Meet the Staff of Muslim Community School/Alim Academy 2014-15
Salahuddeen Abdul Kareem
o Bachelor’s degree in Business Management
o Nearly 30 years of experience in Muslim schools as teacher, coach, parent representative, board member, assistant principal and principal
Shadi Afshar
o Degree in International Studies with focus on Peace and Conflict Resolution
o 3 years teaching experience at MCS/AA
Mais AlRaee
o Master’s degree in Mathematics Education
o Teaching experience in Chicago Public School System
o 2nd year at MCS/AA
Mahboubeh Azarmnia
o Master’s degree in Microbial Genetics and Physiology
o 4 years of teaching experience at MCS/AA
Lynda Hitchcock
o Years of experience as a high school career and college counselor
o New to MCS/AA this year
Farideh Imani
o Fine arts and fashion design major
o 18 years of experience as an art teacher
o 7 years of teaching experience at MCS/AA
Norbani Ismail
o PhD in Islamic Studies from Malaysia
o 3 years of teaching experience at MCS/AA
Sheikh Jalil
o Renowned religious speaker and adviser
o 8 years of Quran and Islamic Studies teaching experience at MCS/AA
Farida Khan
o Early childhood certificate
o Completed clinical coursework as a certified nursing assistant
o 21 years of experience at MCS/AA’s Daycare
Margarita Lopez
o Spanish Instructor
o 2nd year at MCS/AA
o Private tutor
Hasina Nabeel
o Pre-K co-teacher
o 2 years of experience as teacher’s aide at MCS/AA early childhood department
Somayyah Nahidian
o Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education
o Master’s degree in Educational Leadership
o 22 years of teaching experience
o 12 years teaching/administration experience at MCS/AA
Zahra Nahidian
o One of the founders of the school
o 30 years of experience as the school’s Office Administrator
Irda Nurwahyuni
o Pre-K co-teacher
o Focus of studies in English Language in Indonesia
Nermiz Saleh
o Teacher of the Arabic language
o 4 years of experience at MCS/AA
Ali Soleymani
o IT Professional
o Professor at NVCC
o 2 PhD’s, 4 Master’s Degrees, and 1 Bachelor’s Degree
o New to MCS/AA computer and technology department
Coach Tim
o PE teacher
o 2nd year at MCS/AA
o Director of local athletic teams
Ms. Yeater
o Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education
o 2nd year at MCS/AA
Nusrat Zaidi
o Master’s degree in English Language and Literature
o 7 years teaching experience at MCS/AA
Esra Gadelhak
My name is Esra Gadelhak and I am the Kindergarten/Grade 1 teacher this year at MCS. I have a degree in Food Science and Technology, as well as 2 years of teaching experience. I have traveled a lot and have been to countries like Egypt, UAE and Saudi Arabia.
I believe that kids are our future. Their minds at this specific age build and grow so rapidly, and their impressions are very lasting. That’s why I like to teach this age – they are full of surprises and changes.
I’m really thrilled and honored to work here and can’t wait to work with your beloved children. Come and meet me anytime!
Zainab Koosej
My name is Zeinab Koosej. This is my first year teaching 4th & 5th Math & Science, but second year at MCS. I love teaching, especially science which I unofficially started teaching in high school. I graduated from IAF (Isfahan, Iran) with a degree in Microbiology in 2009. My goal is to teach students how to think scientifically and learn the language of math in order to be good problem solvers.
I look forward to teaching our brilliant students this year.
Farideh Garmroudi
My name is Farideh Garmroudi and I am a proud parent of an MCS student and an MCS alumni. I have double degrees in biochemistry and public health, but I am a cancer biologist by training. I have worked and taught in the cancer biology field for a number of years. Previously, I also have taught high school biology, chemistry and middle school laboratory at MCS. It is my honor to work at MCS and support our students. I have a great passion for science and drama!!
Nouzha Ramdani – Middle School Math and Science Teacher
I was born and raised in Oujda, Morocco. Completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Networking, from Strayer University, during which I received MCSE certificate (Microsoft Certified System Engineer).
I worked as a computer consultant, programmer, then as a Field Network Engineer. However, after realizing that the technical field and work were heavily demanding as the remote troubleshooting and problem solving was inexistent – “beeper device era”, decided to devote my time to raising my three beloved children (now, 21, 19, & 16 years old)
I enjoyed raising my children immensely to the degree I followed them to school by volunteering in various departments; library, cafeteria, office duties, and as a teacher assistant. It is then, I discovered that the field of teaching and education were more fulfilling than the prior profession.
Encouraged by the principal and colleagues to pursue the teaching position, I went back to school and obtained my Master’s degree in Secondary Education from Marymount University. First I worked as a substitute teacher in Loudoun County Public Schools, then joined Al Fatih Academy as a lead teacher and have been for eleven years from 2nd to 8th grade.
Computer Technology is my passion and tend to integrate it into all curricular subjects. Stargazing and astronomy have been my newly discovered passion for the past five years. Hence my curiosity was satiated by becoming a member of NOVAC (Northern Virginia Astronomy Club), for which I will share and encourage my students and their interested members of their families to explore.