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Meet our Faculty & Staff

Dr. Noor Ali

Dr. Noor Ali

Principal

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.

Deanna Latham

Deanna Latham

Counselor

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.

Sonia Hussein

Sonia Hussein

Quran, Arabic & Islamic Studies Teacher

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!

Nadia Aljam

Nadia Aljam

Elementary & Middle School Teacher

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!

Nisreen Ameer

Nisreen Ameer

5th Grade Teacher

Nisreen Ameer has taught preschool through elementary years and leads her class in experiential learning through field trips and interacting with nature.

Zuhdiah Abdeljaber

Zuhdiah Abdeljaber

Middle School Teacher

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.

Nazia Naveed

Nazia Naveed

3rd Grade Teacher

Nazia Naveed started with Al-Hamra Academy as a substitute teacher towards the end of the last academic year and has now joined as a teacher in 3rd grade.

Fakhera Merchant

Fakhera Merchant

2nd Grade Teacher

Fakhera Merchant is a second-grade teacher 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.

Shazia Jawwad

Shazia Jawwad

Preschool/ Pre-kindergarten Teacher

Shazia Jawwad is a Preschool/ Pre-kindergarten teacher. 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.

Shahad Kamoona

Shahad Kamoona

Kindergarten Teacher

Shahad Kamoona is a Kindergarten teacher. She has 6 years teaching experience in Math and Physics. And 2 years teaching math and science at Al-Hamra Academy.

Nazia Hassan

Nazia Hassan

Preschool/ Pre-kindergarten Teacher

Nazia Hassan is a Preschool/ Pre-kindergarten teacher. She has completed her education in Islamic Studies. She has a 9 year old son at Al-Hamra. She loves working with kids and feels motivated working with them.

Attiya Malik

Attiya Malik

Preschool/ Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

Attiya Malik is a dedicated and passionate Preschool/ Pre-Kindergarten teacher with a wealth of experience in instilling social and moral values in students. She has over eight years of teaching experience at various Islamic educational institutions.

Sophia Anwaruddin

Sophia Anwaruddin

Director of Elementary & Middle School

Sophia Anwaruddin is one of our Directors of Elementary & Middle School and has been with Al-Hamra for over ten years.

Bathoola Fathima

Bathoola Fathima

Pre-K Teacher

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!

Sharon Martin

Sharon Martin

1st Grade Teacher

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.

Naima Ghouli

Naima Ghouli

Elementary & Middle School Teacher

Naima Ghouli is an Elementary and Middle School teacher here at Al-Hamra and has taught Arabic & Religion to our students for 6 years!

Sumyrha Qureshi

Sumyrha Qureshi

Science Teacher

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.

Sheema Sheikh

Sheema Sheikh

Computer Science Teacher

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.

Phil Najemy

Phil Najemy

4th Grade Teacher

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

Sara Safdar

Sara Safdar

3rd Grade Homeroom Teacher

Sara Safdar is a 3rd Grade homeroom teacher. 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.

Fatima Al Rubaiee

Fatima Al Rubaiee

Elementary Teacher

Originally from Iraq, currently in her first year as a teacher, assisting lower elementary grades at Al-Hamra Academy.

Karen Kabbara

Karen Kabbara

4th Grade Homeroom Teacher

Karen Kabbara is the 4th Grade homeroom teacher. Karen holds a bachelor of science in Nutrition and Dietetics from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon and a Master’s of Education from Framingham State University. Karen has taught for 7 years at IB schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Mariyah Ghauri

Mariyah Ghauri

Elementary Art Teacher

Mariyah Ghauri is a dynamic Elementary art teacher. With a passion for creativity, Mariyah brings enthusiasm and expertise to inspire budding artists. From painting to sculpture, Mariyah fosters imagination and expression in every student, making art education an unforgettable journey.

Zaynab Abdelwahab

Zaynab Abdelwahab

Administrative Team Member

Zaynab Abdelwahab became a part of Al-Hamra Academy's administrative team (office) in 2023. Working in an Islamic school is deeply fulfilling for Zaynab. It means advancing her career while contributing to a greater cause – nurturing and guiding the young minds of our community.

Charlean Cooley

Charlean Cooley

School Administrator

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.

Kristine Austin

Kristine Austin

Assistant Principal

Kristine Austin is Al-Academy’s Assistant Principal. In addition to this, she has been teaching for almost 15 years here at Al-Hamra. Her specialty is in teaching Mathematics.

Nedhal Saoud

Nedhal Saoud

Arabic & Islamic Studies Teacher

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!

Habibe Balciouglu

Habibe Balciouglu

Elementary & Middle School Teacher

Habibe Balciouglu has been with the Academy for 5 years. 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.

Fehmeeda Mehta

Fehmeeda Mehta

Bookkeeper

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!

Alexander Jeong

Alexander Jeong

Martial Arts/PE Teacher

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.

Chuck Pratt

Chuck Pratt

Security Officer

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.

Lexi Marcosa

Lexi Marcosa

2nd Grade Teacher

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.

Naureen Mowla

Naureen Mowla

Social Studies, Religion & Art Teacher

Naureen is a Social Studies, Religion and Art Teacher. She teaches 6th & 7th grade Social Studies and 8th grade Religion. She also teaches Art for 4th through 8th grades.

Yasmeen Al-Adam

Yasmeen Al-Adam

Preschool/ Pre-kindergarten Homeroom Teacher

Yasmeen Al-Adam is a Preschool/ Pre-kindergarten homeroom teacher at Al-Hamra Academy. She has a passion for social justice and youth work. She graduated from Clark University with her Bachelor’s in Community, Youth, and Education studies, with a minor in Comparative Racial and Ethnic studies.

Chandni Sadozai

Chandni Sadozai

1st Grade Teacher

Chandni Sadozai is a 1st Grade teacher this year and is also teaching Religion to her 1st graders. Previously, she introduced religion to our little friends at Tiny Sprouts through reading books and related crafts. Also, Chandni taught art classes to elementary and lower elementary students at Al-Hamra Academy.

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