Comstock Park — Rukshana Ilahi admits it’s not rocket science how she ended up in the field of special education.
Through her sister, who has a developmental disability, and her own challenges with a rare genetic condition called lamellar ichthyosis — where the skin develops faster than it sheds — she has developed an understanding “that people are not all the same and they have differences that should be appreciated.”
Ilahi said she felt she was meant to work with people on some level, particularly those who may face challenges.
“I’ve never been one to let my condition define me or what I can do or can’t do,” she said. “The same thing for my sister … I’ve never been one that allows just those differences to hold people back.
“So I want that same thing for kids when they go through school. I want them to have every opportunity and us to meet them where they’re at, and allow them to go and learn in the best ways they can.”
“… I think kids just want to learn. They want to be included. They want to be normal.”
– Rukshana Ilahi
Why did you come to Comstock Park? Ilahi said she had heard “The people care about kids and that they’re excited to support and serve, and so it was just a good place to be to be able to get in on that.”
She noted that Comstock Park is a smaller district than her previous district, Grand Rapids Public Schools, which allows her to be more hands on, something she is looking forward to.
What is your education background?
- Bachelor’s degree, psychology with an adolescent focus, Liberty University, Virginia
- Master’s degree, social work, Western Michigan University
- Master’s degree, educational leadership, Grand Valley State University
What is your background in teaching or other education positions? Before working in education, Ilahi worked in the mental health field, which she said gave her a good foundation. She started her educational career as a social worker with National Heritage Academies in 2004, and over 17 years held various positions, the last as special education director. She was a mental wellness consultant for Kent ISD and most recently served as Grand Rapids Public Schools’ executive director of special education.
Any goals you have currently? Ilahi said that while her office is at Greenridge Early Childhood Center, she spends time working in all district buildings. She’s currently focused on meeting families and learning operations with the goal of contributing “my experiences and the things I learned along the way to help make better systems and to provide opportunities.”
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from students? “I don’t know if it is just here, but I think kids just want to learn. They want to be included. They want to be normal.”
How will you include student voice in your work? “I am a big believer in being present, which is why I say I spend a lot of time around the buildings, trying to understand and learn. So anytime I can find that opportunity to hear what students have to say, I want to hear it. We need both that and staff, and not just specialized staff, but definitely all staff, because we work together. And if we don’t communicate and work well with one another to figure out what kids’ needs are, we’re just doing it in silence and that doesn’t work well.”
Describe your leadership style in seven words or fewer: “Seek first to understand … student-centered and systems-oriented.”
What is great about K-12 education? “I think that there’s power and opportunity for creating a different future… (by) empowering (students) to make different choices or make better choices or see what the future might be. I think K-12 education allows you to see that, and that kids with disabilities are not different than any other kid. They have opportunities, and they have as much of a voice, if not sometimes more of a voice about why things need to be different.”
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