Brighter Horizons Academy
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    Our Core Values Define Us

    BHA is the largest full-time 1st through 12th accredited Islamic school in the South. Our mission is to graduate practicing Muslim leaders and responsible citizens who are well prepared for college entrance and career challenges of the twenty-first century.

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Faculty and Staff Not Pictured
Moriah Delgado

Girl's Physical Education Teacher, Health Teacher, & Head Girl's Volleyball Coach

Email: moriah.delgado@bhaprep.org

Joined BHA:

2025

Degree(s) & Certifications:

Bachelor of Science in Sports Studies ; Certified/PE Licensure in K-12 PE.

Previous Experience:

Girls PE/Health/Weights teacher at Wellington High School in Wellington, Kansas

Born:

North Richland Hills, Texas. I am from Fort Worth, Texas

Cultural/Ethnic Background:

Half Puerto Rican & Half white

Interests & Hobbies:

Volleyball, reading, cooking, & going on adventures.

Faculty and Staff Not Pictured
Nada Malik

Middle and High School Math Teacher

Email: nada.malik@bhaprep.org

Joined BHA:

2025

Degrees:

  • Bachelors in Computer Science - University of North Texas, 2024
  • Associates in Education in Mathematics - Dallas College, 2022

Current/Previous Experience:

  • Mathnasium Tutor : 2025
  • Mathematics Tutor : 2018- 2025
  • Churchill Elementary School (Chicago, IL) : 2020

Born:

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 

Cultural Background:

Born in Saudi Arabia, raised in Chicago, IL. All education was completed in Chicago from kindergarten to first year of college. Moved to Dallas seven years back, and completed the rest of my bachelors here. 

Interests/Hobbies:

Travelling, trying new restaurants, spending time with family and friends, and teaching! 

Faculty and Staff Not Pictured
Bayanne Elkhatib, M.S. LPC-Associate

6th-10th Guidance Counselor

Email: bayanne.elkhatib@bhaprep.org

Joined BHA:

2025

Degrees:

  • Licensed Professional Counseling Associate, Supervised by Don Zablosky
  • Masters of Science in Mental Health Counseling - University of North Texas at Dallas (2022), Dallas, Texas
  • Bachelors of Arts in Psychology- University of Texas at Arlington (2010), Arlington, Texas

Experience:

  • Academic Advisor
  • Success Coach
  • Guidance Counselor
  • Teacher
Zainab Hadi

Elementary Teacher Assistant

Email: zainab.hadi@bhaprep.org

Year started at BHA:

2024

Degrees and certifications:

BA, Management Information Systems 2005 / Petra university Amman- Jordan

Relevant current and previous experience:

Secretary to the General Manager IEC- Amman-Jordan

Coordinator, Supervision & Management Department IEC- Amman-Jordan

Unit Manager, Export & Import Department. IEC- Amman-Jordan

 

Faculty and Staff Not Pictured
Ayesha Sabiha Shariff

Elementary Teacher Assistant

Email: ayesha.shariff@bhaprep.org

Degrees:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Humanities – University of Khairpur, Pakistan (1987)
  • Associate of Arts in Humanities – Dallas College, Texas (2010)

Certifications:

  • TESOL – Oxford University Press (2012)
  • CELTA – Cambridge English, part of University of Cambridge (2014)
  • ESL Certification

Teaching & Professional Experience:

Homeroom Teacher (Grades 1–4) – Manarat International School, Jeddah (1994–2009)

  • Taught core subjects including English, Math, and Science
  • Developed individualized learning plans and supervised extracurricular activities

ESL Teacher & Academic Coordinator – King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah (2009–2020)

  • Designed and implemented ESL curriculum for diverse student populations
  • Coordinated academic programs and staff development initiatives

ESL Teacher – King Saud University, Riyadh (2009–2020)

  • Assistant Coordinator – Ladies Group of Jeddah
  • Supported community education and cultural programs for women

ESL Substitute Teacher – Houston, Dallas & San Antonio, Texas (2020–2023)

Paraeducator – Bremerton High School, Washington (2023–2025)

  • Supported ESL and general education classrooms, assisted students with learning strategies
    Background

Born in Karachi, Pakistan
Immigrated to the United States in 1980 | U.S. Citizen
Lived and taught in Saudi Arabia, Texas, Ohio, California, Washington, and Tennessee

Languages:

  • Fluent in English, Urdu, and Hindi
  • Conversational in Arabic; able to read and write Arabic

Interests & Hobbies:

  • Traveling and exploring cultures
  • Art and clothing design
  • Cultural exchange and language learning
  • Community engagement and education
  • Spending time with family
Faculty and Staff Not Pictured
Nora Hamed

Computer Teacher

Nora Hamed is a Dallas native. She graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Science in Information Management Systems. Nora joined the BHA team in 2018. She is currently teaching Middle/High School Computer Technology.

Email: nora.hamed@bhaprep.org

Faculty and Staff Not Pictured
Sonya Badr

Middle/High School College Guidance Counselor

What Year Started at BHA: 
2021

Degrees: 
M. A. in School Counseling - Xavier University 2012; Cincinnati, Ohio 
B.A. in Psychology - University of Cincinnati 2010; Cincinnati, Ohio 
Licensed School Counselor 

Current/Previous Experience
Middle/High School College Guidance Counselor 
Previous substitute teacher 
BHA Athletics Committee member 
Previous counseling and teaching experience in Ohio and Georgia 

Born:
Fresno, California

Cultural background:
Egyptian
Born and raised in California 
Also live in Ohio, Georgia, and now Texas

Interests/Hobbies:
Traveling, visiting national parks & forests, taking classes in various subjects, and spending time with family.  

Email: sonya.badr@bhaprep.org

Mrs. Michelle Solis

Social Studies Teacher

Mrs. Michelle Solis has been an integral part of Brighter Horizons Academy since 2016. She has a Bachelor’s degree in History and is currently completing her Social Studies 4-8 Texas certification. She has numerous years of experience teaching English as a Second Language abroad and teaching Arabic and Quran to Non-native Arab speakers. She has also taught Islamic Studies from 1st to 4th grades for the past 4 years.

Mrs. Michelle has a true passion for working with young learners! Making connections and helping each child express their Muslim identities at the same time teaching them life essentials is an honor to accept daily. She strives to create an environment that nurtures growth, positivity, and learning!

“Knowledge precedes statements and actions.”

Email: msolis@bhaprep.org

Faculty and Staff Not Pictured
Maria Atif

Science Lab Assistant

My name is Maria Atif

I joined BHA Prep in 2019 as a Lab Coordinator. Prior to BHA Prep I worked as a dental assistant in Dental office in Mesquite TX and also severed as a Science Teacher in Pakistan. I am a graduate of Karachi University of Pakistan where I majored in Microbiology, Biochemistry and Chemistry.

I graduated in Top 10 from School Teacher's training Program in Pakistan. I was born in Pakistan and love to work with kids, my hidden skills are creative in art & craft work, science projects, school drama play.   

Email: maria.atif@bhaprep.org

Sumaira Baloch

Science Teacher

6th Grade Science Teacher

Bachelor of Science degree from Karachi University

Master's in Education and Islamic History From Karachi University

Teaching at BHA since 2010

Email: sbaloch@bhaprep.org

Rabia Khattak

College Guidance Counselor

Degrees: 
Master's Degree - British Literature
Bachelor's Degree with a focus in British Literature and Islamic Jurisprudence

Current/Previous Experience
Middle/High School College Guidance Counselor

Enrollment Administrator, BHA
Case Manager - ICNA Relief Women's Transitional Home
BHA-PTO Board Member
Co-founder and current teacher/counselor: Shining Stars Afghan Refugee Children's Sunday School
Member of Board of Directors for Non-Profit Elementary Islamic School
Vice-Principal - Elementary School, VA
Librarian and Substitute teacher: Greater Lansing Islamic School, Michigan
Tutor - Michigan State University

Joined BHA:
April, 2019

Born:
Tripoli, Libya

Ethnic background:
Pakistani

Email: rkhattak@bhaprep.org

Kawther Ali

Arabic Teacher

Degree of highest level of education and certification(s):
Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology, Control and System Engineering.
Completed Online training program and obtained Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Diploma.
Completed Boston University StarTalk online and onsite training in teaching Arabic as a foreign language.

Degree earned at:
University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq.                                                

Previous work experience:
1997 -2013 Al-Hamra Academy, Shrewsbury, MA. Arabic language and Islamic Studies Teacher
2013 -2018 ILM Academy, Houston, TX. Arabic language and Islamic Studies Teacher
2018 to Present Brighter Horizons Academy, Garland, TX. Arabic language Teacher

Started working at BHA:
2018

Email: kawtherali@bhaprep.org

Seham Hilweh

Islamic Studies/Quran Pull-Out Teacher

My name is Seham Hilweh,

I graduated from UT Arlington with an IT bachelor degree

I have a certificate in Quran Tajweed. 

I worked at Brighter Horizons in Amman Jordan for two years  

My parents are originally from Palestine, but I was born in Kuwait, moved to the U.S during the first gulf war in 1991 

Email: shilweh@bhaprep.org

Rima Damrah

MS Islamic Studies/Quran Dept. Head

Degree of highest level of education: 
Bachelor's degree in Islamic Studies
Master’s degree in Islamic Education
Recitation Ijaza (Hafs ‘an Asim) 

Degree earned at: 
The Guidance College Houston, TX 

Previous work experience: 
Peace Academy School 
New Iqra’ School 

Born: 
Amman, Jordan 

Cultural background: 
Palestinian 

Started working at BHA: 
2014 

Email: rdamrah@bhaprep.org

Rayda Saleh

Arabic Dept. Head

Arabic language development head, MS/HS

17 years of teaching experience 

15 years working at Brighter Horizons Academy 

Bachelors in Arabic language and literature 

IB Diploma in ( Teaching Arabic to Speaker of Other Languages) 

TASOL certification 

My philosophy :-
I believe in the extraordinary abilities of any child if s/he is properly guided

Email: rsaleh@bhaprep.org

Nada Dalal

Arabic Teacher

Ms. Nada Dalal graduated with a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University in New York in 1992. She started 16 years ago as a parent with 3 kids who attended BHA. She was a substitute teacher teaching Arabic and Islamic studies for 4 years at BHA. This year she will be teaching Arabic Emergent.

Email: ndalal@bhaprep.org

Forrest Dean Denman

PE Teacher

Home Town: Crockett, Texas

Degree: BS Kinesiology 

College: Dallas Baptist University 

Start at BHA in 2019 

African American  

I’ve been teaching PE in the Dallas area for about 20 years. 

Email: fdenman@bhaprep.org

Maria Zidan

Math Teacher

Degree of highest level of education and certification(s):
Bachelor of Science - Certified Generalist Educator (ESL) 

Degree earned at:
Texas Woman’s University  

Born:
Crystal City, TX 

Cultural background:
Mexican American  

Started working at BHA:
August 2007 

Email: mzidan@bhaprep.org

Raja Matariyeh

Arabic Teacher

Degree of highest level of education and certification(s):
M.Ed.; Certified K-12 Arabic Teaching in Illinois and Texas  

Degree earned at:
DePaul University, Chicago, IL  

Currently teaching:
MS and HS Arabic 

Born:
Amman, Jordan 

Cultural background:
Palestinian 

Started working at BHA:
January, 2020 

Email: raja.matariyeh@bhaprep.org

Nahid Nikpour PhD

Science Teacher

Teaching 7th & 8th grade Science 

PhD in Health science from TWU, RDH, CPR Instructor 

Teaching at BHA since 2010 

Email: nnikpour@bhaprep.org

Dr. Syed Abraruddin Hasan

Math Teacher

Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Osmania University, Hyderabad Telangana, India

Master of Mechanical Engineering with specialization in Manufacturing Engineering from Osmania University, Hyderabad Telangana, India 

Ph D in Mechanical Engineering with research in precision Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad, Telanagana India – his research included analysis of hybrid stratified surfaces from Burnishing and shotpeening processes. 

Published / presented 10 research papers in journals and conferences 

He has 25 years of teaching experience which includes teaching Mechanical Engineering at UG level and Middle and high school. 

He served at Deccan College of Engineering and Technology for 16 years in various capacities including Lecturer, Associate Professor in Manufacturing Engineering, Professor in Mechanical Engineering, Department Chair Mechanical and Production Engineering Departments, Academic and Examinations Coordinator, joint-Editor College news letter.

He served as adjunct professor in Mechanical Engineering at UT Tyler, UNT Denton, and was awarded best professor of the year for the year 2014-2015 at UT Tyler. 

His research included a novel approach of analyzing stratified surfaces using Abbott-Firestone BAC, Taguchi S-N ratio analysis, Grey relational methods for analyzing stochastic/random processes, FFT/ DFT/Power spectra/ACVF/ACF/ other statistical moments. 

He is life-mummer of several Technical institutions and serves as the panel member for reviewing peer reviewed technical journal papers for two reviewed journals in Mechanical Engineering. 

He also served as member board of studies at Osmania University for 5 years. 

He was invited as guest speaker and chaired several conferences and National level workshops. 

He is presently teaching Algebra1 and 2, Geometry for middle and high school at BHA.

Email: syed.hasan@bhaprep.org

Faculty and Staff Not Pictured
Yama Mohammad

Arabic Dept. Teacher

Mr. Mohammad started teaching at BHA in the fall semester of 2019.  He began his Arabic studies at Zaytuna Institute in 1998, now known as Zaytuna College, located in Berkeley, CA. He earned his BA and MA in Arabic from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and TESOL/TESL/TEFL Certification from Oxford Seminar.  He currently teaches HS and MS Arabic. He was raised in Fremont, CA, and moved to Texas in 2019.

Email: e.yamamohammad@bhaprep.org

Sofia Zamir

Math Dept. Head

Ms. Sofia Zamir is the Math Department Head at BHA. She joined BHA 16 years ago. Currently, she teaches AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, Pre-Calculus, Algebra 2, and UT Austin’s dual credit course “Engineer Your World.”

She has a Masters degree in Computer Science and Engineering from University of Texas at Arlington, and a Bachelors degree in Computer Engineering from NED University of Engineering and Technology, Pakistan. She has a double teacher certification (Math middle school and Math high school).

She was born in Karachi, Pakistan, and has lived in the DFW area for the past twenty six years. 

Email: szamir@bhaprep.org

Rumana Khan

Science Teacher

Teacher for Biology and AP Biology

Bachelor of Science degree from UH, Teaching credentials from SCU

Certified to teach 7-12 Science

Teaching at BHA since 2019

Advisor for Red Cross Club

Email: rumana.khan@bhaprep.org

Shamsa Ashraf

Social Studies Teacher

Shamsa Ashraf was born in Lahore, Pakistan, but moved to the United States when she was 4.

She received her Bachelor of Computer Science degree from the UT Tyler.

Because her true love was education, Shamsa went back to school and received her teaching certification.

She is certified in Generalist (Grades EC-4) and Social Studies (Grades 4-8).

Shamsa has served as the principal of a private Elementary Islamic school.

This is Shamsa's 15th year in education and her 3rd year at BHA.

Currently she is teaching US History and is the co-advisor for the Student Council.

Email: shamsa.ashraf@bhaprep.org

Mrs. Rula Hasweh

MS Islamic Studies/Quran Teacher

Degree of highest level of education:
Bachelor in English Language and Literature in Arts & Science

Degree earned at:
Al-Ahliyyah Amman University
Degrees seeking - working on finishing my Masters in Islamic Education from Guidance College, Houston TX

Born:
Kuwait

Cultural background:
Palestinian

Started working at BHA:
Started volunteering and subbing 2013, started working 2014

Email: rhasweh@bhaprep.org

Faculty and Staff Not Pictured
Nahla Abdelkarim Hussein

6th Grade Quran and Islamic Teacher

Degree of highest level of education
Master Degree in Health Care Management.

Degree earned at
Walsh University , Ohio

Previous work experience
Sunday School principal in ISAK Center in Akron, Ohio

Born
Kuwait

Cultural background
Palestinian

Started working at BHA
2021

Email: nahla.hussein@bhaprep.org

Qamar Madani

Science Dept. Head

Teaches Conceptual Physics, Honors Physics & Engineering 
Head of Science Department 
Bachelor of Science degree from UIC, Teaching credentials from UTD 
Certified to teach 7-12 Science 
Teaching at BHA since 2007 
Advisor for Health Professions Club & Robotics Club 

Email: qmadani@bhaprep.org

Iman Moussa

10th Grade Quran and Islamic Studies Teacher

Master Degree in Islamic studies (Candidate)
Manara Institute, 
New Jersey, USA 

Bachelor in Documents and Libraries 
Faculty of Arts, 
Alexandria University, Egypt 

Quran Hafizah 

Professional Experience
Quran and Islamic High School Teacher 
Miraj Islamic School, Staten Island, New York 

Joined BHA: 2021 

Email: iman.moussa@bhaprep.org

Nouhad Sahyouni

HS Qur'an & Islamic Studies Dept. Chair

Degree of highest level of education
Masters Islamic Education – The Guidance College Houston, TX

Started working at BHA
I started at BHA in 2009

Born
Kuwait

Cultural background
Lebanese

Email: nsahyouni@bhaprep.org

Mayyadah Abuawad

Science Teacher

What year started at BHA 
2021 

Degrees, certifications 
Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering / Chemical industries
Master Degree in Industrial Engineering / Operations managements
Completion courses in Biotechnology

Current grade/courses taught
10th grade- Chemistry  
AP Chem

Where were you born 
Kuwait

Cultural background 
Palestinian 

Email: mayyadah.abuawad@bhaprep.org