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.
Rawaa Kassar
Rawaa Kassar received her Bachelor of Arts in Arabic Literature & Humanities from University of Damascus (Sept 1998), and a Diploma in the science of Proper Arabic Letter pronunciation and speech (Izaja Tajweed Quran) in 1998. She is working on her Master of education at City University of Seattle.
Rawaa has more than fifteen years experience in teaching Arabic in different colleges, schools and institutes for students of different ages and cultures. She started working in Damascus, Syria, as classroom teacher for elementary school, and then as an Arabic teacher for junior high school. In the U.S., she worked in the Islamic school of Seattle as an Arabic, Qur’an, and Islamic studies teacher in 2007 and 2008 for elementary to high school levels. In addition she taught Arabic for Seattle Pacific University, Bellevue College, and continues to teach at City University.
Rawaa has been working in Medina Academy since 2009, teaching Arabic Quran and Islamic Studies for different grade levels, kindergarten to sixth grade.
Rawaa Kassar received her Bachelor of Arts in Arabic Literature & Humanities from University of Damascus (Sept 1998), and a Diploma in the science of Proper Arabic Letter pronunciation and speech (Izaja Tajweed Quran) in 1998. She is working on her Master of education at City University of Seattle.
Rawaa has more than fifteen years experience in teaching Arabic in different colleges, schools and institutes for students of different ages and cultures. She started working in Damascus, Syria, as classroom teacher for elementary school, and then as an Arabic teacher for junior high school. In the U.S., she worked in the Islamic school of Seattle as an Arabic, Qur’an, and Islamic studies teacher in 2007 and 2008 for elementary to high school levels. In addition she taught Arabic for Seattle Pacific University, Bellevue College, and continues to teach at City University.
Rawaa has been working in Medina Academy since 2009, teaching Arabic Quran and Islamic Studies for different grade levels, kindergarten to sixth grade.
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 also hold an Ijazah in Tilawat al-Quran (Certificate of Tajweed). I recently completed a course on Arabic language teachers 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 have four children who are currently attending Medina Academy. I like spending time with my family and reading in my spare time.
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 also hold an Ijazah in Tilawat al-Quran (Certificate of Tajweed). I recently completed a course on Arabic language teachers 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 have four children who are currently attending Medina Academy. I like spending time with my family and reading in my spare time.
