Mrs. Sawsan

 As’salam Aleikum ICCI Community, 

It is my honor to continue serving as the full-time principal of ICCI Academy for this school year! This will be my fourth year as the principal of the ICCI Academy, after previously serving as Dean and Arabic teacher along with Associate Principal for two years. My career has been dedicated to education and leadership, including teaching and serving as a principal for two years at ICCI Sunday School, coordinating Arabic curriculum with Dar Alhuda, and teaching with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA. These experiences have shaped my belief that I will always be a teacher at heart.

My educational background includes a Bachelor’s in Arabic and Islamic Studies with a focus on teaching methods, and a Master’s in Education in Teacher Leadership. I am proud to admit we are all life long students, and I strive to instill this same commitment in learning to our students as well.

As a mother of two ICCI Academy graduates, I hold the same expectations for all of our students as I do for my own children. I want every child to excel, grow in character, and pursue their dreams with confidence and faith.

It is my privilege to lead the ICCI Academy and the many talented teachers and students here! My goal is to continue to provide a supportive climate and Islamic culture at the ICCI Academy that is conducive to teaching and learning. By doing so, each student and teacher can experience growth….I look forward to interacting with our community this year! 

Sawsan Alsawi
Principal of the ICCI Academy  

My name is Mrs. Dalal Masoud, and I am honored to begin another wonderful school year at ICCI Academy. I attended San Francisco City College in San Francisco, California, as well as St. Augustine University in Chicago. I have more than 30 years of experience in early childhood education. Throughout my career, I spent more than 14 years working with Easterseals Head Start, including five years as a site director. This experience allowed me to support young children, families, teachers, and staff while developing strong leadership skills. I have been part of the ICCI Academy family for five years, serving as the lead Pre K teacher, and I am also a member of the ICCI Board of Education.  With many years of experience, I understand the importance of building a strong foundation during the early years of childhood. My goal is to help every student develop independence, confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning while strengthening their Islamic character and values I look forward to working together to make this upcoming school year successful, meaningful, and enjoyable for every child, InshaAllahs salamu alaykum everyone!

My name’s Dalal Masoud I am currently the Pre-K teacher at ICCI Academy. I have worked in early childhood as a teacher in a HeadStart program for ten years and then promoted to the role of Side Director for six years. I was also a member of the Board of Education at ICCI Academy for three years and returned as a member recently. I look forward to meeting all the parents and the students and In Sha Allah, this year will be a great start for all! I am looking forward to this great year!

My name is Ms. Hanaa Dayeh, and I will be the Kindergarten teacher at ICCI Academy. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Language Arts with an ESL endorsement, and I have three years of teaching experience, along with three years of experience working with children.

Throughout my teaching experience, I have developed a strong passion for helping young learners build their language, communication, and academic skills. I strive to create a classroom environment that is welcoming, supportive, and engaging, where every child feels valued, supported, and encouraged to learn.

I am also currently pursuing my Master’s degree in Education at Northeastern University, which allows me to continue developing my knowledge and skills as an educator. I am excited to bring my experience, dedication, and passion for teaching to ICCI Academy and to support my students as they grow, learn, and develop throughout the school year.

I look forward to building strong relationships with my students and their families and creating a positive and meaningful learning experience for every child.

Thank you! 

Ms. Hanaa Dayeh

 Assalamu Alaikom! My name is Raneen Obeidallah and I will be the first grade teacher for the 2026-2027 school year inshAllah! Alhamdullillah this is my 4th year working with ICCI Academy. I have received my Bachelor's Degree from The University of Illinois at Chicago in Behavioral Health and a minor in Mathematics. I am currently working on my Master's Degree in Elementary Teaching from American College of Education. I have experience working as a Registered Behavioral Technician. I look forward to not only teaching students how to read, math, science, and social studies, but also skills to help them social emotionally as well.  

  Assalamu Alaikum Second Grade Families,

My name is Mrs. Reyam, and I am so excited to welcome you and your child to our second grade classroom! I am honored to be joining the ICCI community and look forward to getting to know each of my students and their families throughout the school year.

A little about me: I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 2024, and in May 2026, I graduated with my Master’s degree in Instructional Design and Educational Technology. My background in education has given me a strong passion for creating meaningful, engaging, and student centered learning experiences. I truly believe that children learn best when they are given opportunities to explore, ask questions, collaborate, and be actively involved in their learning.

In our second grade classroom, students will be learning through a variety of engaging experiences. We will incorporate hands-on and kinesthetic learning whenever possible, allowing students to move, explore, create, and interact with the concepts they are learning. We will also incorporate project based learning, giving students opportunities to work together, think critically, solve problems, and apply their learning to meaningful and real world experiences.

My goal is to create a classroom environment that is calm, welcoming, supportive, and engaging, where every child feels comfortable being themselves and confident in their ability to learn and grow. Second grade is such an exciting year of development, and I want our students to leave our classroom each day feeling proud of what they accomplished and excited about what they will discover next.

I also believe that a child’s success is strongest when teachers and families work together. Your support and partnership throughout the school year will mean so much, and I am excited to communicate, collaborate, and work alongside you to support your child. Together, I hope we can make this school year successful, enjoyable, and truly impactful for our second graders.

Thank you for welcoming me into your child’s educational journey. I am so excited for all the learning, growth, friendships, and memories we will create together this year!

Warmly,
Mrs. Reyam
Second Grade Teacher (ICCI)

 My name is Rouha Masoud and I will be this year's Third Grade Teacher inshallah. I graduated from UIC in 2024 with a Bachelors in Biological Sciences, a minor in Disability in Human Development, and a minor in Arabic. I am currently completing my masters degree in Special Education, and I received my teacher’s license during the summer.  I am also a Registered Behavioral Therapist. This is my second year working as a teacher at ICCI Academy. This year I will teach all subjects including Science, Math, Reading, Social Studies, and ELA for our amazing 3rd-grade students. I plan to make this year filled with activities to broaden your children's academic interests. I look forward to being a part of your child’s adventure this year. Please know that I am here for your child and my door is always open. I encourage you to reach out to me at any time. May Allah SWT make this a successful year inshAllah!

 My name is Tahani Arman,

however Tina is my nickname. I am a licensed teacher with a degree in

elementary education and a math & science concepts minor. I also have various endorsements including general science,

mathematics, and language arts. I look forward to using these skills in the classroom and watching my students grow!

Welcome! My name is Mr. Hisham Arafat, and I am excited to be part of your child’s

educational journey this year. I am an elementary educator with more than 10 years of

experience teaching students in the United States and Egypt, including experience in

elementary, middle, and high school settings.

I currently teach 4th and 5th Grade ELA and Social Studies, where I strive to create

engaging, student-centered learning experiences that help students become curious, confident,

and thoughtful learners. I especially enjoy teaching Social Studies because it gives students

opportunities to explore history, geography, government, culture, and real-world connections.

My teaching philosophy centers on building strong relationships with students and families while

creating a classroom environment where students feel supported, challenged, and encouraged

to grow. I enjoy using discussions, projects, technology, and real-world connections to help

students develop critical-thinking, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

Education and athletics have always been an important part of my professional journey. I have

coached soccer and basketball, served as an Athletic Director, and worked extensively with

student-athletes to develop teamwork, leadership, responsibility, discipline, and sportsmanship. I

am also a Certified Archery Instructor, where I have helped students develop focus,

confidence, responsibility, and technical skills while emphasizing safety.

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Utah and

hold additional training in ESL instruction, youth development, student engagement, leadership,

and social-emotional learning. I am also fluent in English and Arabic, which has allowed me to

connect with students and families from diverse backgrounds.

I am looking forward to getting to know my students and their families, learning about their

interests and strengths, and making this school year a memorable one. Together, we will learn,

grow, work as a team, and have plenty of fun along the way!

Welcome to our classroom—I can't wait to see what we accomplish together!

It is a pleasure to introduce myself. I am an experienced educator with more than 18 years in the field of

education, beginning my teaching career in 2007. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of teaching

students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. My professional journey has taken me

internationally to China and the United Arab Emirates, as well as to Chicago Public Schools, where I served as

a Cadre Biology teacher, Literacy Tutor as well as other supportive roles guiding gifted students with creative

and diverse learning abilities.

Currently, I teach Science and English to students in grades 6–8. I am passionate about creating a positive,

inclusive, and student-centered classroom where students feel respected, supported, and encouraged to ask

questions, express their ideas, think critically, and develop confidence in their abilities. I believe every student

brings unique strengths, experiences, and learning needs to the classroom. Through differentiated instruction,

positive reinforcement, and meaningful engagement, I strive to support both academic achievement and

personal growth.

I value building strong, respectful relationships with students, families, and colleagues and believe that

collaboration between home and school plays an important role in student success.

My academic background reflects my commitment to lifelong learning. I hold a graduate degree in Acupuncture

and Chinese Medicine, two bachelor's degrees in Television Broadcasting/English Studies and Health Science,

and I am currently completing a second graduate degree in Elementary Education. My diverse educational

experiences have provided me with a broad perspective on learning, wellness, communication, and human

development.

Teaching and learning are two of my greatest passions. I believe educators are lifelong learners who should

continually grow, reflect, and discover new ways to inspire and support their students. Outside of teaching, I

enjoy traveling, arts and crafts, reading, and cooking, which allow me to explore different cultures and express

my creativity and build positive, life-long relationships.

I look forward to getting to know my students, their families, and my fellow educators. I am excited to be part of

a school community where we can work together to create a welcoming and engaging environment in which

every student feels valued, supported, and encouraged to reach their full potential.

Jazak-Allahu Khairan,

Nura Lynn Diop

M y name is Ms. Esra and I will be teaching math for grades 6th-8th. I graduated from UIC with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a minor in psychology. This will be my fourth year working with ICCI. I look forward to making your school experience an enjoyable one all year long with exciting activities that make learning fun!  with ICCI. I look forward to making your school experience an enjoyable one all year long

with exciting activities that make learning fun!

My name is Layan Abu Alrob. I recently graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) with a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences, and I will be beginning my Master’s degree in Elementary Education. This school year, I am excited to teach Social Studies for grades 6–8. I look forward to building meaningful relationships with my students, creating lasting memories, and supporting their growth academically, personally, and spiritually. I pray that this year is filled with learning, success, and countless blessings for us all.

tbd