Bio
Born in Guinea, West Africa, Asmaou Diallo immigrated to Harlem at thirteen, where the encouragement of dedicated teachers at Liberty High School Academy for Newcomers sparked her love of learning. After earning dual Bachelor’s degrees in General Science and Sociology from Fordham University and a master’s in Islamic Studies from Hartford Seminary, she began medical school at SUNY Upstate before discovering her true calling in education. Joining the NYC Teaching Fellows in 2018, Ms. Diallo found her purpose in making science accessible and empowering for all students.
At Frank McCourt High School, where she has taught since 2019, Ms. Diallo transforms chemistry into a gateway for curiosity, equity, and innovation. Her classroom blends rigor with creativity—students bake to explore acids and bases, model gas laws to study disease prevention, and engage in Socratic seminars that connect scientific inquiry to global issues. After conducting computational chemistry research on mercury reduction at Penn State’s Summer Research Experience for Teachers in 2022, she reimagined her annual research project to focus on climate change, challenging students to propose real-world solutions for the United Nations.
Beyond her classroom, Ms. Diallo mentors new teachers, leads professional development in culturally responsive pedagogy, and supports McCourt’s University at Albany Science Research program and Black Student Union. Her students describe her as inspiring, demanding, and deeply caring—a teacher who makes science come alive and opens pathways for diverse young leaders to thrive in STEM and beyond.
