Principal: Njogou Bah
Mr. Njogou Bah is an accomplished educator and leader whose journey from The Gambia, West Africa to the United States reflects both resilience and dedication to education. Arriving in the U.S. as a high school sophomore, he went on to earn his undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Pre-Engineering from Wingate University in North Carolina, supported by both academic and athletic scholarships.
After graduation, Mr. Bah began his career with Union County Public Schools, where he taught mathematics and coached basketball—an experience that deepened his passion for working with young people and fostering their growth both in and out of the classroom.
He later earned a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University and has since served in school leadership for over ten years, first as Assistant Principal and currently as Principal. With more than 15 years of experience teaching middle and high school mathematics and 7 years of coaching basketball, he brings a wealth of expertise in both academic instruction and student development.
A two-time Teacher of the Year award recipient, Mr. Bah is also the founder of House of Math Education (H.O.M.E.), a tutoring initiative designed to provide achievement-focused support for students struggling with mathematics. His work continues to be driven by a commitment to equity, excellence, and student success.
He enjoys reading, staying fit and inspiring others to be the best versions of themselves.
Pre-K Teacher: Sr Jasmine
Sister Jasmine is a devoted Pre-K teacher known for her warmth, structure, and commitment to excellence in early childhood education. She brings energy and care into every lesson, making the classroom a place where students feel both safe and inspired to grow. With a teaching style rooted in kindness, respect, and curiosity, she helps children develop not only strong academic foundations but also character and life skills that extend beyond the classroom.
Sister Jasmine is passionate about fostering creativity, collaboration, and a love of learning that lasts a lifetime. Outside of school, she enjoys sewing, crafting, and creating meaningful experiences with her family, who continue to inspire her as both a mother and educator.
Kindergarten Teacher: Hina Bilal Afzal
Hina Bilal Afzal is a dedicated elementary educator currently teaching Kindergarten at Dar Un Noor School. With a strong passion for creating meaningful learning experiences, she strives to nurture both academic growth and character development in her students. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that every child can succeed when given encouragement, structure, and opportunities to explore their unique strengths.
Hina holds a Master’s in Business Administration and brings valuable teaching experience across multiple grade levels, which enables her to adapt lessons to the diverse needs of learners. She enjoys incorporating creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on activities into her instruction, making learning both effective and enjoyable.
Outside the classroom, Hina enjoys spending time with her family, going on outings.
First Grade Teacher: Imani Tillery
Imani Tillery is a dedicated educator with nearly 10 years of experience in early childhood and elementary education. She is passionate about nurturing young minds and believes that every child deserves access to a high-quality education in a supportive and positive environment. Imani holds a background in Early Childhood Education and has spent the last nine years committed to helping students grow academically, socially, and emotionally.
Second Grade Teacher: Rashida Munshi
Sis. Rashida, our dedicated 2nd grade elementary teacher, is passionate about creating a nurturing and engaging learning environment where every child can thrive.
Rashida Munshi has nearly 15 years experience at Dar-un-Noor Academy with a tremendous amount of success. She is inspired by the prophetic tradition that teaching is a noble profession. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Acquire knowledge and impart it to the people” (Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 107).
She is a proud graduate of Georgia State University and continues to pursue professional development to enhance her teaching practices. Her educational approach emphasizes building a supportive classroom community, offering hands-on learning experiences, and nurturing a love for reading and curiosity across all subjects.
Outside the classroom, Sis. Rashida enjoys sewing, arts and crafts, photography, video creation, and exploring new technology. She often incorporates these creative interests into her teaching to make lessons more engaging and relatable for her students.
Sis. Rashida is committed to working closely with parents and guardians to support each child’s academic and personal growth.
Fourth Grade Teacher: Najifa Hossain
Najifa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Arabic Studies from Emory University and is currently pursuing a Master of Science at the University of London. With a strong passion for education, Najifa made the transition to full-time teaching after several years of volunteering as an English language tutor and Sunday school teacher.
Her professional background spans community development work and project management, and her educational experience includes language literacy instruction and resource development.
Now, as a classroom teacher, Najifa is excited to bring creativity and energy into the learning space, helping students build foundational knowledge through engaging and thoughtful instruction. She especially enjoys working with children because of the endless opportunities to think outside the box and find fun, effective ways to problem solve. Beyond the classroom, Najifa enjoys reading, writing, and exploring new restaurants around the city.
Fifth Grade Teacher: Sakinah Ali
Sakinah Ali began her career as a PreK–Kindergarten teacher in New Jersey. As a small business owner, she successfully operated a licensed daycare facility for four and a half years, providing much-needed services to families while also employing members of the community, before relocating to Atlanta, Georgia. She was the Elementary Level Leader at Intellicor.
In addition to her daycare experience, she established and managed her own elementary homeschool program, KidSmart. She has also taught at Mohammed Schools of Atlanta, Intellicor International Academy, and now serves as a teacher at Dar-un-Noor School. Over the years, she has taught a wide range of grade levels, including 6th grade, 9th grade, and all levels of elementary education.
Her extensive teaching experience has shaped a philosophy centered on student success both inside and outside the classroom. She believes that learning begins with creating a welcoming environment, which is why she starts each school year with activities that encourage students to build connections with one another.
Sakinah fosters a classroom culture that allows students to explore their individual learning styles and develop their interests. She strongly believes in the power of experiential learning, incorporating hands-on activities and the arts to create a dynamic and engaging educational environment.
School Office Administration: Faye Kareem
Sister Faye is a Georgia native widow with two children. She is currently working at Dar Un Noor Academy as an innovative Office Manager and Administrative Assistant. Amidst the hurry and scurry of modern day living and office management, her position affords her an excellent opportunity to support the mission of Dar Un Noor Academy. While office management is rewarding and purposeful; reading Quran and writing are the activities that keep her fulfilled and grounded. Some of other activities that she enjoys include prayer, mindful meditation, Yoga and walking. Ms. Kareem’s journey at Dar Un Noor began in the 90’s after completing a tour of studies offered by the University of Alabama at Birmingham and being awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Child Education by Armstrong Atlantic State University at Savannah, Georgia.
In fact, it was during her stay in Savannah that she received a renewable Georgia Teaching Certificate from the Professional Standards Commission of Georgia. After that milestone, she decided to join the Elementary teaching team at Dar-Un-Noor Academy. After a few years of teaching, she was offered the position of Administrative Assistant. 28 years later, she is still serving in this capacity with honor and pride.
Arabic, Quran, and Islamic Studies Team Lead: Hanane ElMastour
Hanane Elmastour has been a dedicated teacher of Qur’an, Arabic, and Seerah at Dar Un Noor School for 19 years, bringing with her over 22 years of experience in education. Her passion lies in fostering Arabic literacy and enabling students of all backgrounds to connect deeply with the language of the Qur’an and Islamic thought.
In 1998, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Arabic Language from Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fes, Morocco one of the nation’s leading institutions of higher learning with international recognition.
In 2005, she was awarded the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential by the Council for Professional Recognition, the most widely recognized credential in U.S. early childhood education, based on national competency standards. She actively maintains this credential through regular renewal to ensure continued professional excellence.
Hanane is also certified in teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language by ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages), having successfully completed both the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and the Written Proficiency Test (WPT). ACTFL certifications are recognized across education, government, and professional sectors.
Looking ahead, her goal is to continue serving the Muslim Ummah by nurturing strong scholars and leaders. She remains committed to Dar Un Noor’s mission, supporting students in their academic and spiritual growth, and helping them strive to be the best they can be, Insha’Allah.
Middle & High School Department Head: Asiya Little
Asiya Little currently serves as an Administrative Assistant at Dar Un Noor School, where she also holds the roles of Title Funds Coordinator and Middle School Department Lead. In her multifaceted position, she supports the efficient management of administrative operations and plays a key role in coordinating federal Title funding. Asiya is committed to fostering a professional and welcoming environment for all students, staff, parents, and community members who visit the school.
This is Asiya’s seventh year at Dar Un Noor School. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Early, Elementary, and Special Education from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. With over 20 years of teaching experience across various grade levels in public, private, and charter schools, she brings a wealth of educational expertise to her role. In addition to her teaching career, Asiya has served in an administrative capacity at a private Islamic school in Trenton, New Jersey, further enriching her experience in educational leadership.
Sixth Grade Science Teacher and Eighth Grade Math Teacher: Sara Sarwath
Sara Sarwath teaches High School Math, Grade 6 Science, and Grade 8 Math at Dar-un-Noor Academy. With a background in education, software development, and data analytics, she is passionate about making math and science engaging and relevant to real life. Guided by the philosophy “Inna lillāhi wa inna ilayhi rājiʿūn” (Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return), she views teaching as a service to Allah (SWT).
Sara holds a Master’s Degree in Information Science (USA), a Master’s Degree in Computer Science (India), and a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology (India). In addition to publishing research on big data analytics, she is certified as an OCA–PL/SQL Developer, iOS & Android App Developer, and has completed Stanford University’s “How to Learn Math for Teachers” program.
As the mother of two ḥuffāẓ from Masjid Omar bin Abdul Aziz, Sara brings the same dedication to nurturing faith and knowledge into her classroom, helping students grow as confident, capable Muslims prepared for success in this world and the hereafter.
Middle/High School Social Studies teacher: Fatimah Layne
Sister Fatimah is an accomplished educator with over 23 years of experience teaching at the elementary through high school levels. With a strong background in performing arts, visual arts, and athletics, she brings creativity, energy, and balance into her classrooms. She holds a Master’s degree in the Arts and is perusing a masters certification in Secondary History Education with an emphasis on the Humanities.
Her expertise includes differentiated instruction, authentic assessment, and culturally responsible teaching strategies. A dedicated advocate for inclusive and engaging learning environments, Sister Fatimah integrates her diverse experiences to foster critical thinking and creativity in her students. She is currently conducting independent research on the correlation between spatial relationship intelligence and deficiencies in writing among children, reflecting her commitment to innovative approaches that support student growth and success.
Coach Abdul-Azeez
Born in Alexandria, Virginia, Khaleed Abdul-Azeez Edwards joined the US Army where he served for several years before being honorably discharged. He went on to study the Arabic language at Ummal-Qurra university in Saudi Arabia. Upon returning back to America Khaleed
went back to school to obtain a degree in education with a concentration in teaching history.
Khaleed Abdul-Azeez also earned certification in teaching English as a second language. He has taught English successfully to both Japanese and Korean students respectively. Mr. Abdul-Azeez is also a Muslim Chaplain in the state of Georgia and teaches Islam to both Muslims and non-Muslims. He regularly delivers the Jumuah khutabah every Friday to inmates
in the prisons. Khaleed Abdul-Azeez has been educating students both young and old for over
20 years.
Arabic & Quran Teacher: Mouna Soud
Mouna Soud is originally from Syria and has been living in the United States for 31 years. She has dedicated 24 years of her career to working at DNA, in addition to teaching at the weekend school. She firmly believes that every student has the ability to learn and grow, and she is committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of her students.
Middle & High School Science Teacher: Ahmad Hegazy
Ahmad Hegazy is a passionate science educator at Dar Un Noor with a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and over six years of experience in education.
He brings a diverse background in teaching across both academic and non-academic environments, inspiring students through engaging and practical learning approaches and focusing on their character development.
After graduating, Ahmad began his career as a college lecturer. Currently, he is pursuing a Master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational psychology, further expanding his expertise at the intersection of science, learning, and human development.
Sixth and Seventh Grade Math Teacher and Middle School Islamic Studies Teacher: Sabah Sabir-Ndiaye
Sister Sabah is a New Jersey native with over 25 years of teaching experience. She began her career in Newark public schools in 1997, teaching at both the elementary and middle school levels, and in 2009 was honored with the NJ Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award for Excellence. Her career has taken her across several states, serving in both inner-city schools and public charter schools with diverse ESOL populations.
She holds a B.A. in Psychology and maintains valid teaching certifications in New Jersey and Georgia. Now in her second year at Dar Un Noor School, Sister Sabah brings a wealth of experience, dedication, and care to her students.
Arabic & Quran Teacher: Brother Abdul Aziz Manneh
Brother Abdul Aziz Manneh, a native of The Gambia has a diverse background and a Masters degree in Shariah Law from the Islamic University of Minnesota. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Shariah Law from Al Ihsan University in The Gambia, and an Ijazah in Quranic recitation with Tajweed from the Dr. Al-Maasrawi Centers for Quranic Studies in Egypt. Prior to moving to the United States, he held a position at AhlulSuffa as a teacher for five years and was later appointed as a principal at Marrkass Fatima for seven years.