Fathia Balgahoom has enjoyed a fulfilling career in education. At her senior awards upon graduation from River Dell Regional High School, she received the Erika Steinbauer Future Educator Scholarship due to her ongoing interest in education. She went on to receive the Gary Tamarian Memorial Scholarship and the History Department Merit Scholarship during her undergraduate studies at Montclair State University, where she made the dean’s list every semester on her way to graduating magna cum laude with a degree in history. Fathia Balgahoom is currently pursuing a master’s degree in special education from Rowan University Global, where she maintains a 4.0 GPA and has made the dean’s list every semester since starting the program in 2023.

Concurrent to her academic pursuits, Ms. Balgahoom has spent several years working in education. While studying at Montclair State University, she served as an admissions ambassador, recruiting prospective students and meeting with their families to provide information and orientation on campus. She also helped to plan events such as homecoming, open house, and Accepted Students Day, in addition to recruiting and mentoring new ambassadors.

In 2020, Ms. Balgahoom took a position as a teacher’s assistant at AppleTree Preschool in Bergen County, New Jersey, where she assisted the lead teacher in educating young learners and keeping the classroom functioning smoothly. She created lesson plans, cultivated a safe and effective learning environment, and liaised with staff members and the families of students.

Fathia Balgahoom’s most recent position involved educating students at a secondary school, where she focused on social studies, general education, and special education. She taught all grade levels, maintaining a secure, inclusive classroom where students felt safe expressing themselves authentically. As part of her responsibilities, she created lesson plans, graded assignments and exams, worked individually with students to ensure their specific learning needs were being met, and instructed more than 100 students in a classroom setting. She is certified as both a special education and social studies educator.

Ms. Balgahoom is also a published author, having written an article for the Norman Sicily Project.

In her free time, Ms. Balgahoom enjoys baking, exercising, crocheting, and reading mystery books and historical fiction. She is also taking Indonesian courses at the Republic of Indonesia Embassy to improve her understanding of the language, as well as the Indonesian culture as a whole.

What brings you joy in life?

Making a difference in the world.

If you weren’t an educator, what other job would appeal to you?

Social justice advocate.

What is the best advice you received as a young person?

Never stop asking questions.

What valuable advice have you received in relation to our career?

Always be ready to reflect and adapt to the changes around you.

How do you deal with stress when you are overwhelmed or need to focus?

I am a huge believer in the power of positive affirmation. Baking and crocheting also help me relax.

What approach do you take to life and learning?

Not to be afraid to make mistakes and take risks in my career. I always try to remember that there is a lesson behind every failure, and I just have to find it.