My name is Heather Simmons and I will be joining CAS as a Lower School teacher. I’m originally from Marshfield, Massachusetts in the USA. I grew up by the beach, where I spent most of my time, as well as an active member of various cheerleading teams. I was captain of my cheerleading team and even won a state and national championship! I went to college in North Carolina where I attended High Point University. I majored in Elementary Education and minored in Special Education. I went on to get licensed in both as well as earn my Teaching English as a Foreign Language certification. During my undergraduate years, I was president of Teachers of Tomorrow, director of philanthropy for Phi Mu fraternity, a board member for 1,000 Miles For Kids as well as an avid volunteer and Zumba instructor! I stayed in North Carolina an additional year to earn my Master’s of Elementary Education with a concentration in Literacy. While completing my M.Ed I worked as an Americorps VISTA with the High Point Schools Partnership. I’ve spent the year learning about how poverty affects the lives of students inside and outside of the classroom and using that knowledge to shape myself as an educator. I am so excited to begin my journey as a teacher in Morocco!

My name is Allison Billington and I am very excited to join the team at CAS, teaching in the Lower School. I grew up in California with my parents, a brother and a sister. I received my undergraduate degree from California State University Channel Islands. Throughout college, I worked as a paraeducator and a substitute teacher. Subbing allowed me to travel and live in a few other places up the west coast. Once I decided to teach full time, I went back to school and earned my MA in teaching from Southern Oregon University. My first year of teaching, I moved to Morocco where I taught 4th grade. I have been in Morocco for three years and I have loved living here. My favorite things to do are to explore the city, try new food, attempt yoga and swim. Next year, I look forward to getting to know the community at CAS. I hope to make new friends, learn from other professionals and improve my teaching practices!

Hello! My name is Holly Czuchna (pronounced Chuck-nuh) grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. Holly graduated Magna Cum Laude with a dual Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary and Middle School Education from Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, Virginia. She is also an Honors Graduate with a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from the University of South Carolina, in Columbia, South Carolina. Holly is certified to teach Kindergarten – 6th grade and is a certified principal K-12.  She also holds an EAL endorsement and is trained to teach Gifted and Talented.  Holly has extensive experience teaching in public schools, and has eight years of experience teaching internationally in Vienna, Austria; Hangzhou, China; and Hsinchu, Taiwan. She will be teaching in the Lower School.

Outside of school, Holly has spent many years working in community theater productions across the US and in Austria. She hopes to be able to get involved in the arts community in Casablanca! She loves arts of all kinds, and enjoys drawing and painting. Holly is also an avid traveler, and she loves taking photographs of all the beautiful places she visits. She is an eclectic reader, and when she is not hiking or painting, you will definitely find her reading some crazy book. Holly is looking forward to joining the faculty and staff at Casablanca American School this summer! She cannot wait to make new friends and have new adventures in the amazing country of Morocco!

Hello! My name is Natalia Maleszewski, I'm 22 years old and I'm from Rockland County, New York. I will be interning with early childhood and EAL. I found a true love for language and learning during my undergrad at SUNY Cortland where I studied TESOL. During college I was the vice president of the Education Club and held a part time substitute teaching position. I have waited a very long time to travel…I am extremely excited to experience and immerse myself in the different cultures and traditions Morocco has to offer. I speak Polish and intermediate level Spanish. I enjoy going to the beach, hiking, learning languages, attending music festivals, staying active and trying new foods (there has never been a food that I didn’t like)

I am looking forward to joining the CAS community, building strong relationships within it and growing as an educator!  I will be an Early Childhood and EAL intern.

My name is Ami Wright. I am originally from Beloit, Wisconsin. I

attended the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse. After University, I

volunteer-taught in Arusha, Tanzania for two months where I

discovered my love for teaching internationally. I then moved to Jeju,

South Korea where I taught English for one year. I moved to Morocco

in 2018 and have taught Early Childhood PE, Grade 3 and Grade 2 in

my four years here.

I live in Dar Bouazza and absolutely love my life here in Morocco. I

enjoy hiking, surfing, boxing, painting, crocheting and anything active

or artsy! I am very excited to join the CAS community and to get to

know all of the returning and new staff.

My name is Maggie Stein and I am thrilled to be joining the CAS community! Originally from New York City, I love the bustle of lots of different people and cultures in one place. My two years so far here in Casablanca have been a fun adventure! I have loved exploring the secrets of Morocco and am looking forward to even more adventures, friends, beach days, and food in the years to come. I have taught in Museums and classrooms with ages 4-12. I will be teaching in the CAS Lower School.  When I am not discovering the world with the students I love to do the same with friends: a good book, movie, laughter, and the ocean are the best ways to spend my time. I am always happy, too, to come home to a game of tag and a snuggle to my cat, Lily.

Hello everyone! My name is Brittany Davis, and I'm from Tampa Florida. I'm very excited to be joining the CAS family, before moving to Florida I was teaching English and living in South Korea. There I fell in love with the art of teaching abroad and pursued a master's in the Globalization of Education. I'm prior military (Air Force) and come from a military family, so moving around is something I'm very comfortable with. I've taught 5th grade for the past two years, and I'm looking forward to more years with this age range in the CAS Lower School. In my downtime you can find me, exploring, reading, and of course, traveling. Looking forward to meeting everyone! 

My name is Nadia Engelbrecht. I am Belgian/American, born in India and raised in Vietnam. I am a passionate Early Years Educator and have had the privilege and joy to work in International schools in Vietnam, Bangladesh and most recently India. I have my B.A in Psychology and my M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Early Years Education. I have a fond appreciation for the importance of play, and encouraging young learners to be inquirers and leaders of their own learning. My husband, son, and I are extremely excited to be joining the CAS community!  We are really looking forward to exploring a new part of the world we have yet to visit. 

Robin Shehada has over 20 years experience in K-8.  She began her teaching career abroad in Doha then moved back to Oklahoma teaching in Broken Arrow Public Schools.  She specializes in STEM, Robotics, computer science and career technology. A native of Oklahoma, Robin likes to spend her free time gardening, reading, hiking/camping & travel. Robin’s four children have all graduated college and are living their dreams but no grandchildren…yet.  As she started her career internationally, she wants to finish it internationally.  Robin is excited to join the Lower School team and looks forward to finding out what we can achieve together!

Tony lived in France until he turned 23. After he graduated in French as a MFL from Lille University, he moved to South Korea. That was the first of a long series of countries where he lived and worked: Oman, Lebanon, the United States, Libya, Belgium and Egypt. He has addressed a wide range of students and worked in various institutions (universities, international administration, international schools, etc.). He is very excited about working at CAS and living in Morocco where he will resume one his favorite hobbies: horseback riding.

Hello! My name is Cassie Garvin. I come from a small town in central California, Visalia. I grew up with my parents and an older brother before moving to Washington state to attend Whitworth University where I received both a bachelors and masters degree. I spent over 14 years in Spokane, Washington as an elementary school counselor, grade 2 and grade 5 teacher. Three years ago I made the leap to teach internationally and landed in Hong Kong.

Outside of school, I have many interests. Traveling to new destinations to learn about the people, culture, history, art, music, food, architecture, landscape, and everything else is at the top of the list! I also enjoy sharing time and a meal with friends, playing board games, reading, baking, hiking, listening to podcasts, exploring new areas, and doing puzzles. 

One of my core beliefs is that everything grows from relationships. Well, I’m ready for some growth! I’m very excited to join CAS and am eager to plant some seeds to grow in beautiful Morocco. Grade 6, here I come! 

My name is Peter Hunter and I will be joining the English department for the upcoming school year. Born and raised in Canada, I have lived in the United States and overseas for the past 30 years or so. This will be my 16th year of high school teaching. In that time I have taught in schools in Cameroon, Germany, Ghana, and Bulgaria, as well as in Arizona and Oregon in the US. I have a BA (Literature) from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and an MA (Journalism) from The University of Arizona. Prior to entering teaching, I spent many years as a reporter, photographer, and editor for newspapers. In my free time I like to read and write; explore cities on foot; camp in the mountains; play chess and Scrabble; share time with my wife, Jenny, and my cat (Clementina Clementova!); and continue learning to draw. I am excited to be coming to Morocco: I visited the country a few years ago and left feeling a desire to return, that I wanted more time with such a welcoming people in such a vibrant country.

Hello! My name is Elliott Mann. I was born in the United States, but I grew up in Botswana and attended secondary school in Kenya. After graduating from Evangel University in Missouri with a bachelor's degree in Art Education, I spent a year teaching visual art at two primary schools. I'm thankful for this new opportunity to teach the visual arts programme at the upper school at CAS! I look forward to becoming a part of the school community, building relationships with students, and experiencing life in Casablanca! 

Hello! My name is Mark Schwartz. I’ve been living in Portland, Oregon, USA. This year, I’ll be teaching Language Arts in the Upper School. Once upon a time I taught Grade 5 at CAS; I’m thrilled to be back where I belong! When I’m not working, I enjoy eating and completing jigsaw puzzles. I look forward to shopping at the marché, eating and meeting new people.

I am Farid Javadov from Azerbaijan Baku and I graduated from Baku Engineering University in 2017 with a BSc degree in Physics and got my teaching credential from the same institute .

This is my fifth year as a teacher. So far, I've worked as a General Science and Physics teacher in Baku, Azerbaijan, at Landau School and, before that, at European Azerbaijan School! In my leisure time, I enjoy reading books about the philosophy of science and going to travel to different destinations with my family. Morocco, with its vibrant culture and heritage, will, I believe, become one of the most memorable parts of our lives. I can't wait to join the CAS family and meet my wonderful students.

Hi, I am Gulnar Javadova who is originally from Baku, Azerbaijan. In 2017, I earned a Bachelor's in Physics from Baku Engineering University. I was a physics teacher at the public high school in my hometown of Gabala, Azerbaijan. I am a highly motivated and dedicated educator with a natural ability to understand and motivate children with my 3 years of working experience. I am very excited to learn and improve my skills in the international teaching field while also exploring Morocco with my family. I genuinely think CAS will play a significant role in my life with its long history of schooling.

My name is Anwar El Fadil El Idrissi, and I am a second-year Ph.D. student in applied mathematics at Hassan II University of Casablanca, Ain Sebaa. 

I have a Masters in Actuarial Science and Market Finance from the same university, as well as a fundamental degree in Quantitative Methods Applied to the Social Sciences. I completed my Baccalaureate of Science in Physics prior to my higher education. During my undergraduate and graduate studies, I focused on applied mathematics and quantitative methods. This gave me strong analytical skills and a desire to solve hard problems. I am currently working on my Ph.D. research and expanding my knowledge in the field of applied mathematics.

I am also an assistant math teacher at the same university, where I can use my knowledge and skills to help students learn math concepts, understand them, and improve their analytical skills. I have a lot of experience teaching math in high school, which has given me a strong background in education and a passion for helping students succeed in the field of mathematics.

Hello ! My name is Alexandra Chaunu, I'm 45 years old. I come from France. This is my second year in Morocco. Everyday I am thankful to be here because I totally fell in love with this country! 

Through the various educational experiences I've had (French and English teacher, educator and tutor for one of the oldest family of the French nobility, the De Robien family) for nearly 20 years in various types of schools, I used my researches in neuroscience and psychology (two of my personal interests) and my trainings to help all kinds of students, from primary to high school.  I am also a craft artist, a photographer and a pastry cook in my spare time and the proud mom of a twenty-year old boy!

I am very excited to work at CAS because some members of my family are American. I lived in Oregon for a year where I graduated from High School (after my graduation in France), member of the National Honor Society and was also a member of the Dalles Police Explorer program. So I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here! 

My name is Anissa Peters and I'm a CAS alumni, Class of 2011. My speciality is in Communication and Marketing Strategy and I've recently joined the CAS team as the Comm & MKTG Manager.

Since graduating my journey has taken me through a whirlwind of experiences. I graduated from Northeastern University, where I obtained my Bachelor of Science with a speciality in Music Business. This milestone took me on a short adventure in the music industry, working for Universal Music Group in New York City. Following this experience, I joined the tech startup world in Boston, where I got to work with brilliant and innovating minds on pioneering projects. 

A few years later, moving back to Morocco, I got to experience the communication and marketing sector throughout different industries; music, retail, finance, tech agriculture and now education. I am excited to be back at CAS and to give back to a community that gave me the necessary tools to navigate my way through my professional development. 

I am super excited to collaborate with everyone and please do not hesitate to get in touch with me!

Hello! My name is Zaineb Sajid, CAS Alumnus Class of 1997. I studied psychology at Virginia Tech and came back to work as the guidance counselor at CAS from 2000 to 2006. I went on to work in a fashion magazine for two years before settling into a career in interior design for the last fifteen years. I have done residential and commercial projects in Morocco and outside of Morocco, among some of them are the café les Freres Gourmets and the George Washington Academy Library. Last year I developed my own interior design furniture line called Le Trait Noir. 

I am thrilled to be back at CAS as the admissions Officer. It feels like coming back home. 

Hello, my name is Hamadi Ghafir, and I'm from Béni-Mellal, a city located in the middle Atlas region of Morocco. I work as an Arabic teacher and earned my bachelor's degree in English in 2014. In the same year, I worked as an interpreter from English to Arabic for the American Peace Corps. The latter experience opened my eyes on a new scope of teaching – teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language. Given the passion I’ve got for Arabic,  I started learning about its didactics and approaches. Since then, I have been teaching both English and Arabic to learners from various backgrounds.

Hello, my name is Abdelghani Wardi, and I'm from Casablanca. I am a Lower School Arabic teacher. I used to teacher Arabic in some Turkish schools in Morocco. I've authored a few children’s storybooks‭ ‬and Arabic teaching materials‭. I have written over 20‭ ‬collections (‬over 100‭ ‬stories‭), in which I draw my own illustrations‭ ‬of children’s storybooks published by different publishing companies both in Morocco and abroad‭. In addition, I have developed and co-developed seven ministerial textbooks published by various publishing companies.‬

My greatest achievement remains that one of my books has reached the expanded list of Arab children’s books in Dubai 2019.