Administration
Aisha Blagaia
Principal
Mrs. Natalia Aisha Blagaia has been with Nur Islamic School of Louisville since 2005. From 2010, she has served as the Director for the Early Childhood Center and a Principal for the school. Having been an elementary teacher (K-3) during her first five years at the school, she has come to know many of our students on a personal level as they grew and developed over the years. This has helped her establish one-on-one relationships with the students, their families, and the staff. She is a life-long learner who believes that education is a journey rather than a destination. Mrs. Blagaia holds a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from Southeastern Oklahoma University and a Bachelors in Gen. Studies focused on Organizational Leadership, Management, and Education from Indiana University Southeast. She is a Google Level 2 Certified Educator. Her vision for our students is to help them cultivate a sound heart and a passion for lifelong learning. She believes that our children are born with a love for learning. The seed for knowledge is already within them, and we have been bestowed with the most blessed jobs of nurturing that seed. We are the farmers of our children's hearts and minds. Mrs. Blagaia is passionate about empowering our students, and she always has a positive and optimistic attitude towards the challenges that our school and community face. Mrs. Blagaia was the recipient of the Teacher of the Year award for the 2008-2009 school year. In August of 2010, she established the state-licensed Early Childhood Center which has substantially grown over the years. It is now rated above the state-licensed quality expectations. Her hobbies include reading, hiking, camping, kayaking, spending time with her family, and taking care of plants, which is evident to anyone who stops by her office.
Ammar Shaikh
Assistant Principal
Mr. Ammar Shaikh is originally from India, but moved to US for higher education in 2003. He acquired his Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from Bombay, and his Master's degree in Information Systems from University of Maryland. He studied higher Islamic education for seven years from eAlim, Darul Uloom Canada and New York, and subsequently taught Islamic courses online. His teaching career started at the Islamic School of Baltimore. Since then he has taught Islamic Studies, Quran and technology in various Islamic schools. Mr. Shaikh takes great pride in making Islam more exciting and interesting to his students by pioneering the state-wide Islamic Quick Recall, introducing the national Islamic Studies Standardized Tests, and creating Islamic dioramas, plays, etc. He is grateful to be a part of the Louisville Masaajid Volleyball Tournaments, Louisville Muslim Bike Club and the International Dawah and Tableegh group. He is a strong advocate for students' well-being and success in both the worlds.
Omar Mahran
Director of Finances and Development
Mr. Omar Mahran joined Nur Islamic School of Louisville in 2014, teaching Mathematics and Science for 6 years until joining the administration in 2020. Mr. Mahran has received his Bachelor’s of Science in Systems and Biomedical Engineering from Cairo University, Egypt in 2005 and his Master’s of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from University of Louisville in 2012. Mr. Mahran was the recipient of the Teacher of the Year award in the 2017-2018 school year. Having an engineering background and coming from a different culture has shaped his passion and ambitions. He mentored and prepared our students for the Balsa Bridge Competition at the University of Louisville Engineering Expo for several years, leading them to win first, second, and third place in various categories. He also worked with students on the School-Wide Science Fair, the Louisville Regional Science and Engineering Fair, school-wide Khan Academy Competitions, and school-wide Ping Pong Competitions. Mr. Mahran loves to see the students learning life skills as well growing academically. He believes humans are natural learners, and are successful creatures as long as they are acquiring the material that matches their skills. He frequently finds various projects throughout the school to involve students in, giving them hands-on learning opportunities in mechanics and engineering. Mr. Mahran enjoys his time with family. He is a father to two girls and a boy. He spends his spare time fishing, collecting stamps, and fixing everything and anything his hands can reach. Mr. Mahran loves fishing and growing plants, with a goal to one day build his own farm.
Fouzia Shaikh
Director of the Early Childhood Center
Mrs. Fouzia Shaikh has been with Nur Islamic School of Louisville since 2009. She has had the honor of memorizing the entire Quran and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Islamic Studies from Buffalo, New York. Having taught various subjects and grades from pre-k to eighth grade, she has experience in organizing many school and community events. While working at the school, she started the Parent Teacher Association and led many school-wide events. In November 2017, she was serving as an Assistant Director and within a year was promoted to be a Director of the Early Childhood Center. When not working, she loves spending time with her family.
Madina Alifova
Assistant Director of the Early Childhood Center
Mrs. Madina Alifova joined NISL in 2010 as a Pre-K 2 teacher. After she discovered her passion in caring for infants, she transitioned to being the Infant and Toddler teacher. She loves young children and is passionate about creating a nurturing and safe environment to promote their overall development. Speaking many languages including Turkish, Russian, Uzbek and English, Mrs. Alifova holds extensive training in Early Childhood Education. She was the recipient of the Teacher of the Year award for the 2013-2014, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019 school years. Being considered a second mother by all the children, Mrs. Alifova has a special connection and a bond with each child she has in the classroom. Ms. Alifova joined the administration in August 2019 as an Assistant Director of the Early Childhood Center.
Christine Hafsah Salleng
Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Christine Hafsah Salleng, has been part of Nur Islamic School of Louisville since 2010. Mrs. Salleng was recipient of the Teacher of the Year award at Nur Islamic School of Louisville in 2010-2011 and in 2013-2014 school years. After nearly 11 years in the classroom, she joined the administration in 2018. Mrs. Salleng organized and led many school-wide events such as Reading Month and Scholastic Book Fair. She has also served as a coach and an official in various Governor’s Cup competitions throughout the years and continues to serve as an official for Governor’s Cup district and regional competitions. Currently, she is working towards a degree in Child and Family Psychology and Counseling Psychology. Her passion is helping children and families overcome obstacles both academically and behaviorally that hinder progress in their educational careers. She is a Google Level 1 Certified Educator. She is a Louisville native and loves her city. In her leisure time Mrs. Salleng loves to spend time with family, enjoying nature, working puzzles and watching sports.
Principal
Mrs. Natalia Aisha Blagaia has been with Nur Islamic School of Louisville since 2005. From 2010, she has served as the Director for the Early Childhood Center and a Principal for the school. Having been an elementary teacher (K-3) during her first five years at the school, she has come to know many of our students on a personal level as they grew and developed over the years. This has helped her establish one-on-one relationships with the students, their families, and the staff. She is a life-long learner who believes that education is a journey rather than a destination. Mrs. Blagaia holds a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from Southeastern Oklahoma University and a Bachelors in Gen. Studies focused on Organizational Leadership, Management, and Education from Indiana University Southeast. She is a Google Level 2 Certified Educator. Her vision for our students is to help them cultivate a sound heart and a passion for lifelong learning. She believes that our children are born with a love for learning. The seed for knowledge is already within them, and we have been bestowed with the most blessed jobs of nurturing that seed. We are the farmers of our children's hearts and minds. Mrs. Blagaia is passionate about empowering our students, and she always has a positive and optimistic attitude towards the challenges that our school and community face. Mrs. Blagaia was the recipient of the Teacher of the Year award for the 2008-2009 school year. In August of 2010, she established the state-licensed Early Childhood Center which has substantially grown over the years. It is now rated above the state-licensed quality expectations. Her hobbies include reading, hiking, camping, kayaking, spending time with her family, and taking care of plants, which is evident to anyone who stops by her office.
Ammar Shaikh
Assistant Principal
Mr. Ammar Shaikh is originally from India, but moved to US for higher education in 2003. He acquired his Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from Bombay, and his Master's degree in Information Systems from University of Maryland. He studied higher Islamic education for seven years from eAlim, Darul Uloom Canada and New York, and subsequently taught Islamic courses online. His teaching career started at the Islamic School of Baltimore. Since then he has taught Islamic Studies, Quran and technology in various Islamic schools. Mr. Shaikh takes great pride in making Islam more exciting and interesting to his students by pioneering the state-wide Islamic Quick Recall, introducing the national Islamic Studies Standardized Tests, and creating Islamic dioramas, plays, etc. He is grateful to be a part of the Louisville Masaajid Volleyball Tournaments, Louisville Muslim Bike Club and the International Dawah and Tableegh group. He is a strong advocate for students' well-being and success in both the worlds.
Omar Mahran
Director of Finances and Development
Mr. Omar Mahran joined Nur Islamic School of Louisville in 2014, teaching Mathematics and Science for 6 years until joining the administration in 2020. Mr. Mahran has received his Bachelor’s of Science in Systems and Biomedical Engineering from Cairo University, Egypt in 2005 and his Master’s of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from University of Louisville in 2012. Mr. Mahran was the recipient of the Teacher of the Year award in the 2017-2018 school year. Having an engineering background and coming from a different culture has shaped his passion and ambitions. He mentored and prepared our students for the Balsa Bridge Competition at the University of Louisville Engineering Expo for several years, leading them to win first, second, and third place in various categories. He also worked with students on the School-Wide Science Fair, the Louisville Regional Science and Engineering Fair, school-wide Khan Academy Competitions, and school-wide Ping Pong Competitions. Mr. Mahran loves to see the students learning life skills as well growing academically. He believes humans are natural learners, and are successful creatures as long as they are acquiring the material that matches their skills. He frequently finds various projects throughout the school to involve students in, giving them hands-on learning opportunities in mechanics and engineering. Mr. Mahran enjoys his time with family. He is a father to two girls and a boy. He spends his spare time fishing, collecting stamps, and fixing everything and anything his hands can reach. Mr. Mahran loves fishing and growing plants, with a goal to one day build his own farm.
Fouzia Shaikh
Director of the Early Childhood Center
Mrs. Fouzia Shaikh has been with Nur Islamic School of Louisville since 2009. She has had the honor of memorizing the entire Quran and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Islamic Studies from Buffalo, New York. Having taught various subjects and grades from pre-k to eighth grade, she has experience in organizing many school and community events. While working at the school, she started the Parent Teacher Association and led many school-wide events. In November 2017, she was serving as an Assistant Director and within a year was promoted to be a Director of the Early Childhood Center. When not working, she loves spending time with her family.
Madina Alifova
Assistant Director of the Early Childhood Center
Mrs. Madina Alifova joined NISL in 2010 as a Pre-K 2 teacher. After she discovered her passion in caring for infants, she transitioned to being the Infant and Toddler teacher. She loves young children and is passionate about creating a nurturing and safe environment to promote their overall development. Speaking many languages including Turkish, Russian, Uzbek and English, Mrs. Alifova holds extensive training in Early Childhood Education. She was the recipient of the Teacher of the Year award for the 2013-2014, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019 school years. Being considered a second mother by all the children, Mrs. Alifova has a special connection and a bond with each child she has in the classroom. Ms. Alifova joined the administration in August 2019 as an Assistant Director of the Early Childhood Center.
Christine Hafsah Salleng
Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Christine Hafsah Salleng, has been part of Nur Islamic School of Louisville since 2010. Mrs. Salleng was recipient of the Teacher of the Year award at Nur Islamic School of Louisville in 2010-2011 and in 2013-2014 school years. After nearly 11 years in the classroom, she joined the administration in 2018. Mrs. Salleng organized and led many school-wide events such as Reading Month and Scholastic Book Fair. She has also served as a coach and an official in various Governor’s Cup competitions throughout the years and continues to serve as an official for Governor’s Cup district and regional competitions. Currently, she is working towards a degree in Child and Family Psychology and Counseling Psychology. Her passion is helping children and families overcome obstacles both academically and behaviorally that hinder progress in their educational careers. She is a Google Level 1 Certified Educator. She is a Louisville native and loves her city. In her leisure time Mrs. Salleng loves to spend time with family, enjoying nature, working puzzles and watching sports.