Isaak entered the education field in 2014 and has spent his career working in alternative education spaces with young people who have often been failed or pushed out by traditional systems. He helped open Confluence High School, where his work focused on building learning environments rooted in trust, relevance, and real world experience.

Before becoming an educator, Isaak spent more than a decade working in humanitarian aid with organizations including Heifer International and ShelterBox USA. He also served as a US Peace Corps volunteer, teaching on the island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. These experiences shaped his belief that meaningful change happens through relationships, proximity, and a deep respect for people’s lived realities.

Isaak has consistently gravitated toward communities navigating trauma, instability, and systemic barriers. He is especially interested in how curiosity, identity, and purpose can be reignited for young people who have never experienced success in school, and in how adults can create conditions for growth without relying on compliance or control.

Isaak lives in Newcastle, California with his wife and two daughters. Outside of work, he races bikes and enjoys snowboarding and paddleboarding. He brings the same mindset to life and work, embracing challenge, discomfort, and reflection as essential ingredients for growth.