Kamila Abolokma
From a very young age, I knew that being a teacher was the future that I wanted for myself. It began with my father, who is also a teacher and later became a principal. I distinctly recall watching my father not only teaching children but adults in the evening. He spent a lot of his free time volunteering to teach our neighbors the basics. He said that being a teacher was one of the most rewarding aspects of his life. Seeing the accomplishments of our neighbors and the pride of their success only reinforced that this was the career path that I was meant for.
I attended college in the city of Zawiya, located in Libya. I earned my degree in teaching and spent my first two years teaching Middle School. I then relocated to Seattle, WA where I resumed teaching. I was a teacher at the Islamic School of Seattle for two years. I then took time off after the birth of my 3rd child. 2 years later, I returned to teaching at the Islamic School of Seattle for 8 years, where I taught all ages (Preschool – Middle School).
I was fortunate enough to be selected as part of the Arabic Team for the Summer Language Camp, program that was developed by Seattle Public Schools, with training administered by Pacific Luthern University. It allowed for the teaching of what are known as the difficult languages (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, etc) to elementary school age children, with the understanding that younger minds are more receptive and able to grasp the cognitive nuances of foreign languages. I was part of this program for 5 years and was selected as lead for 4 of those years.
I then applied for a position with One World Now. A company developed in Seattle in 2002. One World Now focuses on providing global opportunities to underserved youth in the region. I was selected for their high school program, where I taught students Arabic at Ingraham High School for 2 years.
I was then fortunate enough to gain employment with Medina Academy, where I have now been the Arabic, Quran, and Islamic Studies Teacher for 12 years. Every year here has held new challenges and even more rewards. I am always grateful for the opportunity to teach our future generation the culture and religion of Islam and am rewarded knowing that these are lessons that will not only help them with their future decisions but allow them to also pass on this teaching to their family and future generations with the hope that they take pride in their identities as Muslim Americans and can serve as ambassadors to the Non-Muslim community. They have taught me just as much as I’ve taught them and I am very proud of their continued development.
From a very young age, I knew that being a teacher was the future that I wanted for myself. It began with my father, who is also a teacher and later became a principal. I distinctly recall watching my father not only teaching children but adults in the evening. He spent a lot of his free time volunteering to teach our neighbors the basics. He said that being a teacher was one of the most rewarding aspects of his life. Seeing the accomplishments of our neighbors and the pride of their success only reinforced that this was the career path that I was meant for.
I attended college in the city of Zawiya, located in Libya. I earned my degree in teaching and spent my first two years teaching Middle School. I then relocated to Seattle, WA where I resumed teaching. I was a teacher at the Islamic School of Seattle for two years. I then took time off after the birth of my 3rd child. 2 years later, I returned to teaching at the Islamic School of Seattle for 8 years, where I taught all ages (Preschool – Middle School).
I was fortunate enough to be selected as part of the Arabic Team for the Summer Language Camp, program that was developed by Seattle Public Schools, with training administered by Pacific Luthern University. It allowed for the teaching of what are known as the difficult languages (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, etc) to elementary school age children, with the understanding that younger minds are more receptive and able to grasp the cognitive nuances of foreign languages. I was part of this program for 5 years and was selected as lead for 4 of those years.
I then applied for a position with One World Now. A company developed in Seattle in 2002. One World Now focuses on providing global opportunities to underserved youth in the region. I was selected for their high school program, where I taught students Arabic at Ingraham High School for 2 years.
I was then fortunate enough to gain employment with Medina Academy, where I have now been the Arabic, Quran, and Islamic Studies Teacher for 12 years. Every year here has held new challenges and even more rewards. I am always grateful for the opportunity to teach our future generation the culture and religion of Islam and am rewarded knowing that these are lessons that will not only help them with their future decisions but allow them to also pass on this teaching to their family and future generations with the hope that they take pride in their identities as Muslim Americans and can serve as ambassadors to the Non-Muslim community. They have taught me just as much as I’ve taught them and I am very proud of their continued development.
Fatma Jedaa
I have been working in the field of education for the past 20 years in the USA. I began my teaching career in 1997 and was one of the pioneering Arabic language teachers in the Evergreen Islamic Institute in Lynwood, WA where I taught elementary school students. Because of my passion for creating an innovative bilingual curriculum and classroom environment where students can thrive, I was recruited to join top educators across the states for three consecutive summers for the Star Talk Summer Foreign Language program. When my family moved to the Eastside, I was one of the first Arabic language teachers at the Redmond Sunday School and eventually joined Medina Academy in 2003. At Medina, I was heavily involved in leading the Arabic language and Islamic Studies program for preschool and Kg to 4th grade students. Since 2014 I have been focused on teaching the First and second grade students. I completed my studies in teaching Arabic as a second language from the American Open University. I have an AA degree from Bellevue College and Certificate for "Teaching Foreign Language in Grades K-8" from the University of Washington. Currently, I am completing my second BA in Early Childhood Education from the North Seattle College with a focus on Bilingual Education.
I have been working in the field of education for the past 20 years in the USA. I began my teaching career in 1997 and was one of the pioneering Arabic language teachers in the Evergreen Islamic Institute in Lynwood, WA where I taught elementary school students. Because of my passion for creating an innovative bilingual curriculum and classroom environment where students can thrive, I was recruited to join top educators across the states for three consecutive summers for the Star Talk Summer Foreign Language program. When my family moved to the Eastside, I was one of the first Arabic language teachers at the Redmond Sunday School and eventually joined Medina Academy in 2003. At Medina, I was heavily involved in leading the Arabic language and Islamic Studies program for preschool and Kg to 4th grade students. Since 2014 I have been focused on teaching the First and second grade students. I completed my studies in teaching Arabic as a second language from the American Open University. I have an AA degree from Bellevue College and Certificate for "Teaching Foreign Language in Grades K-8" from the University of Washington. Currently, I am completing my second BA in Early Childhood Education from the North Seattle College with a focus on Bilingual Education.
Rawaa Kassar
I was born and raised in Syria. I received a Bachelor’s degree in Arts, and a Major in Arabic Literature & Humanities from the University of Damascus (Sept 1998); I received a diploma in the science of Proper Arabic Letter pronunciation and speech (Ijaza in Tajweed of the Quran) in June 1998.
I have more than fifteen years of working experience teaching Arabic language in different colleges, schools and institutions for students of different levels, ages, and backgrounds. I started working in Damascus, Syria as a classroom teacher for elementary school, then worked as an Arabic subject teacher for high school students at the junior level. I have been working in Medina Academy since 2009, teaching Arabic Quran and Islamic studies for different grade levels, kindergarten to sixth grade.
In the U.S. I worked for the Islamic school of Seattle as an Arabic, Quran, and Islamic studies teacher in 2007-2008 (elementary to high school levels). Additionally, I taught Arabic for Seattle Pacific University, Bellevue College, and most recently in City University of Seattle. I always had a passion to spread all the knowledge that I gained over the years to our youth. My main goal is to help kids learn, love and, enjoy Islam.
I was born and raised in Syria. I received a Bachelor’s degree in Arts, and a Major in Arabic Literature & Humanities from the University of Damascus (Sept 1998); I received a diploma in the science of Proper Arabic Letter pronunciation and speech (Ijaza in Tajweed of the Quran) in June 1998.
I have more than fifteen years of working experience teaching Arabic language in different colleges, schools and institutions for students of different levels, ages, and backgrounds. I started working in Damascus, Syria as a classroom teacher for elementary school, then worked as an Arabic subject teacher for high school students at the junior level. I have been working in Medina Academy since 2009, teaching Arabic Quran and Islamic studies for different grade levels, kindergarten to sixth grade.
In the U.S. I worked for the Islamic school of Seattle as an Arabic, Quran, and Islamic studies teacher in 2007-2008 (elementary to high school levels). Additionally, I taught Arabic for Seattle Pacific University, Bellevue College, and most recently in City University of Seattle. I always had a passion to spread all the knowledge that I gained over the years to our youth. My main goal is to help kids learn, love and, enjoy Islam.
Enas Matalka
I am from Jordan. I received my bachelor’s degree in Shariah (Islamic Law) from Yarmouk University in Jordan. I then went on to complete my master’s degree in “Education in Islam” from the same university, and my dissertation topic was “How Scholars Raised Their Children: an Educational Study”. I hold an Ijazah in Tilawat al-Quran (Certificate of Tajweed). I have a certificate in Teaching Arabic language for non-native speakers.
I have always enjoyed teaching both kids and adults. Before I started teaching at Medina Academy, I taught tajweed in the American Open Islamic University. I also held classes in different local masajid, teaching topics about raising kids, building Islamic character, and tajweed for adults, and Quran and Arabic for children.
I love kids and I am very interested in raising them, I started educating myself about raising kids since high school, and I am glad that I have the opportunity to teach and educate the lovely kids at Medina Academy.
I am from Jordan. I received my bachelor’s degree in Shariah (Islamic Law) from Yarmouk University in Jordan. I then went on to complete my master’s degree in “Education in Islam” from the same university, and my dissertation topic was “How Scholars Raised Their Children: an Educational Study”. I hold an Ijazah in Tilawat al-Quran (Certificate of Tajweed). I have a certificate in Teaching Arabic language for non-native speakers.
I have always enjoyed teaching both kids and adults. Before I started teaching at Medina Academy, I taught tajweed in the American Open Islamic University. I also held classes in different local masajid, teaching topics about raising kids, building Islamic character, and tajweed for adults, and Quran and Arabic for children.
I love kids and I am very interested in raising them, I started educating myself about raising kids since high school, and I am glad that I have the opportunity to teach and educate the lovely kids at Medina Academy.
Mohamed Yousif
I completed most of my education, from elementary school until graduating from the college of education with a BA, at the Alazhar Educational Organization. Alazhar University is the oldest school of education that started more than one thousand years ago. It is considered an elite university in the world that has had a significant impact on Islamic education.
Since I was 6 years old, I started to memorize the verses of the Koran. My teacher asked me to help check the Quran memorization with my classmates and help them in pronunciation. My teachers encouraged me to teach from a younger age. This made me love the profession of teaching and it always reminded me with what prophet Mohamed SAW Hadiith said, "The best amongst you are the ones who learn Qur'an and teach it to others."
I founded two Quran schools for memorization and tajweed in Egypt. In Seattle 2010, I worked as a teacher assistant to Sheikh Nabil in MAPS. I worked as a Quran teacher at Darululom in Seattle at ICOE for three years. I have worked at Medina Academy as a Quran teacher since 2013. I helped more than 10 children to finish the full memorization of the Quran.
I completed most of my education, from elementary school until graduating from the college of education with a BA, at the Alazhar Educational Organization. Alazhar University is the oldest school of education that started more than one thousand years ago. It is considered an elite university in the world that has had a significant impact on Islamic education.
Since I was 6 years old, I started to memorize the verses of the Koran. My teacher asked me to help check the Quran memorization with my classmates and help them in pronunciation. My teachers encouraged me to teach from a younger age. This made me love the profession of teaching and it always reminded me with what prophet Mohamed SAW Hadiith said, "The best amongst you are the ones who learn Qur'an and teach it to others."
I founded two Quran schools for memorization and tajweed in Egypt. In Seattle 2010, I worked as a teacher assistant to Sheikh Nabil in MAPS. I worked as a Quran teacher at Darululom in Seattle at ICOE for three years. I have worked at Medina Academy as a Quran teacher since 2013. I helped more than 10 children to finish the full memorization of the Quran.
