✨Meet our Founder and Chief Architect✨

Saarah Na'Allah is an elementary educator and consultant with over 4 years of experience. She has served students in Peoria and Chicago Public schools, and now online to students across the Unites States, and internationally. She received her B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and M.A. in Teaching + Elementary Education from the University of Chicago, Urban Teacher Education Program. As an educator, Saarah recognizes the importance of instruction that is both rigorous and relevant. Our children deserve encounters that speak to their curiosity, intelligence, and cultural wealth.

Since maintaining relationships with her former students and their families, Saarah found herself playing multiples roles at once: advising parents, instructing her former students, and serving non profit, private & public education organizations. Instead of cloning herself, Saarah gradually started consolidating access to her work. Soon enough, the Learning Lab was born. From each encounter with students, parents, and education leaders, the values remained crystal clear; our children deserved more wholesome learning experiences both in and out of the classroom.

Where does the name 'Mwalimu' come from? Saarah wears the title Mwalimu一 meaning teacher, according to the Kiswahili language一as a tribute to her African heritage. By entering spaces as Mwalimu Saarah, she hopes to inspire her students to enter the world just as culturally empowered as they are academically fulfilled.

In her free time, Saarah loves to cook new recipes, and start DIY projects for interior renovation and design. On the weekends, Saarah and her husband go bike riding and explore the attractions of their city. Saarah's newest goal is to learn how to sew her own skirts, dresses, and baby clothes for her son.