My name is Masarat Sayeed. I am a Montessori Teacher and I teach Early Pre-K at Greater Lansing Islamic School. I believe that children are natural learners. When given an opportunity and freedom to choose from a well prepared environment, children can teach themselves. My goal in Early Pre-K is to create an environment that drives children to learning where they can learn while having fun, Insha’Allah.
epk@school.lansingislam.com
I'm Daniyal Nawaz, and I am absolutely thrilled to be embarking on this journey as a Pre-K teacher this year. With a deep-rooted passion for early childhood education and a natural nurturing instinct, my goal is to foster a positive and engaging learning environment that truly benefits our young learners.
I hold a bachelor's degree in psychology and bring with me 2 years of experience in working with young learners. As a Pre-K teacher, I recognize the significance of early childhood development and the lasting impact it has on shaping a child's future. Before stepping into the role of a Pre-K teacher, I had the wonderful opportunity to teach Art to students in grades 1-8, further enriching my understanding of how creativity and education intertwine.
Additionally, I am excited to share that I will also be teaching Art to students in grades 4-8 this year. This diverse experience allows me to bring a unique perspective to the various age groups, encouraging creativity and a love for learning at different stages of development.
I'm looking forward to creating meaningful experiences for our little ones, supporting their growth, and nurturing their curiosity in the Pre-K classroom. Here's to a fantastic year of discovery, creativity, and fun!
My name is Aza Elmobarak, I was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt. I have a bachelor degree in accounting from Cairo University. I moved to America in 1999, and now have three beautiful daughters; Alaa who's 18, Salma who's 17, and Cepal who's 11. I've had a lot of experience with children; I've worked as a n assistant teacher for three years in a day care in Iowa, and an additional three years as a Lead Assistant at the People of Church. I really like working with children, seeing and helping them learn and grow as individuals.
I have been working in schools for almost 8 years. I started teaching in Dubai and continued my journey in East Lansing as my family and I moved back here in 2019.
I have a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and I have completed several courses in child development as well as applied behaviour analysis. Reading is my strength. I love to read children's books and try my best to make it a fun experience. I enjoy cooking, walking and spending time with my family.
Yahya@school.lansingislam.com
Mirvat had been a staff member of the school when it first opened way back in 1996. She taught Preschool, Arabic, and was a teacher’s aide. Mirvat is a very kind and caring person who we are pleased to have working with our students.
My name is Samantha Davis , I completed my Bachelor of Science in Education, Elementary Emphasis in 2009 from Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant. As a highly qualified teacher, my objective is to use my experience and education to positively motivate students and create lifelong learners.
Davis@school.lansingislam.com
I am Sadia Akhtar, and I have Bachelors degree in pure sciences, Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology I completed my Master Degree in Political Science from university of Peshawar, Pakistan. I am mother of two kids, my son Shaheer and daughter Zareesh. I enjoy my spare time with my family.
My name is Jamie Torrey and this is my fourteenth year teaching at GLIS. I teach the core subjects in 2 nd grade. I also teach sixth and seventh grade math. I have been married for six years to my husband, Andrew. We have a 4 year old son, Jackson, who keeps us very busy. I went to college at Saginaw Valley State University and finished my master’s degree at Mary Grove College. I have one brother named Justin and a sister named Ashley. My sister lives in Los Angeles, California and my brother lives in Bay City, Mi. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my son, traveling, and shopping.
My name is Hira Hamirani and I am from St. Louis Missouri. I have just moved to Michigan with my husband this summer and it has been wonderful so far. I am very excited to be teaching at the GLIS as the third-grade homeroom teacher. I have completed my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Organizational Psychology and Organizational Leadership; as well as obtained my Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Maryville University of St. Louis. I have been teaching as a homeschooling teacher at an Islamic Institution for five years and also have experience working with university students for the last three years. I have always had a passion for teaching and learning and being a teacher has been most rewarding for me. I pride myself in making teaching and learning an enjoyable experience for all of my students and work to build their confidence in all that they do and hope to achieve. In my free time, I enjoy going on walks, cooking, traveling, playing field hockey, and spending time with my family and friends.
My name is Karen Elsadek and I've taught a variety of classes at GLIS, from Kindergarten to 8th grade, as well as serving as principal for 8 years. Before teaching at GLIS, I taught for nearly 20 years in Vermont in a one room school. I taught K - 8 all subjects. I received my bachelor's degree in education from the University of Vermont and my master's in educational administration from Michigan State University. I love teaching and working with children and especially enjoy teaching mathematics. In my free time, I enjoy reading and crocheting. Insha'Allah it will be a fun and rewarding year!
I was born in Lincoln, Nebraska 1976, raised in Baghdad, Iraq. I received my B.Sc. in biology in 1998 and a M.Sc. in Phytoplankton Ecology in 2007 from the University of Baghdad. In 2004, I joined Nature Iraq, an NGO, and spent couple years as a researcher and Phytoplankton team leader. In 2005, I got involved in many restoration and monitoring projects in Iraq such as the Canada-Iraq Marshlands Initiative. In 2009, I joined the American University of Iraq-Sulaimani as a researcher. It was so exciting to be part of an ecological team working on the restoration on the Iraqi Marshes. During 2011 – 2013, I gained valuable experience and knowledge as a visiting researcher in the Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford Campus. Since fall 2014, I started as a part time instructor in Miami University, Hamilton and Oxford Campus to teach an Environmental Biology class as well as a Human Physiology class. I am looking forward for a great year. The best times I have are those spent with my family. I love to travel, as travel has always being a part of my life. My philosophy is to never give up easily and always believe in yourself, find the positives and work around the obstacles to achieve your dreams .