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Dr. Nadia Iftekhar

Dr. Nadia Iftekhar

Educator. Builder. Researcher.

Let’s work together
Modal EducationLinkedIn

Replit 10 Year Buildathon Grand Prize Winner

Credentials
  • Ed.D. Educational Technology & PsychologyCertificate in Instructional Design
  • M.Ed. Education of the Deaf / Hard of Hearing
  • M.A. Elementary Inclusive Education
  • B.S. Speech and Hearing Science
Projects

Products I’ve built.

Useful software shaped by years in classrooms, telepractice, research, and instructional design. Each project begins with a real problem and a clear reason to exist.

Games

5 projects in Featured

Made to be played

Nadia’s Arcade

Little worlds. Big ideas. Come play.

Explore the games

How I work

From a real problem to a useful product.

My process combines the judgment of an educator, the curiosity of a researcher, and the momentum of a builder.

  1. 01

    Understand

    Start with the people, the real setting, and the friction that gets in their way.

  2. 02

    Design

    Turn classroom knowledge and research into a clear, accessible experience.

  3. 03

    Build

    Create working software quickly, test the hard parts, and keep improving the details.

  4. 04

    Ship

    Put useful tools into people's hands and learn from what happens in the real world.

Less friction. Less cognitive load. Better access.

About

Instructional Designer & Ed-Tech Founder

With a Doctorate in Educational Psychology & Technology and multiple graduate degrees in education, Nadia designs accessible, inclusive learning experiences that meet every learner where they are.

Languages

EnglishNative
American Sign LanguageFluent
Urdu-HindiFluent
Modern Standard ArabicBasic
Arabic Sign LanguageBasic

Awards & Honors

  • Accelerated Tenure
  • Employee of the Month — SEDOL, October 2017
  • Graduate Assistantship Scholarship Recipient
  • Minority Scholarship Recipient
  • Student Convocation Speaker — Teachers College, Columbia University

Certifications

  • Illinois Professional Educator License – Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing K-21
  • Missouri Teacher Certification
  • California Licensed Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing
  • Council of Education of the Deaf – Provisional Certificate
  • University of Cambridge ESOL – CELTA

Skills

Curriculum & Material Design
Designed full K–12 curricula for DHH students, blending UDL principles with multi-sensory instructional strategies.
Adobe Creative Suite
Fluent in Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro & After Effects — used to produce polished visual learning assets.
Video Editing
Produced hundreds of educational video lessons with captions, animations, and sign language interpretation.
Website Design
Built and launched 11 ed-tech platforms with a focus on accessibility, clarity, and conversion.
Google Classroom
Set up and managed digital classrooms for DHH students, streamlining assignments, feedback, and parent communication.
G-Suite for Education
Leveraged Docs, Slides, Forms & Sheets to build collaborative, paperless learning environments.
Promethean Software
Created interactive whiteboard lessons that increased student engagement in self-contained DHH classrooms.
Email Marketing
Grew and managed email lists for Modal Education products, crafting campaigns that drive enrollment and retention.
Graphic Design
Designed logos, brand identities, and instructional graphics for multiple ed-tech products.
Animation
Animated math and literacy concepts to make abstract ideas visual and accessible for Deaf learners.
Augmented Reality
Explored AR-enhanced learning experiences to bring immersive, interactive content into DHH classrooms.
Microsoft Office
Expert-level use of Word, Excel & PowerPoint for IEP documentation, data tracking, and professional presentations.
3D Character Creation
Designed and developed 3D characters for educational animations and interactive learning experiences.
Graphic Art
Created compelling visual assets, infographics, and illustrations for educational materials and marketing.
App Design
Designed intuitive, accessible user interfaces for mobile and web applications focused on user experience.
Front End Coding
Proficient in React, JavaScript, and modern web frameworks for building responsive, interactive interfaces.
Accessibility Compliance
Expert in WCAG standards, universal design for learning (UDL), and creating fully accessible digital experiences.
Instructional Design
Designed comprehensive learning experiences using evidence-based pedagogical strategies and instructional design models.
Case Management
Managed comprehensive student and client cases including documentation, coordination of services, and progress tracking.
IEP Writing
Developed individualized education programs (IEPs) aligned with federal IDEA requirements and student needs.
UX Design
Designed user experiences with focus on usability, accessibility, and user-centered design principles.
Idea to Product App Development
Took concepts from ideation through design, development, launch, and iteration to create fully functional, market-ready applications.
Educational Game Development
Designed and developed interactive educational video games that teach real-world skills through engaging, scenario-based gameplay — including Communication Repair Rangers.
Education

Academic Excellence

Dissertation

Coursework2019

Educational Leadership Coursework

Administration & Supervision (credits, no degree conferred)
National Louis University
Bachelor's2011

B.S. Speech and Hearing Sciences

Concentration: Speech-Language Pathology
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Doctoral2025

Ed.D. Educational Psychology & Technology

Instructional Design Certificate
The Chicago School
Dissertation: Ed Technology & Teacher Burnout in DHH Education
Master's2015

M.Ed. Education of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing

Teachers College, Columbia University
Student Convocation Speaker — "The Virtue of Discomfort"
Master's2015

M.A. Elementary Inclusive Education

Teachers College, Columbia University
Research

Doctoral Research

An original study investigating the intersection of educational technology and teacher burnout in Deaf & Hard of Hearing education.

Title

Educational Technology & Teacher Burnout in DHH Education

DegreeEd.D. Educational Psychology & Technology
InstitutionThe Chicago School
Year2025
FocusThe role of ed-tech in moderating or contributing to burnout among teachers of Deaf & Hard of Hearing students
View on ProQuest

Why This Matters

Teacher burnout in DHH education is a critical but under-researched issue. This dissertation bridges the gap between educational technology adoption and educator wellbeing — with direct implications for student outcomes and program sustainability.

Dissertation overview — Dr. Nadia Iftekhar

Key Research Themes

Teacher BurnoutEducational TechnologyDHH EducationInstructional DesignEducator WellbeingSpecial EducationMixed Methods
Experience

A Decade of Impact

🏫

Interim Head of Schools

Private Day School, ECC – Grade 12 (3 campuses)
St. Louis, MO · Jan – Aug 2025
  • Developed and implemented a unified vision across three campuses
  • Supervised and mentored principals, building leadership capacity
  • Oversaw hiring, evaluations, and standardizing processes
  • Managed budgets, fostered relationships, and liaised with the Board of Directors
  • Led crisis response, enforced policies, ensured compliance
🚀

Founder & Owner — Modal Education

Modal Math
Remote · February 2019 – Present
  • Created e-learning membership website for Deaf/HH students
  • Designed educational materials using animation, voice, and sign language
  • Interpreted math curriculum in American Sign Language
  • Developed email marketing campaigns and managed email list
  • Created and managed social media business accounts
💻

Teacher of the Deaf/HH & Teleservices Liaison

Teleservices Staffing Agencies
Remote · 2020 – Present
  • Remotely provided auditory skills training to DHH students
  • Collaborated with educational teams to write and implement IEPs
  • Designed and taught lessons in self-advocacy for DHH students
  • Served as liaison to demo and train schools on teletherapy
🎓

Teacher of the Deaf/HH, Case Manager

Public School District, DHH Program
Vernon Hills, IL · 2016 – 2020
  • Designed and taught curriculum for Deaf/HH students, grades K–8
  • Established data-based professional learning committee on Math Curriculum
  • Founded and directed Theater Club for Deaf/HH students
  • Taught Sign Language classes to children and adults
🏛️

Graduate Assistant

Graduate Program, Deaf Education
New York, NY · Sept 2014 – May 2015
  • Assisted department director to redesign curriculum for degree programs
  • Created and managed social media for program, redesigned program website
  • Recruited prospective applicants and gave campus tours
🌍

Instructor of English for Deaf/HH Students

University Preparatory Program
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia · Aug 2012 – June 2013
  • Taught English literacy to adult students with moderate to profound hearing loss
  • Collaboratively designed first English curriculum for the Deaf at KSU-PY
  • Developed methodology for English instruction for D/HH students
  • Introduced vocabulary in Sign Language to Arabic Sign Language users
Contact

Let's Connect

Interested in collaborating, speaking engagements, or learning more about Modal Education's products?

Open to opportunities

Consulting, curriculum design, speaking engagements, and ed-tech collaborations.

My Story: From Classroom to Builder
© 2026 Modal EducationDesigning with Accessibility as the Foundation