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Our Team

Page Contents

  • Our Team
  • Board of Directors
  • Principal
  • Administration
  • Faculty
  • Staff
  • Committees

Board of Directors

Hanann Tomeh

Member at Large

Born in Michigan and raised in Phoenix, she attended ASU and was active with the MSA and regular halaqas. She attended multiple deen intensives where she deepened her knowledge of our beautiful religion. She graduated from ASU with a bachelors in Chemistry with honors. She studied dentistry at the University of Southern California and returned to AZ and has been in private practice since 2005. She has four children, one ACA alumni and three more currently students in ACA. She teaches at the AZ School of Dentistry and Oral Health (ASDOH) dental clinic, supervises students in patient dental care, and serves on the curriculum committee. She has led our Sacred Sciences committee for ten years and helped develop Girls’ Garden and other programs.

Rheem Kabbani

Board Treasurer

Earned Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Accounting from California State University, Fullerton. Earned MBA Business Certificate program via Sallie Mae Inc. Former Sr. Accountant of Employee Stock Options at Sallie Mae Inc. Former Director of Product Management and Marketing Communications at KeyBridge Corporation. Vice-Chairwomen, ACA Umrah Committee. Proud ACA parent of 1 graduate and 2 current students

Salaheddine Tomeh

Chairman

ACA Board Member since its inception in 1996. Vascular Surgeon in private practice in the Phoenix area since 1981 and certified by the American Board of Surgery. Former Chairman of the Islamic Community Center of Phoenix and Islamic Cultural Center in Tempe. Proud ACA grandparent.

Sharif Alkatib

Member at Large

Has over 15 years of experience in the field of Information Technology bringing expertise from Fortune 500 companies such as WWT, CVS Health, Bed Bath and Beyond, Edison International (SCE), and the City of Phoenix. Cisco Certified Network Professional in Collaboration and Data Center. Earned a Master’s degree in IT Management from the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University. Earned Honors Bachelors of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Toronto, Canada. Proud ACA parent of 2 current students.

Shelley Isai

Board Consultant

Holds a Doctorate degree in Innovation and Leadership from ASU.  Has over 20 years of experience in the field of education. Taught in middle school, high school, and collegiate levels. Worked as an Assistant Principal and then Principal and led her team to become the first AdvancED STEM Accredited School in the state of Arizona, receiving an A+ School of Excellence Designation.  Previously served on the Board of the Albanian American Islamic Center.

Susan Bassal

Board Secretary

Earned Juris Doctor Degree from University of Tennessee College of Law.  Former Member of CNN’s White House Unit, White House Correspondent’s Association, and House of Representatives Radio-Television Correspondents.  A spokesman for Arizona Muslim Alliance, and a proud ACA parent.

Zayed Al-Sayyed

Member at large

Practicing Attorney in the Phoenix Area. Earned Juris Doctor Degree from Phoenix School of Law and Master’s Degree in Taxation from Arizona State University.

Graduated from ACA’s first Senior graduate class in 2006. ACA student since its inception in 2001. Board member of Arizona Muslim Police Advisory

Administration

Irfan Choudhery

Member at large/Acting Principal

Earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Management from Arizona State University. Certified Public Manager (CPM), Arizona State University. Over 20 years of experience in the private and public sector in academic management, leadership and development, and human resource management. Served and Managed School Council at Arizona Cultural Academy for ten years and PTA for two years. Faculty at the University of Phoenix, Rio Salado Community College, and Ashford University. Currently, serving as the Program Administrator of Leadership and Development, State of Arizona

Julia Hammond

Early Childhood Director

Lama Zaino

Vice Principal of Climate & Culture

 

First year as ACA’s Vice principal of Climate and Culture in charge of discipline with a focus on various aspects related to the overall school climate and the culture among students, and staff. Worked over 13 years at ACA holding positions in teaching and administrative roles. As an educator with education in Information Technology imparted knowledge by teaching Computer Classes to students across all grade levels from K-12, including Dual Enrollment classes. Served as ACA’s Office Manager for 7 years and I.T. Director for over a decade and still holds today.

 

Lynda Dekkiche

Vice Principal of Academics

Sahba Sadat

Human Resources

Sekar Cortes

Facility & Real Estate Director

She is an engineer with a Master’s degree in Business Administration and 20 years of experience running an engineering firm. She was ACA’s former PTA President, School Council, and Board Member. A mother of 3 ACA alumnus, she has been serving the ACA community since 2005.

Yusuf Masud

Director of Development

Faculty

Ahlam Samad

First Grade Homeroom Teacher

Alysha Binion

PE Coach

Ateka Albattah

Early Childhood Support

Ayenun Naher

Early Childhood Teacher

Azza Shalaby

Kindergarten Instructional Assissntant

Crystal Alvarez

Fourth Grade Homeroom Teacher

Dana Yafaoui

Elementary Arabic Teacher

Dema Dekmak

Quran Teacher

Doaa Elsharawy

Early Childhood Teacher PK1

Eiman Yousif

Secondary ELA Teacher

Elizabeth Dekkiche

First Grade Homeroom Teacher

Fadwa Souri

Elementary Instructional Assistant

Farhiya Mohamed

Early Childhood Teacher DC

Faten Abousaleh

Art Teacher

Fatna Sirajaldin

Elementary Quran Teacher

Fouad Oulcaid

Secondary Math teacher

Fozia Basharat

Academic Counselor and High School Math Teacher

Ghalia Bankasly

Grade 2 Homeroom Teacher

Halema Shahabuddin

Early Childhood Teacher PK1

Haley Unruh

Math Interventionist

Hazar Al-Hamawi

High School Arabic Teacher

Hebah Amireh

Grade 4 Social Studies Teacher

Maha Alsakka

Elementary Islamic Studies and Quran Teacher

Maria Ziaullah

Middle School English Teacher

Mariam Bacha

Instructional Assistant

Marwa Khoshnaw

Early Childhood Instructional Assistant

Marwa Shaheen

Elementary Instructional Assistant

Mays Mahayni

Grade 5-7 Arabic Teacher

Mohammed Hend

Male PE Teacher

Nada Al Karasani

Early Childhood Teacher

Nargiza Umarova

Early Childhood Teacher TK1

Nita Reksodiputro

Early Childhood Teacher TK1

Noor Hamsho

Elementary Instructional Assistant

Noor Hassan

Middle School Science Teacher

Patricia Jamil

Reading Interventionist

Patrick M. Smith Jr.

MIddle School Science Teacher

Raghd Mahayni

High School Arabic Teacher

Raneen Al Masree

Middle School Arabic Teacher/Quran Aide

Rawia Gaffar

Grade 8 Homeroom Teacher & Grade 6-8 Math Teacher

Sadaf Johar

Early Childhood Teacher TK2

Safaa Abdeljaber

Early Childhood Aide

Safia Dide

Kindergarten Instructional Assistant

Sama Katbi

Middle School Islamic Studies Teacher

Samra Abdalla

Art Teacher

Sana Alattar

Middle School Islamic Studies Teacher

Sana Banaga

Early Childhood Teacher PK2

Shanjeedul Haque

Social Studies Teacher

Shohana Kabir

Fifth Grade Homeroom Teacher

Terrence Harper

Fifth Grade Homeroom Teacher

Wassila Bacha

Kindergarten Teacher

Zarghuna Gheyasi

Early Childhood Teacher TK2

Zuha Ezzo

Quran Teacher

Staff

Abir Hassn

Student Services Coordinator

Ahmed Hussain

Safety & Security Officer

Aimen Bacha

Counselor

Alaa Alian

Principal's Assistant

Amina Abdulla

Custodian

Cindy Schwank-Saleh

Admin Support

Doaa Ismail

Registrar

Douaa Shabaan

Quran Teacher Assistant

Edith Castillo

Custodian

Helen Yan

Lunch Coordinator

Khadidja Maouche

School Nurse

Muhannad Abdulrazzak

Facility Helper

Nouhad Habli

Accountant

Rayan Bacha

Receptionist

Security Guard

Gailan Khoshnaw

Shaza Tabaa

Librarian

Warren Hawkins

IT Coordinator

Committees

The ACA Board, Administration, School Council, and various other committees within the school, play a major role in ACA’s wide-based operational success.

Our committees are composed of ACA staff members and parent volunteers.

The ACA Principal and a Board Member are ex-officials (non-voting members) in all ACA committees.

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