NAILAH ADAMA

Nailah Adama spent her childhood living between Rockford, Macomb and Chicago, Illinois with her mother Kimberly Ellis. After graduating from Cosmoplitan Prep School in Chicago, she moved with her son to San Bernardino were she earned her Associate’s in Liberal Arts from SanBernardino Valley College. She went on to earn her BA in Sociology from the University of California, Irvine. Nailah moved back to the midwest in 2004  with her three young children, to be closer to family.

She began her career with the School District of Beloit as a recess supervisor and  para-educator at Wright Elementary, very shortly after her move. She went on to serve Wright School as the Home-School coordinator, and eventually returned  to school to earn a Masters of Art in Teaching.  After some moves within the district, Nailah settled at Merrill Elementary where she has worked for the past 15 years and currently teaches 5th gade. At Merrill, she has served on the Parent Leadership Team, Parent Teacher Organization, Building Leadership Team, SAIL Team, Minority Excellence Organization co-leader as well as several other initiative committees throughout the years. Nailah has further served the district by providing 7 Habits ® workshops, co-facilitating SEED workshops, and offering professional development on mindfulness and yoga to her colleagues.

 In addition to advocating for Beloit parents and citizens through grassroots efforts, Nailah served seven years on the Commnity Development Authority Board. She  is currently a City of Beloit Police and Fire Commisioner and a parent advisor on the Department of Children and Families Parent/Caregiver Equity Advisor Cabinet (PCEAC).

Nailah’s commitment to equity work is rooted in a commitment to her eight children and all of her school babies to do everything she can to move us closer to a world where equity in policy and action is the default.