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Our Team

Page Contents

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

Our Team

The ACA Board, Administration, School Council, and various other committees within the school, play a major role in ACA’s wide-based operational success. The supporting committees of volunteers do their best to keep the Arizona Cultural Academy moving in the right direction.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for the Arizona Cultural Academy or would like more information, contact us via phone or email at aca.registrar@azacademy.org

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.

Irfan Choudhery

Member at large

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

Rheem Kabbani

Member at large

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 1981and 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

Member at large

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

Christine McGee

Principal

Has 18+ years of experience in the field of education. Spent 7 years at Cartwright Elementary and 4 years at Summit High School in Phoenix, Arizona. Worked at ACA as a middle school English and Social Studies teacher and an Instructional Coach. Transitioned into the Interim Principal at ACA. Earned Bachelor’s Degree from Arizona State University in Elementary Education with a specialization in English as a Second Language. Holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Phoenix in Teacher Leadership and  Doctorate Degree in Curriculum and Instruction.

Mootaz Koriem

Dean of Students

Worked as the founding Principal of Augusta Science Academy in Augusta, Georgia, and Vice Principal of Education at Andalus International School in Saudi Arabia. Holds a Master’s of Arts in English from Arizona State University, Bachelor’s of Arts in Education and English from Alexandria University, and a Diploma of Education and Leadership Management from Notting Hill College in the UK. A certified teacher in Georgia and Arizona.

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.

Faculty

Ahlam Samad

Coach

Ayenun Naher

Early Childhood Teacher

Azza Shalaby

Pre-K2 Homeroom Teacher

Dana Yafaoui

Elementary Arabic Teacher

Darryn Clanton

Elementary Teacher

Dema Dekmak

Quran Teacher

Dina Weiss

High School English Teacher

Doaa Elsharawy

Early Childhood Teaching Support

Elizabeth Dekkiche

Transitional Kindergarten Homeroom Teacher

Fadwa Souri

Early Childhood Teaching Support

Faten Abousaleh

Art Teacher

Fatna Sirajaldin

Elementary Quran Teacher

Fozia Basharat

Grade 12 Homeroom Teacher and High School Math Teacher

Gamal Ahmed

High School Science Teacher

Ghalia Bankasly

Elementary Teaching Support

Halema Shahabuddin

Pre-Kindergarten (1) Teacher

Hazar Al-Hamawi

High School Arabic Teacher

Hebah Amireh

Grade 5 (B) Homeroom Teacher

Ibrahim Zafar

Quran Teacher

Maha Alsakka

Elementary Islamic Studies and Quran Teacher

Maria Ziaullah

Middle School English Teacher

Mariam Bacha

Grade 4 Teacher's Aide

Mays Mahayni

Grade 5-7 Arabic Teacher

Nada Al Kharasani

Early Childhood Teaching Support

Neelo Yunus

Grade 3 Homeroom Teacher

Nisreen Abdeljaber

Grade 1 Homeroom Teacher

Nita Reksodiputro

Early Childhood Aide

Noor Hamsho

Grade 2 Teacher's Aide

Omar Awwad

Middle School Science & Math Teacher

Omar Ayoub

Math Teacher

Raghd Mahayni

High School Arabic Teacher

Raghed Masalkhi

Grade 6-7 Arabic Teacher

Rawia Gaffar

Grade 8 Homeroom Teacher & Grade 6-8 Math Teacher

Rondel Parker

Boys Coach

Sadaf Johar

Kindergarten Teacher

Safaa Abdeljaber

Grade 1 Teacher's Aide

Sama Katbi

Middle School Islamic Studies Teacher

Samra Abdalla

Art Teacher

Sana Alattar

Middle School Islamic Studies Teacher and Admin Support

Sana Banaga

Kindergarten Teacher's Aide

Shamim Khan

Grade 2 Homeroom Teacher

Shanjeedul Haque

Social Studies Teacher

Shohana Kabir

Grade 5 (A) Homeroom Teacher

Wassila Bacha

Kindergarten Teacher

Yamen Atassi

Middle and High School Islamic Teacher and DIrector of Sacred Sciences

Yusuf Masud

Grade 10 Homeroom & High School Social Studies Teacher

Zuha Ezzo

Quran Teacher

Staff

Ahmed Hussain

Safety & Security Officer

Aimen Bacha

Counselor

Alaa Alian

Principal's Assistant

Amina Abdulla

Custodian

Azreen Abdul-Rahman

Media Coordinator

Cindy Schwank-Saleh

Admin Support

Doaa Ismail

Registrar

Edith Castillo

Custodian

Helen Yan

Librarian and Lunch Coordinator

Julia Hammond

Early Childhood Coordinator

Khadidja Maouche

School Nurse

Lama Zaino

Office Manager & IT Director

Lynda Dekkiche

Instructional Coach

Maesa Abdulal

Event Coordinator

Marah Alsafadi

Student Services Coordinator

Muhannad Abdulrazzak

Facility Helper

Nouhad Habli

Accountant

Rayan Bacha

Support Staff

Sahba Sadat

Human Resources

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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