The Islamic Academy Staff

2008-2009

 

Br. Bashir El-Darwish:     Br. Bashir has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts. He is one of the original founders of The Islamic Academy for Peace Methuen, MA. He served as a Member on the Board of Governors as well as the treasurer of the incorporation for 5 years. He also served on the Board of Directors of Alhamra Academy, Shrewsbury, MA. He was part of the leadership which guided Alhamra Academy to become one of the most successful Islamic schools of the area. He also volunteered as the Principle/Teacher of the weekend Islamic school at the Islamic Society of Greater Lowell, the Islamic Society of Merrimack Valley, Salem NH, and the Weekend Islamic School in Lawrence, MA. Br. Bashir has worked as a Teacher for Special Needs students and trained as a teachers substitute in science and math. He owned and managed a small business for 9 years. Moreover, he has supervised and trained many employees for twenty years. Br Bashir served as the President of The Islamic Society of Greater Lowell MA as well as the Vice-President of the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester, MA.

 

Mrs. Jasmin:                    Mrs. Jasmin holds a dual Masters Degree in Computer Information System and Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. She currently serves as the Financial Administrator.

 

Mrs. Fauzia:                      Mrs. Fauzia has a Bachelors of Arts degree from Punjab University, Islamabad, Pakistan.  She has 4 years experience in fine arts at the intermediate level.  In addition, she has 3 years of experience in production planning.  Mrs. Fauzia has been on staff with The Islamic Academy since fall 2004.  She is currently the Administrative Assistant to the Principal. Mrs. Fauzia was an assistant teacher in Pre-K for 2 years at the Islamic Academy. She has attended several workshops in Early Childhood Development. Mrs. Fauzia was an Art teacher and Librarian during the 2006-07 academic year.

 

Mrs. Noura:                      Mrs. Noura has a Bachelors degree and one year of her Masters coursework in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the University of Damascus; School of Islamic Jurisprudence in Damascus, Syria. Upon obtaining her Bachelors degree, she taught Islamic Studies at two separate High Schools in Aleppo, Syria. She brings to the Academy over twenty-five years of experience in teaching/tutoring Islamic Studies, Arabic and Islamic Jurisprudence to children and adults alike in the greater Merrimack Valley area. Mrs. Noura is the original founder of the Arabic and Islamic Studies Department at TIA. She developed the current Arabic and Islamic Studies curriculum of TIA. She is the head of the Arabic and Islamic Studies Department and also teaches Arabic and Islamic Studies.

Mrs. Saadia:                      Mrs. Saadia holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Hassan II in Casablanca, Morocco.  She has taught mathematics for two years in an elementary school in Morocco. Mrs. Saadia has taught Arabic in several weekend Arabic programs in the greater Boston area for over 5 years. Mrs. Saadia has been on staff with The Islamic Academy since fall 2003. She is currently teaching Arabic/Islamic studies.

 

Mrs. May:                        Mrs. May holds a Bachelors of Science in Speech and Communication from Emerson College.  She is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Education at Leslie College.  Mrs. May previously taught Arabic and Islamic Studies at the Bashaer After School Program.  She has also been a volunteer and substitute teacher at The Islamic Academy in the past few years.  This year, Mrs. May is teaching Arabic and Islamic Studies.  She is also teaching 7th grade social studies.

 

Ms. Gail:                                    Ms. Gail holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and has taught a variety of grade levels in a career spanning more than thirty years. She also has a Master of Arts in History and Master of Science in Information Systems.  Ms. Gail has completed all of her courses in Special Education.  She is certified to teach elementary school, middle school, and high school history.  Ms. Gail has been on staff with The Islamic Academy since fall 2005.  She is currently teaching Literature, Language Arts and Social Studies in Grades 6 and 8.

 

Mrs. Thien:                              Mrs. Thien completed her undergraduate studies at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA.  She has a B.A. in Religious Studies with a minor in French and concentration in Education.  She earned her Masters in Education with initial licensure from Lesley University. She taught as a full-time intern teacher at The Pike School in Andover, MA.  She comes to The Islamic Academy for Peace with two years experience as a full-time Math and Science teacher in a Lowell public middle school.  She is currently teaching Math and Science in grades 6, 7, and 6.

 

Mrs. Susan:                              Mrs. Susan holds a Masters of Education from Oregon State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from the University of Oregon. Mrs. Susan is certified to teach in Massachusetts.  Mrs. Susan has wide range of experience both as a teacher and administrator in various educational programs in the U.S. and abroad. She has taught classes at all levels, elementary through high school and in the university.   As the former principal and lead teacher of The Islamic Academy for Peace, Mrs. Susan was instrumental in guiding The Islamic Academy for Peace from its humble beginnings through the first several years.  Currently, she is TIA’s Academic Planning & Curriculum Coordinator.  Mrs. Susan also teaches Language Arts and Literature in the upper grades (4-8).

 

Miss. Cudmore:                    Mss. Cudmore graduated from Assumption College in Worcester, MA with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and minor in English Writing and Political Science.  After college, Amanda spent time substitute teaching grades Pre-K through 12 and working in the educational textbook industry.  She is certified by the state of Massachusetts to teach History to grades 1-12. She currently teaches English Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies in grades 4 and 6.

 

Mrs. Landry:                           Mrs. Landry received her Bachelor’s of Science degree from UMASS Amherst and her Masters Degree in education from Lesley University. She is certified teachers by the State of Massachusetts. She spent 2 ½ years as substitute teacher in grades Pre K to 4. Before finishing her Masters Degree, she spent 4 months as a student teacher. In 2007-08 she taught 3rd grade as a long term substitute teacher. She was very active in her children’s school. She has been a classroom mom, helped in both math and reading workshops, she was on the PTO board as Secretary, Treasurer and ran many other committees. In addition, she has been a Girl Scout leader, a softball and field hockey coach. She is currently teaching Math, Science, and Social Studies in grades 4 and 5.

 

Mrs. Oya:                                  Mrs. Oya holds a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Salem State College, and has completed the first part of her certification. She taught several grade levels (K, 2, 3) in the public school systems of Methuen and Lawrence, MA. Mrs. Bozkurt also taught at a private school in Istanbul, Turkey. In addition to her teaching experiences, she has extensive experience working in the public libraries of Andover and Lawrence.  Mrs. Oya has been at The Islamic Academy since its inception.  Her dedicated active service has been vital to the overall growth and development of the school. Currently, Mrs. Oya teaches third grade.

 

Ms. Diana:                        Miss. Diana has her B.A. degree in Criminal Justice and her Masters of Education (M.Ed) degree in Elementary Education, both from the University of New Hampshire.  She has been a substitute teacher and a temporary teacher for grades 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 in New Hampshire, Maine and at the Islamic Academy.  She implemented strategies of the Children’s Responsive Classroom Philosophy and performed developmental reading assessments.  She has taught since 2003. This is Miss. Diana’s 2nd year teaching second grade at TIA.

 

Ms. James:                       Ms. James holds a Masters of Arts in Teaching from the University of New Hampshire and is a fully certified teacher.  She worked as a substitute teacher in Oyster River Middle School in Durham, NH.  Ms. James has also taught English at the Multicultural Encounter and Education Center for Muslim Women in Cologne, Germany. Ms. James has been on staff with The Islamic Academy since fall 2002.   This is Ms. James’ seventh year teaching first grade at TIA.

Mrs. Alia:                         Mrs. Alia holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Cairo, Egypt.  She worked several years as an architect in Egypt and in Boston.  She has been an active volunteer in the libraries and classrooms of school districts in Burlington, MA and Seattle, WA. Moreover, Mrs. Alia has been a dedicated volunteer tutor, substitute teacher and a full-time teacher in the Islamic Academy since the school opened in the fall of 2001. This is Mrs. Alia’s 5th year consecutive year teaching Kindergarten full-time at TIA.  She also serves as a leader of the early childhood programs.

 

Mrs. Mahmoud:               Mrs. Mahmoud has her B.S. degree in education with a major in physics.  She has distance learning design certification from Virginia Technical University.  She taught various grades in public schools, private preschools and Islamic Schools in the U.S. and internationally. She established and taught two different weekend schools and she created the Islamic Study Curriculum for another Islamic School.  She also has created the “Omni” Islamic Studies for Preschool and Early Elementary Schooling curriculum with different activities and hands-on, short and long-term projects.  She constantly updates this curriculum based on her observations and experiences from the multi-cultural environment she has worked in.  She has taught since 1979.  This is Mrs. Mahmoud’s second year teaching Pre Kindergarten at TIA.

 

Mrs. Fatima:                     Mrs. Fatima comes to the Islamic Academy with experience in working with Pre-K students at Headstart for 4 years. Mrs. Fatima has been a teacher’s assistant in both Pre-K and Kindergarten at the Islamic Academy since fall 2002.

 

Mrs. Rumana:                   Mrs. Rumana has been a teacher’s assistant in Pre-school at the Islamic Academy since fall 2006.  She has studied humanities at the National University in Bangladesh.  Last year, Mrs. Rumana successfully completed the Skillful Teacher Workshop.  She has several years experience in working with young children. 

 

Support Staff:                    We have several qualified and dedicated individuals who regularly support us in the school as teacher aides, office assistants, and substitute teachers. Most have been with us for over two years.

 

Volunteer Staff:               All parents are required to complete 10 hours of mandatory school service every academic year.  There are several ways in which parents may volunteer.  Parents may indicate their preference at the time of registration.