Faculty & Staff

Mr. Mootaz Koriem

Principal

Mr. Mootaz Koriem holds a Master of Arts in English awarded from Arizona State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Education and English awarded from Alexandria University. Before working as a full-time school administrator, he taught in three countries: the USA, Egypt, and KSA as a licensed teacher and as a licensed ESL/EFL (English as a Second/Foreign Language) instructor. Mr. Mootaz is a Georgia and Arizona certified teacher and has also earned a diploma in Education and Leadership Management from Notting Hill College in the UK. Mr. Mootaz is a firm believer, supporter, and promoter of Islamic Education and has been teaching in and leading Islamic schools for the past 20 years. He was born in Iowa and is a proud father of 3 children.

Ms. Fatima Abdelhaq

Lead Teacher/3rd Grade Homeroom

Education:

 

Bio:

Ms. Fatima Abdelhaq has always been working towards raising educated and responsible Muslim generations, inshaAllah. She was born and raised in Palestine, completed her education in Palestine, and moved to the United States in September 1979. She has been working in the education field since 1994. She taught in Al-Urdonieh Secondary school, which adapted the American system curriculum, in Ramallah, Palestine from 1994-2002 as a 1st and 2nd grade science teacher. Additionally, Ms. Fatima taught 1st-8th Social Studies. In 2002 she joined the team of Noor Academy and taught 1st and 2nd grade. Currently she is teaching 3rd and 4th grade  (Language Arts, Math, and Science for third grade and Math for 4th grade). In the past, she has taught Computer, Islamic Studies, Arabic too for grades 1, 2, and 3. Currently she is the lead teacher and the AZELLA school coordinator. I was the Language Arts, Social Studies, Field Trips Committee Chair in addition to organizing the Science Fair event for two years. During those years of teaching, she attended workshops to enhance and strengthen my teaching strategies and skills. She has professional development in the following areas; Practical Strategies to help every student succeed with state standards in Reading Informational and non-fiction Skills. Training the unmotivated practical strategies for teaching the hard to reach students, practical strategies to Help every student to succeed with Common Core state standards and working successfully with difficult and disruptive Students. Boost Students Reading and Writing Skills with Exciting engaging literacy activities.Using Guided Math to help Students meet and Exceed State Math Standards. Writing Strategies that works, Practical Way to use six Traits and Mini Lessons in your Writing Instructions. Guided Reading Differentiated Using Small Groups Instructions.

Ms. Helena Chowdhury

1st Grade Homeroom/4th Grade Islamic Studies

Education:

M.A Fine Arts, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Bio:
Ms. Helena Chowdhury is currently teaching Language Arts, Math. Science, Social Studies, and Islamic Studies at Noor Academy of Arizona. A strong advocate for skill development, she involves her students in reading and writing with subject based stories, poems, letter writing, learning with fun, and her current projects are learning with puppets, and letting students help each other, strengthening their communication skills. In addition, she serves as the first grade homeroom teacher for Noor Academy of Arizona. She believes that she has motherly care for her students, without motherly care no one can be an early elementary teacher.

Ms. Rokeya Omar Agha

Arabic Teacher K-8th Grades

Education:

B.S. Degree in Chemistry from The University of Mosul, Arabic as a Second Language Certification

Bio:

Rokeya Omar Agha is currently teaching KG – 8th grade Arabic at Noor Academy of Arizona in Tempe, Arizona. Mrs. Omar Agha has experience in teaching High School Chemistry in three different continents for a total of more than 30 years. She has also received numerous certificates from both online and on-site in the field of Arabic As a Second Language teaching programs through the Class Road curriculum from the University of California, San Bernardino. Due to her highly advanced abilities in instructing Arabic as a secondary language, Mrs. Omar Agha teaches Arabic to  K-8th grades students.  Mrs. Omar Agha makes up songs and catchy tunes for her students to be able to memorize certain words, letters. In addition, she is the Arabic Language Chairperson for Noor Academy of Arizona, a position that she has held from 2008 until present.

Ms. Asma Hussain

Quran/Islamic Studies Teacher (Various Grades)

Education:

Quran/Islamic Studies Degree

Bio:
Ms. Asma Hussain did her bachelor’s in Alimah/ Shariah. She is the Quran/Islamic Studies teacher for 1st through 8th grade, excluding 2nd grade. Before joining Noor Academy she was a school council member for 6 years and also a part of the PTA for 17 years at Arizona Cultural Academy. In the past she has given Quran classes from home. Ms. Asma has 25 years of working experience with the kids and she enjoys it, alhamdulillah! She has volunteered for ICNA Relief as an outreach coordinator/event planner and also currently volunteers for Islamic Relief. Her passion is helping people as much as she can and teaching Islam with dedication, honesty, and positivity. She will always support and encourage students to perform at their highest level in order for them to succeed. Ms. Asma loves coming to NAA with a positive attitude and with a smile on her face ready to take on the day! She looks forward to meeting each and every one of the students and parents in the future and together we will provide them with the best tool to help them reach their goals, inshaAllah. 

 

Dr. Suha Naush

P.E. Teacher K-8th

Education: 

Ph.D in Physical Education: 2011-2014 University of Baghdad

Masters’s in Physical Education: 2004 – 2007 University of Baghdad 

Bachelor in Physical Education: 1995 – 2000 University of Baghdad

Bio:
Dr. Suha Naush was born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq. She graduated from the University of Baghdad with a PhD in Sports Medicine and Fitness in 2014. Prior to her graduation, she taught and trained gymnastics, volleyball, basketball, swimming, track & field, and soccer. Dr Suha also has a certificate in Medical Assisting with Phlebotomy. Her degrees allow her to train students for fitness as safely as possible. She has been at Noor Academy of Arizona since 2017 and has always loved the Islamic environment and attitudes of this school. 

Dr. Suha teaches P.E. for KG-8th and Computer Science for 1st-8th grade. Dr. Suha’s goal as a teacher is to make sure her students always walk awawy with useful knowledge at the end of the day. I find that it’s very important to establish a good relationship with all my students. I want them to feel comfortable with fitness and taking care of their bodies. By teaching my students sports and skills, it allows them to find an interest that they can pursue. I truly believe that it’s important for kids to use their energy wisely to promoto their health. I want my students to see my lessons as exciting and a way to get ride of any stress they are feeling.  

Ms. Jakia Chowdhury

Kindergarten Teacher

Education:
B.A. Degree in English Literature, National University of Bangladesh
Certification in Early Childhood and Education, Mesa Community Colleges
Bio:
Ms. Jakia has been teaching at Noor Academy of Arizona since 2014. She has been working in the field of Early Childhood Education since 2012. She attended many trainings related to early education and has received certificates from different organizations including Arizona Department of Education. Mrs. Jakia worked in both public and private schools. Besides English language, Ms. Jakia can speak in Bangla and Urdu. She loves travelling and spending time with friends and family.
Working with the young children, is Ms. Jakia’s passion. She enjoys her every moment with the amazing students of Noor Academy of Arizona. She feels blessed being a part of this school. She dreams to go for a long journey along with Noor Academy of Arizona and help the young flower buds bloom as better Muslims.

Ms. Raneem Muraweh

Islamic Studies: Grade 4 Social Studies: 4th/5th/6th Language Arts: 4th/5th DIBELS Coordinator

Education: 
Arizona State University
B.A. Elementary Education & minoring in Special Education 

 

Bio:
She goes by “Miss Rae” and has been interning and collaborating with many schools since 2019. Miss Rae is finishing her bachelors in Elementary Education and special Education at Arizona State University. Go Forks! She has always had a passion for teaching and having the power to craft the mind of students. We are in charge of getting our students ready for all the great opportunities that will come their ways in the near future! 

Ms. Hajira Ijaz

Science Teacher 4th-8th Grades

Education: 

M.A in Political Science – Bahauddin Zakariya University

B.A in Sociology and Education – Bahauddin Zakariya University

Bio:
Ms. Hajira has always been very emphatic about psychology and assisting individuals rise up and flourish by helping them build a strong foundation for their personal, and professional lives. She obtained her Masters in political science and Bachelors in Sociology and Education from Bahauddin Zakariya University in Multan, Pakistan. Afterwards she taught multiple classes (Social Studies, English, Urdu, Religious studies, Biology, Chemistry, Math) at the Science School in Multan. She also worked as a private tutor for 10 years. Ms. Hajira moved to the United States in March 2022 to join her husband here in the east valley and is planning to pursue a Ph.D. in Psychology at Arizona State University. Prior to joining Noor Academy, Ms. Hajira worked as a Lab Technician and assisted with food and water testing. Her interests include fashion, cooking, traveling, shopping, psychology, and spending time with family. 

 

Ms. Ayesha Gheyasi

Front Desk Administrator

Education: 
College Graduate – 
Hajar High School and College 2001
Major in Quranic Studies, Hadith, Fiqh and Aqeedah
Bio:
Ms. Ayesha was a Lecturer at Dawat University in Kabul, Afghanistan before moving to the United States in 2004. She understands fus-Ha Arabic (classical) and speaks Dari fluently. She has spent her time tutoring children in Quran and tajweed. Ms. Ayesha has five kids, four of which are hafiz of Quran.  She resides in the East valley with her family and loves to serve at Noor Academy: “The knowledge I have must be shared”. 
 

Ms. Douha Elhadary

Front Desk Administrator
Education: 
Bachelor Degree in Architectural Engineering and Environmental Design.
Bio:
Ms. Douha Elhadary is the front desk administrator and is usually the first person you will see when you walk into the doors of Noor Academy. She’s originally from Sudan, but grew up in Qatar and moved to the USA only two years ago with her husband and two boys. Ms. Elhadary is thoroughly loving her experience at NAA, and enjoying the learning journey with all the experienced staff we have. She joined the NAA family in 2023 and working in the office and seeing children everyday brings her much joy and happiness.