Elementary Department
Sawsan Radwan, Preschool 3 year olds. email: sradwan@universalschool.org
Mrs. Radwan joined Universal School in 1995. She obtained bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood with a special education approval from Kendall College. Mrs. Radwan had six years of teaching experience at the preschool level prior to join Universal School. Mrs. Radwan is certified by the State of Illinois to teach up to 3rd grade.
Lila Alharsha, Preschool 4 year olds email: lalharsha@universalschool.org
Mrs. Alharsha joined Universal School in 1998. Mrs. Alharsha holds a Masters Degree in Educational Administration/Leadership and a Type 75 Administrative Certificate. She also graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education including Type 04 Certification. In addition, Mrs. Alharsha holds a Special Education Approval, National Administrators Credential, and Child Development Associate. She has also been recognized for several awards, including the Early Childhood Conceptual Framework Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Early Childhood Development Field, Teacher of the Year Award, and an Early Childhood Academic Achievement Award. Mrs. Alharsha is currently working towards credentials that will certify her as an Educational Consultant and Teacher/Parent Trainer.
Buthiana Shabaneh, Preschool 4 year olds email: bshabaneh@universalschool.org
Mrs. Shabaneh joined Universal School in 1996. She graduated with honors from Northeastern Illinois University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Mrs. Shabaneh is certified to teach up to 3rd grade by the state of Illinois. She has taught Pre K-4, Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade throughout her teaching career. She also taught in Alabama for one year and two years at ICCI Academy in Illinois.
Rana Mustafa, Kindergarten email: rmustafa@universalschool.org
Mrs. Mustafa joined Universal School in 2008. She holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Math from Saint Xavier University, and she is certified by the state of Illinois. Mrs. Mustafa worked as a long term substitute teacher at Universal prior to joining us as a full time teacher.
Dunia Ibrahim, Kindergarten email: dibrahim@universalschool.org
Mrs. Ibrahim joined Universal School in 2010. She obtained her B.S. in elementary education from DePaul University in May 2008, and worked as a 3rd grade teacher at Durkin Park Elementary in Chicago. Mrs. Ibrahim is certified in elementary education from the State of Illinois.
Aliah Jody , 1st grade email: ajody@universalschool.org
Ms. Jody joined Universal School in 2003 and worked as a first grade teacher until 2009. She came back in 2011, after pursuing a higher education degree. Ms. Jody received her Bachelors in Arts Degree in Elementary Education with concentration in English from Governors State University and is certified by the state of Illinois.
Amanda Debaz, 1st grade email: adebaz@universalschool.org
Mrs. Debaz joined Universal School in 2008. She graduated form Northeastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education, with endorsements in Middle School History, Social Studies, and General Science. Mrs. Debaz is certified by the State of Illinois.
Hana’a Jody, 2nd grade email: hjody@universalschool.org
Ms. Jody joined Universal School in 1997 as a kindergarten teacher and after a one year leave she returned as a 2nd grade teacher in 2009. Ms. Jody has a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Chicago State University and is a certified teacher in the state of Illinois.
Wafa Ibrahim, 2nd grade email: wibrahim@universalschool.org
Mrs. Ibrahim joined Universal School in 2008. She graduated from Saint Xavier University with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She did her student teaching in 5th grade at Universal School. Mrs. Ibrahim is certified by the State of Illinois.
Aminah Murrar, 3rd grade email: amurrar@universalschool.org
Mrs. Murrar joined Universal School in 2001. She graduated from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She received a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and in June 2011 a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership. Mrs. Murrar is certified by the state of Illinois. She is our 3rd grade teacher and Elementary Administrator/ Teacher Mentor.
Marcus Yunus Brevik, 3rd grade email: mbrevik@universalschool.org
Mr. Brevik joined Universal School in 2008. He earned his Bachelors degree from Antioch College in Ohio. He has a Masters of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education from Chicago State University and is certified to teach K-9 by the State of Illinois. Prior to Universal School, Mr. Brevik worked as a Head Start teacher in Pennsylvania and served as a coordinator for the Families and Schools Together (FAST) program in Ohio before that.
Hayfae Awadallah, 4th grade email: hawadallah@universalschool.org
Mrs. Awadallah joined Universal School in 1999. For the first five years, she aided for grades Pre-School, Kindergarten, First, Second, Fourth, and Seventh . Mrs. Awadallah also taught gym and computer classes to elementary classes since 2003 at Universal School. She is a graduate of Trinity Christian College with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, minor in Psychology. She is certified to teach by the State of Illinois to teach K-9 with endorsements in Language Arts, Science, and Social Science.
Maribel Quiles-Moukaddem, 4th grade email: mmoukaddem@universalschool.org
Mrs. Moukaddem joined Universal School in 2001. She has a Master of Education degree in curriculum and instruction with a minor in Psychology from National Louis University at Wheaton, Illinois and her bachelors of Science in special education from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. She is certified by the state of Illinois to teach English as a second language. She has six year of teaching experience in the public school system prior to joining Universal School.
Rafah Abuhayyeh, 5th grade email: yabuhayyeh@universalschool.org
Mrs. Abuhayyeh joined Universal School in 2006. She is a graduate of Northeastern Illinois University with Middle School Endorsements. Mrs. Abuhayyeh taught Middle school at Universal and presently is teaching fifth grade. She is certified by the State of Illinois. Currently, she is pursuing her Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction at Concordia University.
Ranya Hasan, 5th grade email: rhasan@universalschool.org
Mrs. Hasan joined Universal School in 2005. She graduated from St. Xavier University with honors. She is certified by the state of Illinois to teach K-9. Prior to working at Universal she taught at Islamic Foundation School in Villa Park. Currently, she is pursuing her Master's Degree in Educational leadership at Concordia University.
Ghazala Manzoor, 6th grade email: gmanzoor@universalschool.org
Mrs. Manzoor joined Universal School in 2008. She has a Master of Education in Elementary Education from DePaul University and is certified by the State of Illinois. She worked for many years at College Preparatory School of America prior to joining Universal School. Mrs. Manzoor is currently an adjunct professor at DePaul University.
Azza Rahman, 6th grade email: arahman@universalschool.org
Ms. Rahman joined Universal School in 2007. She earned her B.S. degree in Elementary Education from Elmhurst College with a concentration in Math. Her middle school endorsements are in Science and Social Studies. She also holds a Masters in Reading and Literacy from Benedictine University and is a Reading Specialist. Ms. Rahman has over eight years of teaching experience. She worked at Averroes Academy and Islamic Foundation School before coming to Universal School.
Amber Hashim, 7th grade email: ahashim@universalschool.org
Mrs. Hashim rejoined Universal School in 2008. Mrs. Hashim worked at Universal in 2003 for two years before taking a leave of absence to raise her children. Mrs. Hashim earned her BA in Teaching of Historyfrom the University of Illinois at Chicago, and her Masters degree in ESL from Western Governors University.
Nasreen Hamdan, 7th grade email: nhamdan@universalschool.org
Mrs. Hamdan rejoined Universal School in 2007. Mrs. Hamdan worked at Universal School from 1997 to 1999 as a first grade teacher before dedicating herself to her family. She earned her bachelor degree in History from the University of Illinois in Chicago and she is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Education. She has always been involved with the school as a parent and as a substitute teacher.