Aya Montessori Staff Family
Meet The A Team at Aya Montessori in Columbia, Maryland
“The real preparation for education is the study of one’s self. The training of the teacher who is to help life is something far more than the learning of ideas. It includes the training of character; it is a preparation of the spirit.”
~Dr. Maria Montessori
Elementary Community
-
Mr. Andon
Upper Elementary Montessori Guide-Golden House
AMI Elementary Montessori Diploma (6-12)
M.Ed in Montessori Education
MA in TESOL
BA in History w/Minor in Religious Studies
-
Ms. Ainur
Lower Elementary Montessori Guide-Silver House
AMI Elementary Montessori Diploma (6-12)
PhD in Education
Montessori 3-6 Diploma
M.Sc in Educational Leadership
BA in International Relations
-
Ms. Elyaza
Lower Elementary Montessori Guide-Bronze House
AMI Elementary Montessori Diploma (6-12)
M.Sc in Business Psychology
BA in Counseling and Health Psychology
Glenn Doman Method Certificate
-
Ms. Samar
Upper Elementary Assistant - Golden House
AMI Elementary Montessori Orientation (6-12)
-
Ms. Natasha
Lower Elementary Assistant - Silver House
AMI Elementary Montessori Orientation (6-12)
-
Ms. Noor
Lower Elementary Assistant - Bronze House
A.A. in Business Management
-
Ms. Dana
Elementary Arabic Language Instructor
B.A in Literature
AMI Elementary Second Language Instruction Certificate (6-12)
Oxford’s Certificate in Teaching Young Learners.
-
Ustadha Sahar
Elementary Quran Instructor
B.S in Education & Psychology
Muddakir Quran Hifth Graduate
Montessori Diploma 0-3
-
Ustadha Zainab
Elementary Islamic Studies Instructor
B.A in English Literature
Alimiyya Degree upon
completion of Dars-e-Nizami
(equivalent to dual Master of Arts
in Islamic Studies & Arabic)
Primary Community
-
Ms. Hadil
Primary Montessori Guide - Green House
B.S in Occupational Therapy
AMI Primary Diploma (3-6)
Lead MSDE Preschool Teacher Credentials
-
Ms. Imane
Primary Montessori Guide - Purple House
Master’s in Montessori Education
B.A in French Studies
Dual AMI Diplomas: A-to-I (0-3) and Primary (3-6)
-
Ms. Asma
Primary Montessori Guide - Blue House
B.S in Architecture
AMI Primary Diploma (3-6)
Computer-Aided Design Certificate
-
Ms. Khadeeja Zwayen
Arabic/Quran Assistant Teacher - Green House
Master’s in Educational Leadership -in progress-
B.A in Computer Science
-
Ms. Marwa
Arabic/Quran Assistant Teacher - Purple House
B.A in Home Economics and Nutrition
Ijazah in Quran Memorization
AMI Primary Orientation Certificate (3-6)
Lead MSDE Preschool Teacher Credentials
-
Ms. Khitam
Arabic/Quran Assistant Teacher - Blue House
AMI Primary Orientation Certificate (3-6)
Lead MSDE Preschool Teacher Credentials
Lead MSDE Infants/Toddlers Teacher Credentials
-
Ms. Hend
Substitute Lead Assistant - Green House
(School Paraeducator)
B.S in Veterinary Medicine
Lead MSDE Preschool Teacher Credentials
-
Ms. Karson
Substitute Lead Assistant - Purple House
(School Floater)
B.S in Computer Science
-
Ms. Hend
Lead Assistant - Blue House
B.S in Law
Lead MSDE Preschool Teacher Credentials
Young Children Community
-
Ms. Farah
YCC Montessori Guide - Pink House
AMS Assistance to Infancy Diploma (0-3)
Bachelors in Arts
Dual MSDE Credentials: Lead Infants/Toddlers & Preschool Teacher
-
Ms. Mounira
YCC Montessori Guide - Yellow House
AMI Assistance to Infancy Diploma (0-3)
A.A. in Anesthesia and Intensive Care
Lead MSDE Preschool Credentials
-
Ms. Samina
Lead Assistant - Pink House
Master's in Veterinary Medicine
AMI 0-3 Orientation Certificate
Dual MSDE Credentials: Lead Infants/Toddlers & Preschool Teacher
-
Ms. Nafesa
Lead Assistant - Pink House
A.A. from the Commercial Tech. Institute
Lead MSDE Preschool Teacher Credentials
Support Staff
-
Ms. Saira
Support Staff: Floater
Lead MSDE Preschool Teacher Credentials
-
Ms. Ghofran
Purple House Assistant (On Maternity Leave)
B.S in Banking
AMI Primary Orientation (3-6)
-
Mr. Elmer
Landscaping & Property Maintenance
-
Marya Narmouq
Aftercare Support
A.A. in Elementary and Special Education (in-progress)
Admin Team
-
Ms. Nour Goda
Administrator
B.A. in English
Master of Science in Education
AMS Montessori Primary Diploma (3-6)
AMS Montessori Admin Certificate
-
Ms. Manal Vohra
School Counselor
Master’s in Applied Psychology
B.S. in Counseling Psychology
Registered Behavioral Therapist
BCBA License -in progress-
-
Mr. Rayyan Ouici
(AKA Coach Rayyan)
Events Coordinator
B.S. in Finance -in progress-
-
Ms. Iman Mekkawi
Operations Manager
B.S in Business Administration
MSDE Director Credentials
AMI Montessori Admin Certificate
Lead MSDE Preschool Teacher Credentials
-
Ms. Salam Aref
Head of School/Co-founder
B.S in Architecture
M.Ed in Montessori Education
AMI Montessori Primary Diploma (3-6)
AMI Montessori Adolescence Diploma (12-18)
Consultants
Aya Montessori partners with a dedicated team of experienced third-party consultants who serve our community in specialized capacities. Our Montessori consultants visit our environments regularly, meet with staff, and provide ongoing training on a monthly basis. Our Speech Therapist works with small groups of students on a weekly basis, and our Occupational Therapist observes and trains staff annually based on community need.
Please note that the consultants listed below are third-party providers whom Aya Montessori has partnered with. They are not Aya Montessori employees and each leads their own independent practice or organization.
-
Zahra Majeed
Elementary Montessori Consultant
Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University
AMI Montessori Elementary Diploma (6-12)
Founder of Twinleaf Education Consultation
Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA)
-
Jennifer Shield
YCC/Primary Montessori Consultant
Master’s in Education from Cleveland State University
AMI Montessori Primary (3-6) & A-I (0-3) Diploma
Director of AMI Training at Washington Montessori Institute
AMI Primary Trainer and Examiner