Meet Our Team:
Norma Nangju (Principal, High School and Middle School Math Teacher)
Norma Nangju has served as assistant principal at various private schools in Kentucky. With 20 years of education experience, she taught elementary, middle and high school math and science. She was a founding board member of the first Islamic school in Kentucky. She has a Bachelor of Science in environmental engineering from Swarthmore College. She also has a Master of Science in environmental engineering, a Master of Arts in elementary education as well as an Ed.S. in educational administration from University of Louisville. She has been a Team Member for AdvancEd since 2016.
Leen Abozaid - High School Psychology Teacher
Leen Abozaid has a B.A. in Biology and Psychology from the University of Louisville. She has participated in research with the School of Nursing, Department of Psychology, the Biology Department and the James Graham Brown Cancer Center. She has been a teaching assistant for a Genetics course at the University. She has been an English, Mathematics, Reading and Psychology tutor and a Math tutor for Kumon Center for Learning. In her free time, she is also an artist and has performed spoken word poetry for various audiences.
Tabarek Kadhim - High School Chemistry and Math Teacher
Tabarek Kadhim is a student at the University of Louisville majoring in Molecular Biology. Last year, she worked full time in Jordan to teach conversational English to college and school age students at Hammurabi Cultural Center. She participated in summer internships teaching Elementary students through Teach Portland. She is publishing an English conversational book in Jordan. Tabarek is not only an educator, but a global citizen. Currently, she is running an online educational program to help underprivileged college students with their conversational English. She plans to continue her Masters in Education.
Clara Ruplinger- High School History/English Teacher
Clara Ruplinger graduated from Berea college with a B.A. in Political Science in 2018. She has previously taught Social Studies and leadership courses at Nur Islamic School of Louisville. She is a convert of 4 years and is passionate about integrating issues surrounding social justice and islamic values into her curriculum. She has also worked managing the Berea College Greenhouse, did research on discrimination, immigrant rights, and housing for Showing Up for Racial Justice, designed educational content for Save the Children, and has been an active member of the Muslim Student Association.
Idrees Mirani - Middle School Math, Science, and Social Studies Teacher
Idrees Mirani has a B.S. in Informatics and Biology from Indiana University Southeast. He has worked as a Math Lab Assistant at Community Montessori and as a research assistant at a medical practice. He has also volunteered extensively with the River Road Mosque with prayers, programs and the weekend school.
Rabia Shaik - Language Arts Teacher
Rabia Shaik graduated with a Major in Biotechnology and a Minor in Medicine and Society from the University of Houston. She has mentored students by editing essays for graduate school admission, proofreading high school assignments, and providing scholarship and internship information for students. She has worked for the Houston Urban Debate League as a Judge and for the Metropolitan Volunteer Program as the Health and Wellness Chair.
Fatuma Nur - Elementary Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies Teacher
Fatuma Nur is currently working towards her B.S. in Nursing at Spalding University. She has volunteered for the Somali Bantu Sisterhood providing tutoring, homework help, and Islamic teaching for students. She has also worked as a home health nurse, assisting clients with their basic needs. In addition to teaching at Hira, she also teaches Preschool at a Daycare.
Rona Osman (Art Teacher)
Rona Osman grew up in Louisville, KY and has previously worked at Nur Islamic School of Louisville as a Language Arts and Math tutor. Over the past year she has worked as a private tutor to elementary and high school students. Aside from working with kids, Rona is a photographer. She loves capturing portraits of people and animals, landscapes, and journalistic photography. Rona uses her penchant for art to expand her students’ world view-for them to see that their lives are surrounded by poetry, art, and stories. While at the University of Louisville, Rona was a speech mentor-helping students tell their stories and sharpen their public speaking skills. She was also historian for the Muslim Student Association.
Norma Nangju has served as assistant principal at various private schools in Kentucky. With 20 years of education experience, she taught elementary, middle and high school math and science. She was a founding board member of the first Islamic school in Kentucky. She has a Bachelor of Science in environmental engineering from Swarthmore College. She also has a Master of Science in environmental engineering, a Master of Arts in elementary education as well as an Ed.S. in educational administration from University of Louisville. She has been a Team Member for AdvancEd since 2016.
Leen Abozaid - High School Psychology Teacher
Leen Abozaid has a B.A. in Biology and Psychology from the University of Louisville. She has participated in research with the School of Nursing, Department of Psychology, the Biology Department and the James Graham Brown Cancer Center. She has been a teaching assistant for a Genetics course at the University. She has been an English, Mathematics, Reading and Psychology tutor and a Math tutor for Kumon Center for Learning. In her free time, she is also an artist and has performed spoken word poetry for various audiences.
Tabarek Kadhim - High School Chemistry and Math Teacher
Tabarek Kadhim is a student at the University of Louisville majoring in Molecular Biology. Last year, she worked full time in Jordan to teach conversational English to college and school age students at Hammurabi Cultural Center. She participated in summer internships teaching Elementary students through Teach Portland. She is publishing an English conversational book in Jordan. Tabarek is not only an educator, but a global citizen. Currently, she is running an online educational program to help underprivileged college students with their conversational English. She plans to continue her Masters in Education.
Clara Ruplinger- High School History/English Teacher
Clara Ruplinger graduated from Berea college with a B.A. in Political Science in 2018. She has previously taught Social Studies and leadership courses at Nur Islamic School of Louisville. She is a convert of 4 years and is passionate about integrating issues surrounding social justice and islamic values into her curriculum. She has also worked managing the Berea College Greenhouse, did research on discrimination, immigrant rights, and housing for Showing Up for Racial Justice, designed educational content for Save the Children, and has been an active member of the Muslim Student Association.
Idrees Mirani - Middle School Math, Science, and Social Studies Teacher
Idrees Mirani has a B.S. in Informatics and Biology from Indiana University Southeast. He has worked as a Math Lab Assistant at Community Montessori and as a research assistant at a medical practice. He has also volunteered extensively with the River Road Mosque with prayers, programs and the weekend school.
Rabia Shaik - Language Arts Teacher
Rabia Shaik graduated with a Major in Biotechnology and a Minor in Medicine and Society from the University of Houston. She has mentored students by editing essays for graduate school admission, proofreading high school assignments, and providing scholarship and internship information for students. She has worked for the Houston Urban Debate League as a Judge and for the Metropolitan Volunteer Program as the Health and Wellness Chair.
Fatuma Nur - Elementary Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies Teacher
Fatuma Nur is currently working towards her B.S. in Nursing at Spalding University. She has volunteered for the Somali Bantu Sisterhood providing tutoring, homework help, and Islamic teaching for students. She has also worked as a home health nurse, assisting clients with their basic needs. In addition to teaching at Hira, she also teaches Preschool at a Daycare.
Rona Osman (Art Teacher)
Rona Osman grew up in Louisville, KY and has previously worked at Nur Islamic School of Louisville as a Language Arts and Math tutor. Over the past year she has worked as a private tutor to elementary and high school students. Aside from working with kids, Rona is a photographer. She loves capturing portraits of people and animals, landscapes, and journalistic photography. Rona uses her penchant for art to expand her students’ world view-for them to see that their lives are surrounded by poetry, art, and stories. While at the University of Louisville, Rona was a speech mentor-helping students tell their stories and sharpen their public speaking skills. She was also historian for the Muslim Student Association.