FACULTY & STAFF
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Dr. Noor Ali is the Principal of Al-Hamra Academy. She earned her Doctorate in Education from Northeastern University in Curriculum, Teaching, Leadership, and Learning. She has a MA in English LIterature and an MS Ed in Inclusion Education. Dr. Noor Ali is a veteran K-12 teacher of 15 years.
Dr. Ali has published in several academic journals and popular media outlets on the topics of social justice, marginalization, leadership, and curriculum. She has a book titled Critical Storytelling- Narratives of Muslim American Youth forthcoming this fall. Her research interests include Critical Race Theory and she has coined a CRT subset, MusCrit. Dr. Ali has extensive work with citizen science, youth civic engagement, social justice, and equity, and inter-faith work.
Dr. Ali is a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce for the Town of Shrewsbury and has served as a board member on the Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services, an organization that supports mental health. Dr. Ali has also worked extensively with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and now serves on the Commission of Independent Schools.
Dr. Ali serves as faculty in the Graduate School of Education, College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University.
NOOR ALI
Principal
SOPHIA ANWARUDDIN
Sophia Anwaruddin is one of our Directors of Elementary & Middle School and has been with Al-Hamra for over ten years. Her instruction employs project and inquiry-based learning as she helps students navigate through world civilizations, geography, economics, and government. She encourages her students to become critical thinkers and active participants in civic society. Sr. Sophia possesses a Bachelor’s of Science and a Master’s in Education.
SANAM ZAER
Sanam Zaer is also one of our Directors of Elementary & Middle School. She has a Master's Degree in Education and a background in teaching English to both language learners and native speakers. She spends much of her free time either volunteering or doing local advocacy work. For fun, she loves dark chocolate and traveling
CHARLEAN COOLEY
Charlean Cooley has been the School Administrator here at Al-Hamra Academy since 2011. She enjoys working with families and getting them started on a fantastic journey at Al-Hamra. She says it has been a humbling experience to help the Academy grow over the years and she is so happy to be a part of the administration team.
DEANNA LATHAM
Deanna Latham is the school counselor here at Al-Hamra Academy. She has been working with children and adolescents for over 20 years. Before coming to Al-Hamra, she taught Language Art for 15 years in a public middle school. She received her BA in Psychology from Assumption College, Post-Baccalaureate in English and Education from Bridgewater State University, and Master’s in School Counseling from Providence College.
BATHOOLA FATHIMA
Bathoola Fathima is a Pre-K teacher with 3 beautiful children and one shy bird. This is her 6th year with Alhamra and she absolutely loves her job. She also loves the outdoors, planting, and crafting and tries to incorporate her hobbies into her lesson plans!
SAIMA HAMEED
Saima Hameed has been teaching the third grade at Al-Hamra since 2001, following 18 years of teaching high school in Karachi, Pakistan. To her, each year, every class brings new, inquisitive faces that keep her excited to teach. As the homeroom teacher, she teaches her third graders: science, social studies, English literature, language arts, and math. She holds a primary teaching certificate from Pakistan, which has been evaluated and approved by the US Department of Education.
KRISTINE AUSTIN
Kristine Austin has been teaching for almost 15 years here at Al-Hamra. Her specialty is in teaching Mathematics. She has a Bachelor’s from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Mathematics and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction for Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell.
SONIA HUSSEIN
Sonia Hussein has a B.A. degree in Sharia and is authorized by Al- Furqan School to teach Noorani Qaidah. She really enjoys teaching and reading Quran, Arabic, and Islamic Studies here at Al-Hamra!
SHARON MARTIN
Sharon Martin is a 1st-grade teacher here at Al-Hamra! Her 14 years at Shrewsbury Public Library as a Children's Librarian and ultimately Head of the Children's Room were excellent training for teaching at Al Hamra Academy. Her favorite thing to do as a librarian was to help children find what they were looking for, or, helping them figure out what they were looking for and she finds similar joy in teaching!
NEDHAL SAOUD
Nedhal Saoud is from Baghdad, Iraq, and has been working in Alhamra Academy since 2010. She teaches Arabic and Islamic studies to Kindergarten, first grade, and second grade!
DR. NADIA ALJAM
Dr. Nadia Aljam, MD, originally from Syria, has a certificate of memorizing the Holy Quran from Damascus and from the Association of the United Muslim World in Jordan. She is teaching Quran from KG to 4th grade and Tajweed from 5th to 8th grades and has been working at Alhamra Academy for over 15 years!
NAIMA GHOULI
Naima Ghouli is an Elementary and Middle School teacher here at Al-Hamra and has taught Arabic & Religion to our students for 6 years!
HABIBE BALCIOGLU
Habibe Balciouglu has been with the Academy for 5 years. She has a Bachelor of Science in Math, a teaching certificate from Osmangazi University, Turkey, and a Child Development Certificate from Oxnard College, CA. She has worked at Al Hamra as an assistant teacher and a math supportive teacher in different grades through Elementary and Middle School. She has also taught art and religion classes to first graders. She enjoys baking, gardening, and crafting.
NISREEN AMEER
Nisreen Ameer has taught preschool through elementary years and leads her class in experiential learning through field trips and interacting with nature. Her philosophy lies in nurturing the whole child and creating a classroom community where all learners feel a sense of belonging. Sr Nisreen teaches Math, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies in Grade 5. In addition to her certification in Early Childhood Education, she holds degrees in law and in Management Accounting
SUMYRHA QURESHI
Sumyrha Qureshi teaches 4th & 6th grade Science. This is her 10th year teaching science at Alhamra. She has a Bachelors's and Master's degree in science. She believes science is an extremely engaging and interesting subject as it increases our awareness and knowledge of the world around us and opens doors to new and exciting discoveries. Her philosophy of teaching science is to build a solid foundation of science concepts, inquiry-based and hands-on experience. She also likes to develop critical thinking, think creatively, and solve real-world problems.
FEHMEEDA MEHTA
Fehmeeda Mehta is the Bookkeeper at Al-Hamra. She has 2 boys. Her oldest graduated in June 2020 and the youngest is in Grade 4. She loves numbers and so she really enjoys her work here!
ZUHDIAH ABDELJABER
Zuhdiah Abdeljaber has been teaching at Al-Hamra Academy since 1998. To her students and colleagues, she is better known as Sr. Eman. She is currently the 7th-grade homeroom teacher as well as the ELA teacher for both 6th and 7th and math for 6th. She has a Bachelor's Degree from Assumption College in English and a Master's Degree in Education with a Professional Teaching License in Secondary Education from Worcester State University.
SHEEMA SHEIKH
Sheema Sheikh is the Computer Science Teacher and part of the Administrative Staff. She’s been working with kids for the last 10 years as a teacher, volunteer, and administrator. Sr. Sheema received her Bachelors's in Statistics from Rutgers University.
ALEXANDER JEONG
Alexander Jeong is the Martial Arts/PE Teacher. He has been involved with Taekwondo for 25 years and is currently a 5th Degree Black Belt. He hopes to share his experience and knowledge for the development of the student's mental and physical discipline.
PHIL NAJEMY
Phil Najemy has been teaching 4th grade here at Al Hamra for 5 years. He has his BA in English; MLitt in English; MSc in Creative Writing, and Ph.D. in Creative Writing/English
ABBERA BAIG
Abbera works with kindergarteners here at Al-Hamra. Her favorite classroom experiences are those where she is connecting with her students and learning through art or hands-on activities. In her spare time, she enjoys preparing recipes for her imaginary cooking show, learning new things, and going on long drives with her family.
LEXI MARCOSA
Lexi Marcosa is a second-grade teacher at Al Hamra Academy. Before coming to Al Hamra Lexi worked with children with a variety of different physical and mental disabilities. Lexi loves working with children in kindergarten through second grade. When Lexi is not teaching you can find her playing with her dog, and enjoying the sunshine!!!
JOEL SEGER
Joel D. Seger is the new Middle School Theatre Arts Teacher. Joel has been involved in the performing
arts for most of his life. He has been a performer onstage in plays and musicals. Joel has also performed in a direct-to-video horror movie, has been an extra in a feature film, done radio plays, and has even danced in “The Nutcracker”.
In addition to his theatrical background, Joel was the Artistic Director of a dance studio for over 20 years and is currently the Artistic Director of Vanilla Box Productions, a theatre company he created with his wife of over 30 years. When he is not at school, he is probably working on a show or preparing for the next one at home.
SARA SAFDAR
Sara Safdar teaches Social Studies, Religion and is an assistant ELA teacher to middle and elementary school students.
She has a BSc in Food and Nutrition from the University of Western Ontario and a Diploma in Islamic Studies from Al-Huda institute. She also has a Certification in Quranic Grammar from Baiyyanah Institute.
In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her family, discovering new halal eateries, and baking.
NAZIA NAVEED
Nazia Naveed started with Al-Hamra Academy as a substitute teacher towards the end of the last academic year and has now joined as an Assistant teacher for the first grade. She was also the women’s coordinator at ISGW in the past and still volunteers as a substitute teacher for Sunday School. She enjoys teaching and easily makes connections with the kids. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, baking, reading, hiking, and spending time with family.
SHAZIA JAWWAD
Shazia Jawwad is a teacher's assistant for our Preschool. She is originally from Pakistan and completed her education there. She holds a professional certification in child care and development. Her hobbies include cooking, traveling, and inspiring children.
GHOUFRANE BOUDI
Ghoufrane Boudi is one of our Preschool and Pre- kindergarten assistant teachers. She has 3 years of experience and a Bachelor's degree in international sales and marketing. She enjoys working with kids and helping them develop their personalities.
CHUCK PRATT
Chuck Pratt acts as the Security Officer for Al-Hamra Academy. This is his 2nd year with Al-Hamra. He retired from the Shrewsbury Police after 34 years and feels this has been the perfect job for the next chapter in his life. You will always see him on foot on campus, keeping an eye out and hopefully deterring any problems that may come up. He feels honored to protect the children, staff, and parents of Al-Hamra!
JENNA JAARA
Jenna Jaara is the Computer Science teacher here at Al-Hamra. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and minors in Biology & Psychology and has taught Mathematics and Arabic in the past. She's very involved at the school and coaches many clubs including Girls on the Run, Speech & Debate, and Robotics. For fun, she loves cooking, exploring new restaurants, and going to food festivals!
FAKHERA MERCHANT
Fakhera Merchant is a second-grade aide and this is her first year at Al Hamra. She brings years of experience working in an Islamic school in Chicago. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and was a practicing attorney in her previous life. She is also a certified Youth Mental Health First Aider. In her spare time, she loves to travel, go on hikes with her family and run her Islamic store.