Arabic Department
Motasem Azhari, Arabic Department Chair email: mazhari@universalschool.org
Mr. Azhari joined Universal in 1993. He has a Bachelors Degree in Arabic Literature from the Syrian University, and a diploma in Methods of teaching Arabic. Mr. Azhari taught for 18 years in Kuwait and Jordan before coming to Universal School. He was also assistant principal of a middle school in Kuwait for six years and a principal for six years at the same school. He was a teacher's inspector for the Arabic Department for five years.
Jemana Martini email: jmartini@universalschool.org
Mrs. Martini joined Universal School in 1997. She holds a degree from Syria. She taught at Ibrahim Hanano in Syria for three years and at Jameelah Bohayned for three years. Mrs. Martini is certified to teach Arabic and Islamic Studies. She has a degree in Education from the Open American University. She taught Arabic and Islamic Studies for two years at Al Noor School in New York, two years at the Sister Clara Muhammad School, and two years at Brooklyn Cultural Center in New York City.
Samira Dissi email: sdissi@universalschool.org
Mrs. Dissi joined Universal school in 1997. She graduated from Al-Quds University in Jerusalem with a Bachelors Degree in Arabic Literature. She started at Universal as a substitute teacher and as a teacher’s aide for early elementary grades. She continues with Universal as a full-time Arabic teacher. Mrs. Dissi is certified by the State of Illinois as a Bilingual teacher.
Turfa Taha email: ttaha@universalschool.org
Mrs. Taha joined Universal School in 1992. Mrs. Taha completed Math courses and one year course in Administration in Kwait. She taught in Kuwait at al-Nahdah School for six years, and subsequently became an assistant principal at the same school and held that position for eleven years. She was a principal of the Quran School in Kuwait for a year, and taught for three years at Al-Qassam weekend school.Mrs. tah aworked also for a year at Al-Huda School and at Universal Saturday school for two years.
Seida Khater email: skhater@universalschool.org
Mrs. Khater joined Universal School in 2000. She is certified to teach Arabic and Islamic Studies. She has a degree in Education from the Open American University. She holds Bachelors in Political Science and Business administration from Jordan University. She has earned an Ijaza in Quran recitation (Shatibyah method). She has worked as an Islamic Studies/Arabic teacher for the Mosque Foundation weekend school and as a substitute for Universal School. She currently teaches Arabic and Quran to grades 6th through 12th grade. Mrs. Khater is certified by the State of Illinois as a Bilingual teacher.
Rania Salama email: rsalama@universalschool.org
Mrs. Salama joined Universal School in 2008. She has a bachelor degree in English Language and Literature from Al-Azhar University in Cairo-Egypt. Mrs. Salama taught Quran, Arabic and Islamic Studies to elementary and high school students in Islamic Foundation School for two years prior to coming to Universal.
Rola Elsheikh email: rsheikh@universalschool.org
Mrs. Elsheikh joined Universal School in 1997. Mrs. Sheikh has more than 16 years of teaching experience; she worked at different schools before coming to Universal. In 2007, Mrs. Sheikh went back to school to earn her certification. Mrs. Sheikh rejoined Universal school in 2010 and she is certified by the state of Illinois to teach K-9 General Science, Social Science and Arabic Language. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Trinity Christian Collage. Currently she is working on her master in leadership and administration type 75.
Abdelrazek Elghawaby email: aelghawaby@universalschool.org
Mr. Elghawaby joined Universal School in 2010. Mr. Elghawaby works in our Arabic Department. He has a Bachelor's degree in Languages and Translation and Islamic Studies from Al-Azhar University in Cairo-Egypt.