  University of San Francisco "Reading the World Conference" 
•  Manhattanville College, White Plains NY
•  Islamic Academy of Huntsville, Huntsville AL
•  University of the Redlands, San Bernadino CA
•  Evergreen Valley College, East San Jose, CA
•  San Jose City College, San Jose CA
•  Georgetown University, Washington DC
•  University of Arkansas, Monticello AR
•  Anchorage Public Schools, Anchorage AK
•  Evergreen State College, Olympia WA
•  University of Mississippi ('Ole Miss)
•  Idaho Public Television/Boise Public Schools, Boise ID
•  Idaho Public Television/Twin Falls Public Schools, Twin Falls ID
•  St. Mary's College, Notre Dame IN
•  Catholic Archdiocese Schools, Charlotte NC
•  Colorado Springs Public Schools, Colorado Springs CO
•  Davis Unified School District, Davis CA
•  Harvard Center for Middle Eastern Studies - Cambridge MA
•  Mesa Southwest Museum, Phoenix AZ
•  Millsap College, Jackson MS
•  Tougaloo College, Jackson MS
•  Tulsa Public Schools, Tulsa OK
•  GHW Bush Presidential Library, Texas A & M Univ., College Station TX
•  University of George, Athens GA
•  Yale University, New Haven CT
•  University of Wisconsin, Madison

2003 Workshops

•  Arts and Humanities Center, Richmond Virginia Public Schools
•  University of Denver, Center for Teaching International Relations
•  Richmond Virginia Public Schools
•  University of San Francisco "Reading the World Conference"
•  California Council for the Social Studies, Sacramento
•  St. Mary's High School, Elmira NY
•  Saginaw Valley State University
•  Anne Arundel County Schools, Annapolis MD
•  Cumberland County Schools, Fayetteville NC
•  Institute for International Education, Houston TX
•  San Jose City College, San Jose CA
•  Harvard University
•  Escambia County Schools, Pensacola FL
•  Jackson Public Schools, Jackson MS
•  Islamic Academy of Huntsville, Huntsville AL
•  International Museum of Muslim Cultures, Jackson MS
•  'Ole Miss University, Oxford MS
•  University of Iowa
•  Virginia Geographic Alliance, Roanoke VA
•  Harvard University
•  St. Mary's College, Notre Dame IN
•  Catholic Archdiocese Schools, Winston-Salem NC
•  Davis Joint Unified School District, Davis CA
•  Silicon Valley Academy, Sunnyvale CA
•  California Assoc. of Teachers of English, Asilomar CA
•  University of Utah
•  University of Pennsylvania
•  Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati
•  University of Alaska, Anchorage
•  McPherson College, Wichita KS
•  East Connecticut State University
•  University of Texas at Austin

2002 Workshops

•  University School of Nashville
•  St. Bernards School for Boys, NYC
•  Clark University, Worcester MA
•  Quabbin Regional School District, Barre MA
•  South Shore Social Studies Supervisors, Plymouth MA
•  Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater MA
•  Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati
•  Northwest Association of Unitarian Universalist Ministers
•  San Francisco Unified School District
•  Northwest Assoc. of North Carolina Educators
•  World Affairs Council, Washington DC -
•  University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio TX
•  World Community Education Center, Roanoke VA
•  Fairfax County Schools, Arlington VA -
•  Montgomery County Schools, Rockville MD
•  University of California, Berkeley -
•  Campbell Unified School District, Campbell CA
•  Maple Grove Unified School District, Minneapolis MN
•  California Assoc. of Teachers of English, Asilomar CA
•  San Francisco Public Library
•  Davis Joint Unified School District, Davis CA
•  Jordan Unified School District, Sandy UT
•  University of Kansas, Lawrence KS
•  Olathe School District - Olathe KS
•  Shawnee Mission Schools, Shawnee KS
•  University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio TX
•  National Council for the Social Studies, Phoenix AZ

2001 Workshops

•  University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
•  CAIR Dallas/Islamic Assoc. of North Texas, Dallas, TX
•  Old Dominian University/Model United Nations Assoc., Norfolk, VA
•  Islamic Networks Group, Santa Clara, CA
•  Michigan Humanities Council, Lansing, MI
•  Museum of the City of New York, NYC
•  Nat'l Assoc. of Multicultural Education, Oakland, CA
•  Park Day School, Piedmont, CA
•  Islamic Society of the Appalachian Region, Bluefield, WV 
•  International Museum of Muslim Cultures, Jackson, MS
•  University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
•  Georgetown University, Washington DC
•  University of Michigan, School of Education, Ann Arbor, MI
•  Cntr Middle Eastern-North African Studies, U. Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
•  Boulder Public Library, Boulder, CO
•  University of Arkansas, Monticello, AR
•  Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
•  International Museum of Muslim Cultures, Jackson, MS
•  Salam Islamic Association, Sacramento, CA
•  University of California, Berkeley, CA
•  Maple Grove Indep. School District, Maple Grove, MN
•  California Assoc. of Teachers of English, Asilomar/Carmel, CA
•  Mills College, Oakland, CA
•  Houston World Affairs Council, Houston, TX
•  Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
•  University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
•  Southwest Assoc. of Episcopal Schools, Dallas, TX
•  Islamic Networks Group, Fremont, CA
•  Muskegan Community College, Muskegan, MI
•  New York Public Library, NYC
•  Houston Independent School District, Houston, TX
•  Houston World Affairs Council, Houston, TX

2000 Workshops

•  Southwestern Bell Corporation, San Antonio, TX
•  Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
•  The University of California, Berkeley, CA
•  San Bernadino County Office of Education, San Bernadino, CA
•  Los Angeles Assoc. of Independent Schools, Los Angeles, CA
•  The Arabian Reading Association, Bahrain
•  California Council for the Social Studies, San Diego, CA
•  The Embassy Adoption Program, Washington DC
•  University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
•  Caldwell County Schools, Wilkesboro, NC
•  Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development, New Orleans, LA
•  Jefferson Parish Public Schools, New Orleans, LA
•  Arden Cahill Academy, New Orleans, LA
•  Mt. Diablo Unified School District, Danville, CA
•  Natrona County School District, Casper, WY
•  Oregon Geographic Alliance, Salem, OR
•  The Boston Globe, Boston, MA
•  Stoutt Community College, Tortola, Br. Virgin Islands
•  De Paul University, Chicago, IL
•  Stanford University, Stanford, CA
•  Oklahoma City Public Schools, Okla. City, OK
•  North Carolina Dept. of Education, Raleigh, NC
•  The Ross School, The Hamptons, Long Island, NY
•  The Al-Amal School, Fridley, MN -
•  Santa Cruz Public Schools, Santa Cruz, CA
•  Jackson Magnet High School, Camden, MS
•  Silicon Valley Academy, Silicon Valley, CA
•  Columbus Public Schools, Columbus, OH
•  Kentucky Country Day School, Louisville, KY
•  Minnesota Education Association, Minneapolis, MN
•  Houston World Affairs Council, Houston, TX
•  Cincinnati Islamic Center, Cincinnati, OH
•  Michigan State University, Lansing, MI
•  Friends School, Silver Springs, MD

Site Design by: