Meet Mrs. Zee

Founder & Executive Director, Education Explorers

Welcome to Education Explorers! My name is Zakkiyya Ibrahim—lovingly known as Mrs. Zee—and I am the proud owner and Executive Director of this growing village of care, learning, and possibility.

My journey began in the heart of Delhi, Louisiana, a one-stoplight town nestled in the northeast corner of the state where family ties run deep and community is everything. Though my path has taken me far from that Southern sun, I carry its warmth, values, and resilience into everything I do.

In 2015, my husband and I relocated to Oregon with our five spirited children—one princess and four young kings. We came seeking opportunity, but I quickly recognized something else: a need for more culturally responsive, high-quality childcare options—especially for Black and Brown families navigating systems that too often fail to reflect or respect them.

That need gave rise to Education Explorers, a network of licensed, certified family childcare programs across Washington and Multnomah Counties. Each program is rooted in the belief that children thrive best in environments that honor who they are, where they come from, and where they’re going.

Credentials That Shape the Vision

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences with a focus in Family Life and Early Childhood Development from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. I also earned a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Ball State University, with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis and an emphasis in Autism.

As a certified Community Trainer and a Step 11 on Oregon’s Early Learning Division Registry, I use my expertise to train, mentor, and empower early childhood professionals to adopt practices that are both developmentally sound and culturally grounded.

A Vision Beyond the Classroom

Education Explorers is more than a childcare network—it is a movement to reimagine early childhood education through a lens of equity, cultural pride, and whole-child development. We proudly serve children of all abilities in environments that are sensory-friendly, nature-rich, and deeply intentional. Our programs offer no-cost preschool through Preschool Promise and Preschool for All, as well as infant and toddler care through the Early Childhood Equity Fund and Employment Related Daycare (ERDC) assistance.

We are committed to expanding access, investing in quality, and creating opportunities for the next generation of learners, dreamers, and leaders—especially those who’ve been historically left behind.

Whether you're a parent seeking a nurturing, high-quality preschool, or a grantmaking organization aligned with our mission, I invite you to join us on this journey. Together, we are cultivating brilliance in every child.

Meet the Site Supervisors