With a Master of Science in Microbiology from India, Nahid Mokhashi brings her impressive qualifications, as well as her extensive volunteer experience in the American Muslim community. She helped organize the International Food Festival for the Islamic Society of Corpus Christi in Texas, generating money for the construction of a new Masjid. As a parent volunteer in Islamic schools and public schools, she believes the best tools we can give our children is to equip them with education in not only the arts and sciences, but also Islamic culture and Quranic studies.
Areaj Dalia has an Associate degree in Child Development from Bakersfield College, which she utilized as the lead teacher at Al-Noor School in Bakersfield. During her 7-year tenure, Areaj taught preschoolers at the Masjid in Arabic, Islamic studies, and Quranic studies to instill a love for Islam from a young age. Her dream is to create an enriching environment where children learn to balance academic excellence and their Islamic identity.
Sambrina Rustam was born and raised in the US and has been a resident of Bakersfield for the past 12 years. Having studied various courses in Child Development at Bakersfield College, she completed coursework for Preschool Assistant Teacher. Sambrina comes from a large family that was able to expose her to different aspects of Islam. She hopes to bring her successful past teaching experiences to Sunrise and sees this as an opportunity to work with young and impressionable minds, as well as a chance to give back to her community.
Born and raised in Nigeria, Shazia Aamer completed her Bachelor of Science in Pakistan, and then moved to the Middle East with her family, connecting Quranic studies and the sciences as a student and teacher. She is a certified teacher from Al Huda Institute and won the Best Teacher Award since she began teaching there in 2008. Additionally, Shazia has taught painting and sculpting, and won the Toastmasters Best Speaker Award. She is passionate about serving the Muslim community and hopes to make children confident in their Muslim identity in a fun and relaxed environment.
Suhar Ali has a Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies and a minor in English, and has been working with children for 7 years. Born and raised in Bakersfield, CA, but originally from Yemen, Sunrise allows Suhar to teach the religion she grew up loving and applying her educational studies for others to benefit. Her goal is to create a friendly environment where friends will become family, with close ties to the Islamic community. She is determined to teach children their Islamic identity and how to accept and be proud of themselves in a country that champions diversity.
Asmaa Ahmed is a recent college graduate with a Bachelor’s in Mathematics from CSUB. Maintaining a 4.0 GPA, Asmaa qualified for the Dean’s List each semester for 3 consecutive years. Growing up, Asmaa always wished there was a full time Islamic school in the US she could attend, and sees Sunrise as that wish manifested. As a teacher, she hopes to create a fun, enriching environment she wished she had as a student.