Faculty & Staff
Bothaina Ali
Arabic and Quran
Mrs. Bothaina Ali has been at Nur Islamic School of Louisville since 2005, teaching Quran and Arabic to all grade levels. In addition to teaching Quran and Arabic to all grade levels at NISL, she teaches on the weekends at the Guiding Light Weekend School. She completed her teaching degree in Jerusalem, Palestine and earned certification to teach Arabic. In addition to various annual trainings that she participates in, Mrs. Ali has attended the STARTALK Arabic Language Training Program in Washington State University and attends professional development sessions for Arabic and Quran teachers at ISNA Education Forum. Mrs. Ali was the recipient of the Teacher of the Year award for the 2007-2008, 2011-2012, and 2014-2015 school years. She strives to enable our students to read Quran in Arabic with Tajweed and deepen their understanding Quran, to acquire a set of moral values on which to base his/her own behavior, to develop tolerance and respect for others, to behave as a responsible and well balanced people in our society, and to also develop awareness of the spiritual aspects of prayer and worship. Mrs. Ali served as the school coordinator for Islamic events with other Islamic Schools such as the Arabic Spelling Bee, Islamic Studies Quick Recall, and Quran Recitation Competition. She also served as a judge at the Quran Recitation Competition in May 2012. Mrs. Ali's first passion is her family, her two children who are now adults, and her grandchildren. Her second passion is teaching here at Nur Islamic School of Louisville.
Wisal Alabdalla
Arabic, Quran, and Islamic Studies
Ms.Wisal Alabdalla joined Nur Islamic School of Louisville in 2015. Ms. Alabdalla is originally from Palestine and studied English at Islamic Society Collage in Jordan, She completed an advanced course of Tajweed and has been teaching Tajweed lessons to students since 1999. Ms. Alabdalla worked has taught Quran and Islamic Studies from PreK to 9th grade for four years. During this time, she organized competitions on Qur'an,, Hadeeth and Names of Allah. She often serves as the Quran and Arabic Spelling Bee judge. Outside the school, she loves to organize activities such as summer camps, Itikaf for girls, and celebrations to welcome new Muslimahs into the community. Ms. Alabdalla believes that teaching students Islamic Studies should be practical and spiritual, and the content should be taught through interactive and hands-on activities to draw our children closer to Allah, to make them love and be proud of being a Muslim, and practice to be a role model and an effective leader. Ms. Alabdalla enjoys spending time with her family, as well as listening to spiritual lectures and nasheeds.
Safa Obaid
Arabic, Quran, and Islamic Studies
Kari Hedegard
Middle School Language Arts
Amel Elloumi
Middle School Social Studies and Fine Arts
Dr. Ali Alsaadi
Middle School Math and Science
Wardah Khizar
Fourth/Fifth Grade
Amani Aljalab
Second/Third Grade
April Bracewell
Second/Third Grade
Mrs. April Bracewell joined Nur Islamic School of Louisville in 2016. She began her college education at the University of Louisville and completed her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education at Indiana University Southeast in 2006. She has taught in many different settings and positions, from public schools to private, and even home-school. When she was 21 years old she started working as a teacher’s assistant at Pine View Elementary in New Albany, and gradually worked her way up by subbing, tutoring, and eventually teaching. Thus far in her career, she has taught every elementary grade level, whether it was as a home-room teacher or a special areas teacher. Prior to joining NISL, she has worked with children for 13 years. Mrs. Bracewell was the recipient of the Teacher of the Year award for the 2018-2019 school year. She is a mother to two children. Her son is a students at a local university and her daughter is in elementary school. She currently resides in Shively, which is where she has lived all of her life, with the exception of 6 years, when she lived in New Albany, Indiana. April has always wanted to teach. It is her passion and belief that it is her calling in life, other than to be a mother. She is also a talented artist who enjoys creating artwork as a hobby as well as teaching fine arts.
Mindy Riley
First Grade
Mrs. Mindy Riley joined Nur Islamic School of Louisville in 2015. She has lived in the Louisville area all her life. She received her Bachelors Degree in American Sign Language Interpreting in 2007 from Eastern Kentucky University and her Master's of Arts in Teaching from Bellarmine University in 2013. Mrs. Riley has worked in the Jefferson County Public School system for six years until joining NISL. By being in the classroom setting she realized she needed to follow a life-long dream and become an elementary teacher. Mrs. Riley believes that each child has the ability to accomplish anything he/she puts their mind to. Hard work and encouragement goes hand in hand to achieving success in life. She is a wife and a mother to a baby girl who also attends the Early Childhood Center at NISL.
Nour Aljalab
Kindergarten
Abdullah Aminov
Physical Education
Shaheena Begum
Technology
Early Childhood Center Faculty
Sumaiya Meman
PreK 4 Teacher
Mrs. Sumaiya Meman has a Master's Degree in Elementary Education from Canisius College and a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development and Family Studies in Childhood Education from Maharaja Sayaji Rao University. She moved to Louisville from Buffalo, NY during the summer of 2016 to join NISL. She loves teaching and helping children learn using multiple learning styles. Mrs. Meman loves to provide positive environment for children and integrate fun in the classroom while encouraging students to learn and explore. During her spare time, she loves to spend time outdoors with her husband and son.
Sarah Mahdhi
PreK 3 Teacher
Oumayma Bidou
PreK 2 Teacher
Fatima Ali
Infant and Toddler Teacher
Naima Abdalla
Infant and Toddler Teacher
Jamila Hamid
Head Cook
Mrs. Jamila Hamid has been working at NISL since 2007. Mrs. Hamid has a Bachelor's degree in Islamic Studies as well as in Language Arts. She also enjoys cooking Iftar for the Guiding Light Center during the month of Ramadan. Ms. Hamid's passion is food and she she loves to cook and feed people. She recently achieved her life-long dream of having a catering company that she runs part time when not cooking for our school.
Ibtesam Saleh
Assistant Cook
Arabic and Quran
Mrs. Bothaina Ali has been at Nur Islamic School of Louisville since 2005, teaching Quran and Arabic to all grade levels. In addition to teaching Quran and Arabic to all grade levels at NISL, she teaches on the weekends at the Guiding Light Weekend School. She completed her teaching degree in Jerusalem, Palestine and earned certification to teach Arabic. In addition to various annual trainings that she participates in, Mrs. Ali has attended the STARTALK Arabic Language Training Program in Washington State University and attends professional development sessions for Arabic and Quran teachers at ISNA Education Forum. Mrs. Ali was the recipient of the Teacher of the Year award for the 2007-2008, 2011-2012, and 2014-2015 school years. She strives to enable our students to read Quran in Arabic with Tajweed and deepen their understanding Quran, to acquire a set of moral values on which to base his/her own behavior, to develop tolerance and respect for others, to behave as a responsible and well balanced people in our society, and to also develop awareness of the spiritual aspects of prayer and worship. Mrs. Ali served as the school coordinator for Islamic events with other Islamic Schools such as the Arabic Spelling Bee, Islamic Studies Quick Recall, and Quran Recitation Competition. She also served as a judge at the Quran Recitation Competition in May 2012. Mrs. Ali's first passion is her family, her two children who are now adults, and her grandchildren. Her second passion is teaching here at Nur Islamic School of Louisville.
Wisal Alabdalla
Arabic, Quran, and Islamic Studies
Ms.Wisal Alabdalla joined Nur Islamic School of Louisville in 2015. Ms. Alabdalla is originally from Palestine and studied English at Islamic Society Collage in Jordan, She completed an advanced course of Tajweed and has been teaching Tajweed lessons to students since 1999. Ms. Alabdalla worked has taught Quran and Islamic Studies from PreK to 9th grade for four years. During this time, she organized competitions on Qur'an,, Hadeeth and Names of Allah. She often serves as the Quran and Arabic Spelling Bee judge. Outside the school, she loves to organize activities such as summer camps, Itikaf for girls, and celebrations to welcome new Muslimahs into the community. Ms. Alabdalla believes that teaching students Islamic Studies should be practical and spiritual, and the content should be taught through interactive and hands-on activities to draw our children closer to Allah, to make them love and be proud of being a Muslim, and practice to be a role model and an effective leader. Ms. Alabdalla enjoys spending time with her family, as well as listening to spiritual lectures and nasheeds.
Safa Obaid
Arabic, Quran, and Islamic Studies
Kari Hedegard
Middle School Language Arts
Amel Elloumi
Middle School Social Studies and Fine Arts
Dr. Ali Alsaadi
Middle School Math and Science
Wardah Khizar
Fourth/Fifth Grade
Amani Aljalab
Second/Third Grade
April Bracewell
Second/Third Grade
Mrs. April Bracewell joined Nur Islamic School of Louisville in 2016. She began her college education at the University of Louisville and completed her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education at Indiana University Southeast in 2006. She has taught in many different settings and positions, from public schools to private, and even home-school. When she was 21 years old she started working as a teacher’s assistant at Pine View Elementary in New Albany, and gradually worked her way up by subbing, tutoring, and eventually teaching. Thus far in her career, she has taught every elementary grade level, whether it was as a home-room teacher or a special areas teacher. Prior to joining NISL, she has worked with children for 13 years. Mrs. Bracewell was the recipient of the Teacher of the Year award for the 2018-2019 school year. She is a mother to two children. Her son is a students at a local university and her daughter is in elementary school. She currently resides in Shively, which is where she has lived all of her life, with the exception of 6 years, when she lived in New Albany, Indiana. April has always wanted to teach. It is her passion and belief that it is her calling in life, other than to be a mother. She is also a talented artist who enjoys creating artwork as a hobby as well as teaching fine arts.
Mindy Riley
First Grade
Mrs. Mindy Riley joined Nur Islamic School of Louisville in 2015. She has lived in the Louisville area all her life. She received her Bachelors Degree in American Sign Language Interpreting in 2007 from Eastern Kentucky University and her Master's of Arts in Teaching from Bellarmine University in 2013. Mrs. Riley has worked in the Jefferson County Public School system for six years until joining NISL. By being in the classroom setting she realized she needed to follow a life-long dream and become an elementary teacher. Mrs. Riley believes that each child has the ability to accomplish anything he/she puts their mind to. Hard work and encouragement goes hand in hand to achieving success in life. She is a wife and a mother to a baby girl who also attends the Early Childhood Center at NISL.
Nour Aljalab
Kindergarten
Abdullah Aminov
Physical Education
Shaheena Begum
Technology
Early Childhood Center Faculty
Sumaiya Meman
PreK 4 Teacher
Mrs. Sumaiya Meman has a Master's Degree in Elementary Education from Canisius College and a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development and Family Studies in Childhood Education from Maharaja Sayaji Rao University. She moved to Louisville from Buffalo, NY during the summer of 2016 to join NISL. She loves teaching and helping children learn using multiple learning styles. Mrs. Meman loves to provide positive environment for children and integrate fun in the classroom while encouraging students to learn and explore. During her spare time, she loves to spend time outdoors with her husband and son.
Sarah Mahdhi
PreK 3 Teacher
Oumayma Bidou
PreK 2 Teacher
Fatima Ali
Infant and Toddler Teacher
Naima Abdalla
Infant and Toddler Teacher
Jamila Hamid
Head Cook
Mrs. Jamila Hamid has been working at NISL since 2007. Mrs. Hamid has a Bachelor's degree in Islamic Studies as well as in Language Arts. She also enjoys cooking Iftar for the Guiding Light Center during the month of Ramadan. Ms. Hamid's passion is food and she she loves to cook and feed people. She recently achieved her life-long dream of having a catering company that she runs part time when not cooking for our school.
Ibtesam Saleh
Assistant Cook