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Staff
 Ms. Zubeda Kazi - Director Ms. Zubeda is the director of the school. she is a mother of three children, and has two grandchildren. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Early Childhood Education, Certificate of Proficiency in Computer Science and Director permit form California Teaching Credentials. As each child is unique, her job as an educator and a director of the school is to help them discover their individuality and work alongside them to maximize their strengths. |  Ms. Amani Chalati - Special Subjects Teacher Ms. Amani Abdulbaki Chalati is a mother of 1 daughter. She is certified as an early childhood and school age educator and she's been teaching for almost 20 years. She likes teaching the age 31/2 – 12 years old group because she value their building blocks of education and love the energy and excitement that small children display. She wants to help children with special challenges and develop special relationships with them. |  Ms. Niran – Lead PreK Teacher Ms. Niran has her BS in Electrical Engineering and her California Teacher’s Permit. Her teaching philosophy is grounded in play-based learning, with respect for each student’s uniqueness and individuality. Her goal is to make each child feel special. She especially enjoys working in as Islamic school where there are many different cultures and backgrounds. She loves taking walks along the beach and spending time with her family. She speaks Arabic and English. |
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 Ms. Hasina – PreK Teacher Ms. Hasina has been teaching at Pillars since 2014. She has her BA in Liberal Studies from CSU Long Beach and her Master Teacher’s Permit through California CTC. She has a passion for early childhood education, where she can watch the children learn and grow. In her free time, she loves reading, road trips, and spending time with her family. She speaks Pashto, Farsi, English, German, and Urdu. |  Ms. Michele- Kindergarten Teacher Ms. Michele comes from a large Italian and Irish family. She loves to read, travel and cook. She has her BA and clear credentials in Elementary Education with emphasis in Language Arts. As an experienced and seasoned teacher, she has taught elementary and as well as middle school grades. Her goal is to work with the children and share the joy of creative learning in a playful and engaging way while helping the young minds to become leaders of the future. |  Ms. Noor- Special Subject Teacher Ms. Noor started working at Pillars since 2019, She has BA in Accounting and Finance. She enjoy working with children and she believes that the after school program has given the children the freedom to express their creative side, think, and discover new talents. In her free time she likes to spend time with her family. She speaks Arabic and English |
 Ms. Aliaa- Toddlers Teacher Aliaa Barakat is a passionate early childhood educator with over 10 years of experience working with toddlers and infants. She studied Early Childhood Education in both Dubai and California. She has also completed specialized training in Asperger Syndrome and has experience working with children with special needs, including autism. She enjoys creating a warm, structured, and engaging environment where every child feels safe and supported. |  Ms. Shazia- Pre-k Teacher Shazia Ikram holds a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and is certified in Early Childhood Education. She is passionate about creating a warm, engaging classroom where children feel safe, supported, and inspired to learn. Her teaching philosophy centers on building strong, trusting relationships with both students and their families. Outside of the classroom, Shazia enjoys writing, traveling, hiking, and spending time in nature. |  Ms. Noor- Toddlers Teacher Ms. Noor Aljumma joined Pillars Academy with a strong passion for early childhood education . She holds two bachelor's degrees in History and Education, one earned in Iraq in 2016 and the second from the University of California, Irvine in 2024. Ms. Noor believes that early childhood is a powerful time for shaping a child’s character, and she finds joy in seeing the world through their bright, curious eyes. |
 Ms. Jowan - Toddler Teacher Ms. Jowan has been teaching the toddlers class at Pillars academy since 2018. She is a graduate of Saddleback College. She enjoys teaching our youngest students because of their natural curiosity and joyful spirits. She speaks Arabic, Kurdish, and English |  Ms. Faten Akiel Moubayed is a dedicated educator and mother of four—two boys and two girls. With a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Damascus, Syria, she brings a unique blend of analytical skills and compassion to her teaching. For the past five years, Ms. Moubayed has been with Saddleback School District, where she worked with children with special needs, providing individualized support and fostering an inclusive learning environment. |  Ms.Rihab - Office Manager Ms. Rihab holds a certificate in Child Development from Lebanon and has completed three years of Psychology studies while working as a teacher. Ms. Rihab has completed multiple trainings in child development, including specialized instruction in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) for working with children.. She Speaks English and Arabic |
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