RISE, Reflective Islamic Special Education Program
Welcome to the RISE Program
At M&M Academy, we believe every child is uniquely created with gifts, abilities, and unlimited potential. The Reflective Islamic Special Education (RISE) Program reflects our commitment to providing an inclusive educational environment where students with diverse learning needs receive the individualized support necessary to flourish academically, socially, emotionally, behaviorally, and spiritually.
Grounded in Islamic values of compassion, dignity, equity, and service, RISE is far more than a compliance program. It is a collaborative partnership among educators, families, administrators, and Maryland Local Education Agencies (LEAs) designed to remove barriers to learning while empowering every student to achieve his or her God-given potential.
Vision Statement
Mission Statement
To cultivate an inclusive, supportive, and empowering educational environment where students with diverse learning needs are provided the individualized resources, accommodations, and encouragement necessary to thrive academically, socially, emotionally, behaviorally, and spiritually.
The mission of the RISE Program is to bridge the gap between students, families, educators, and Maryland Local Education Agencies by providing comprehensive case management, collaborative instructional support, behavioral wellness services, and educational advocacy.
We are committed to identifying, accommodating, and supporting students with learning differences while ensuring equitable access to a rigorous, well-rounded Islamic education.
Program Overview
The RISE Program integrates the expertise of a dedicated Special Education Consultant and Case Manager together with an Administrator and Behavior Wellness Coordinator to provide coordinated educational support for students with identified learning differences.
Working collaboratively with families, classroom teachers, school administrators, and Maryland LEAs, the RISE team develops comprehensive systems of support that help students succeed inside and outside the classroom.
The Special Education Consultant and Case Manager serves as the primary liaison between M&M Academy, parents, and local school systems by providing comprehensive oversight of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Section 504 Plans, Child Find referrals, and ongoing progress monitoring.
Complementing these services, the Administration and Behavior Wellness Coordinator provides behavioral observation, individualized behavioral support, trauma-informed practices, social-emotional learning, crisis intervention, and family collaboration to create a safe, nurturing learning environment where every child feels respected, understood, and supported.
Together, these services ensure compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Maryland regulations, Child Find requirements, and all applicable state and federal laws while providing personalized educational support tailored to each student’s unique needs.
More importantly, the RISE Program demonstrates M&M Academy’s commitment to educational excellence by ensuring that every learner receives the accommodations, encouragement, advocacy, and individualized support necessary to reach his or her highest potential.
Core Objectives
Regulatory Compliance
Student Success & Retention
The RISE Program ensures full compliance with:
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
- Maryland State Department of Education regulations
- Child Find requirements
- Equitable services for parentally placed students attending nonpublic schools
Through comprehensive documentation, confidentiality, progress monitoring, and collaboration with Maryland LEAs, students receive all legally required services while maintaining the highest professional standards.
Our program promotes student achievement by:
- Providing individualized accommodations and specialized instruction
- Monitoring academic and behavioral progress through data-driven decision-making
- Supporting teachers with differentiated instructional strategies
- Developing interventions that foster independence and confidence
- Removing barriers that interfere with student learning
Our goal is not simply compliance—it is helping every student thrive.
Family Engagement
Families are essential partners in every student’s educational journey.
The RISE Program builds strong relationships by:
- Serving as the primary point of contact for parents
- Facilitating communication with Maryland local school systems
- Coordinating Child Find evaluations and referrals
- Helping families understand IEPs and Section 504 Plans
- Providing ongoing communication regarding student progress
- Building trust through collaboration, transparency, and advocacy
Meet the RISE Team
Robyn Washington
Special Education Consultant & Case Manager, RISE Program
Robyn Washington is a veteran educator with more than thirty years of experience serving students in general education, reading intervention, English language arts, and special education. Her career has been defined by a commitment to educational excellence, student advocacy, and ensuring that learners of all abilities receive the individualized support they need to achieve success.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications with high honors from Morgan State University in 1983 and later pursued graduate studies in Broadcasting at Boston University. After building a successful career in public relations, broadcasting, and communications, she transitioned into education, where she discovered her passion for empowering students and supporting diverse learners.
For three decades, Robyn served with Baltimore County Public Schools as a Reading, English, and Special Education teacher. Throughout her tenure, she developed extensive expertise in designing and implementing individualized instructional programs, supporting students with disabilities, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to improve student outcomes. She became widely recognized for her ability to foster academic growth, build student confidence, and create inclusive learning environments that promote success for every learner.
Committed to continuous professional growth, Robyn earned a Master of Education in School Improvement Leadership from Goucher College in 2012. She holds Maryland professional certifications in Special Education, Reading, and English and possesses extensive knowledge of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and best practices in special education compliance.
Her areas of professional expertise include:
- Individualized Education Program (IEP) development and case management
- Section 504 planning and compliance
- Data-driven instructional planning and progress monitoring
- Reading intervention and literacy development
- Differentiated instruction for diverse learners
- Special education compliance and documentation
- Collaboration with educators, specialists, administrators, and families
- Student advocacy and inclusive educational practices
In addition to her work as an educator, Robyn is an author and literacy advocate whose writing reflects her commitment to promoting literacy, resilience, and lifelong learning among children and families.
As the Special Education Consultant and Case Manager for the RISE Program at M&M Academy, Robyn provides strategic leadership in the development and implementation of individualized educational services for students with diverse learning needs. She works closely with teachers, administrators, specialists, and families to ensure compliance with special education regulations while fostering an inclusive learning environment where every student is equipped to reach his or her God-given potential. Her extensive experience, instructional leadership, and unwavering dedication make her an invaluable member of the M&M Academy educational team.
Primary Responsibilities
- Oversight and management of all IEPs and Section 504 Plans
- Coordination with Maryland Local Education Agencies
- Child Find referrals and evaluation coordination
- Student progress monitoring and data analysis
- Parent communication and consultation
- Faculty support for accommodations and differentiated instruction
- Maintenance of confidential student records
- Compliance with federal and Maryland special education regulations
Akhirah Khan
Administrator & Behavior Wellness Coordinator
With over a decade of hands-on experience at the intersection of healthcare, behavioral wellness, and human services, Sr. Akhirah brings a depth of real-world expertise to M&M Academy that is remarkable and deeply rooted in compassion.
Before joining M&M Academy, Sr. Akhirah served for over 10 years as a Director of Sales and Marketing for multiple skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities (SNFs) across Northern Virginia and Maryland — a role that demanded far more than traditional marketing. In this capacity, she conducted comprehensive assessments of patients in acute care settings, evaluating their medical, psychological, financial, and physiological backgrounds to determine appropriate levels of care and placement. This work required sharp clinical judgment, regulatory knowledge, and the ability to advocate for vulnerable individuals at critical moments in their lives.
Prior to that, Sr. Akhirah served as a Case Manager and Counselor at Sheppard Pratt — one of the nation’s most respected behavioral health institutions — in Columbia, Maryland. There, she worked directly with youth who were mentally disabled and neurodivergent, as well as with the homeless population, providing individualized support, crisis intervention, and coordinated care planning. This experience gave her an intimate understanding of behavioral health, trauma-informed care, and the unique needs of young people who learn and experience the world differently.
As M&M Academy’s Behavior Wellness Coordinator, Sr. Akhirah applies this extensive background to create a school environment where every student feels safe, seen, and supported. Her role encompasses behavioral observation and documentation, the development of individualized behavioral support strategies, staff guidance on trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices, family communication and crisis de-escalation, and the promotion of social-emotional learning (SEL) throughout the school community. She serves as a critical bridge between students’ behavioral needs and their academic success — ensuring that no child’s potential is overlooked due to unmet needs.
Akhirah studied at Montgomery College and has built her expertise through years of direct service, professional training, and an unwavering commitment to the well-being of children, families, and communities. She brings to M&M Academy not just a résumé, but a calling — and every student in our community is better for it.
“Every child deserves to be understood before they are corrected. My job is to make sure they always feel both.”
— Sr. Akhirah Khan-Washington
Primary Responsibilities
- Behavioral observation and documentation
- Development of individualized behavioral support plans
- Trauma-informed behavioral interventions
- Crisis prevention and de-escalation
- Family collaboration and communication
- Staff coaching and consultation
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) implementation
- Promoting a positive school climate where students feel safe, respected, and supported
Why Families Choose the RISE Program
The RISE Program represents M&M Academy’s commitment to educating the whole child.
By combining specialized educational expertise, behavioral wellness support, family partnership, and regulatory excellence, we ensure that students with learning differences receive the individualized services they deserve while participating fully in the life of the school community.
Our philosophy is simple:
Every child deserves to be understood, supported, challenged, and empowered to succeed.
At M&M Academy, we believe every child is created with purpose, and through the RISE Program we are committed to helping every learner discover and fulfill that purpose.
