Our Journey of Growth and Impact

Our story began with two children and a vision for culturally grounded, emotionally intelligent education. What started as a homeschool experiment became a movement — one that continues to expand through creativity, connection, and purpose. Each stage of our journey reflects growth, resilience, and the power of learning rooted in humanity.

What began with two little geniuses building with blocks has grown into a national mission — empowering parents, educators, and schools to teach with connection, presence, and purpose.

Our Evolution: From Nudai Education™ → Nudai Education S.T.E.A.M. Academy™→ Education A Nu Way™

Our evolution is a story of expansion — from two children building with blocks to a microschool shaping futures, to a movement transforming how families and educators teach, learn, and connect. 

Nudai Education™ opened its doors in January 2014 as a tutoring company while I was still working in the school system. That same year, my youngest daughter graduated from preschool, and her father and I made a firm decision: we were not putting her into the school system. We refused to place her in an environment that was not designed to expand with her genius. With that conviction, I stepped out of the classroom and prepared to homeschool her.

As I planned for our homeschool journey leading up to August, I shared my plans with my sister. She immediately asked if I would homeschool her son as well — and I said yes. We began the school year with the two of them.

By our fourth month of homeschooling, another child joined our learning space. A month later, a fourth joined us. And the homeschool continued to grow. When we reached ten scholars, I started a waiting list — and we maintained that waiting list all the way up until the COVID wave. At the end of May, I closed the homeschool.

A year later, I purchased a space to reopen the school and rebranded Nudai Education™ as Nudai Education S.T.E.A.M. Academy™, a microschool rooted in hands‑on learning, cultural relevance, and whole‑child development. I was excited and grateful — but my spirit kept tugging on me.

I wanted to reach more students. I wanted to support more parents. I wanted to help other educators transform their classrooms.

And from that desire, Education A Nu Way™ was born — a consulting and coaching movement that helps parents, educators, schools, and districts build strong connections with their students, deepen presence, and unleash the creative genius within both children and teachers.

Meet Our Founder 

  Shalimar Ali El 

Founder. Educator. Instructional Designer. Visionary.

Shalimar Ali El is a 30‑year educator whose journey began with a simple but powerful conviction: children deserve learning environments that honor their identity, protect their brilliance, and nurture their genius. Over the years, she has reached numerous students across multiple learning environments, helping them overcome obstacles, rebuild confidence, and discover the greatness within themselves. Many of her scholars have gone on to do BIG things on the world stage — academically, artistically, professionally, and personally — carrying forward the seeds of genius she helped cultivate. 

As the founder of Nudai Education S.T.E.A.M. Academy, Shalimar created a culturally grounded, hands‑on learning environment where children thrived academically, emotionally, and creatively. What started as a mother’s decision to homeschool her daughter for safety and emotional well‑being grew into a microschool, and ultimately into a national movement transforming how families and educators teach, learn, and connect.

Her work expanded beyond her own scholars as parents, educators, and community leaders sought her guidance in building learning spaces rooted in connection, presence, and purpose. Today, as the founder and visionary behind Education A Nu Way™, she equips parents, teachers, schools, and districts with the tools to build emotionally safe, culturally affirming, and creatively rich learning environments. Her signature frameworks — the CPR Method™ and the Engagement Classroom Blueprint — have helped countless adults transform their approach to teaching and parenting.

Her academic foundation includes:

  • B.A. in English Literature

  • M.B.A. in Executive Business Administration

  • Doctoral work in K–12 Educational Leadership

Her leadership journey includes:

  • President of the PTO at Dwight McDaniel’s S.O.C.E.

  • Visual & Performing Arts Director for multiple schools

  • Dance & Step Coordinator for Glory to Glory Christian Church

  • Intensive Algebra Tutor for underserved urban youth

  • Proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.®

Her students have earned:

  • Over 30 Academy of Science Blue‑Ribbon Awards

  • Scholarships and monetary awards

  • A 98% Blue‑Ribbon Project Success Rate

Shalimar’s work is rooted in culturally responsive and Afrocentric pedagogy, emotional intelligence, and whole‑child development. She believes that when adults teach from connection instead of control, children rise into their brilliance — confidently, creatively, and unapologetically.

Founder’s Guiding Philosophy

“Children don’t care what you know, until they know you care.” — Attributed to Theodore Roosevelt

This quote has guided Shalimar’s entire teaching career. It is the foundation of her approach to education, the heartbeat of her classroom presence, and the reason her students rise — not because she demanded excellence, but because she cared enough to show them, they had the ability to rise.