Shafia Zaloom '85
Shafia Zaloom was the 2021 Distinguished Alumna.
She is a health educator, parent, consultant and author whose work centers on human development, community building, ethics and social justice. Her approach involves creating opportunities for students and teachers to discuss the complexities of teen culture and decision-making with straightforward, open and honest dialogue. Currently, as an educator, Shafia teaches at the Urban School in San Francisco, as well as at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. As an author, she has contributed articles to The New York Times, The Washington Post and numerous parenting blogs.
She is a health educator, parent, consultant and author whose work centers on human development, community building, ethics and social justice. Her approach involves creating opportunities for students and teachers to discuss the complexities of teen culture and decision-making with straightforward, open and honest dialogue. Currently, as an educator, Shafia teaches at the Urban School in San Francisco, as well as at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. As an author, she has contributed articles to The New York Times, The Washington Post and numerous parenting blogs.
Shafia’s book Sex, Teens, & Everything in Between dives into how to discuss a variety of sex-related topics with teens, including how to get and give consent; what it means to have “good” sex; how to prevent sexual harassment and assault; the legal consequences of sexual harassment and assault, and what to do if a teen experiences assault or is accused of it; and stories from survivors of sexual assault. This book has been reviewed as “the ultimate relationship guide for teens of all orientations and identities,” one that “every teen, and every parent and educator—and every other adult who interacts with teens—should read.”
Shafia was honored by the San Francisco Giants Foundation in 2018 for her work with Aim High, a program that expands opportunities for students and their teachers through tuition-free summer learning enrichment, and was recently granted CAHPERD’s Health Teacher of the Year Award for 2021. Her work has been featured by many media outlets including The New York Times, USA Today, NPR, KQED, and PBS. Her newest book, Getting Real About Sex Ed: What Today’s Students Need, was released in March 2026.
Shafia graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Literary Studies and Studio Art at Skidmore College.
Burke's mission is to educate, encourage and empower girls. Our school combines academic excellence with an appreciation for childhood so that students thrive as learners, develop a strong sense of self, contribute to community, and fulfill their potential, now and throughout life.
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