Meet the Team

Our team of teachers and advisors are passionate about establishing an environment to meet Islamic and academic educational requirements.

  • HEAD OF SCHOOL/PRINCIPAL

    Saliha Catovic Soliman joins Nibras Day School with 20+ years of Academic experience in elementary education from the long established Islamic School, Noor-Ul-Iman, where she also supported the accreditation process. She received her Bachelor’s Degree and MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. A majority of her elementary experience has been directly involved in the elementary classroom including curriculum integration, parental engagement, and student developmental assessment. Additionally, Ms. Soliman has been an active Muslim community member throughout her life, including in youth groups, interfaith activities, summer camps, and in refugee support. Ms. Soliman is a well-known and respected individual for her humility and collaboration, as well as an avid pet lover of various kinds.

✉ ssoliman@nibrasds.org

  • ACADEMIC ADVISOR

    Imam Basheer Bilaal is the resident Imam of MSDV. He graduated from the Istanbul University of Islamic Studies as an imam and khatib, and was granted ijazah (authoritative license) by the Presidency of Religious Affairs in Turkey in 2009. He is specialized in Arabic language, grammar, literature, and public speaking. He strives to serve the diverse needs of the Muslim community through religious classes, family and individual counseling, interfaith engagements, and working to serve the greater community to help establish knowledge, and understanding of Islamic Principles.

✉ imam@msdvpa.org

Teachers

  • PREKINDERGARTEN TEACHER

    Raeda Jebrin brings over 8 years of academic experience in early childhood education, with a unique blend of experience in both non-Islamic and Islamic schools. She earned her Bachelor's Degree with high honors from Keystone College and has spent the majority of her career directly involved in the prekindergarten classroom. Her expertise lies in curriculum integration, parental engagement, and student developmental assessment. With a deep understanding of the importance of early childhood education, Ms. Jebrin is dedicated to providing a nurturing and engaging learning environment that fosters growth and development for her students. She strives to create a warm and welcoming classroom environment where children can explore, learn and have fun. Her teaching approach is centered around play-based learning, which allows children to engage and learn best when they're having fun. Ms. Jebrin enjoys traveling and seeing new places.

  • KINDERGARTEN TEACHER

    Maryanna Mustafa is a Palestinian American Muslima. She graduated from Temple University with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. For the past four years, she has been student teaching at various schools in Philadelphia. Maryanna is very passionate about teaching and hopes to play a role in shaping the new generation of students today. She is extremely excited to work in Nibras Day School to support Islamic Education. She has been a part of organizing and volunteering for many Islamic events in Philadelphia. Maryanna wants to inspire young children to love and practice their religion of Islam, as well as educate them on how to be successful, even if they are different from others. In her free time, she enjoys playing sports, reading, and photography.

  • FIRST GRADE TEACHER

    Dylan Haslett comes to Nibras Day School as a revert to Islam and Pennsylvania local. Mr. Haslett obtained his Associate of Arts degree for Pre K-4 Early Education from Bucks County Community College. He is completing his Bachelor’s of Education degree for grades Prekindergarten to fourth from Wilson College. He is passionate about educating our youngest learners and showing them the joy of learning. It is Mr. Haslett's goal to create a fun and engaging environment where every child can thrive. As a recent revert to Islam, he deeply appreciates the beauty of Islam and is eager to share his journey with his students and colleagues. Outside of teaching, he enjoys amateur boxing as a hobby. Dylan is a certified personal trainer for fitness and boxing.

  • SECOND GRADE TEACHER

    Aliyah Al-Sulaimani is a graduate from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education and a certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language. She completed her student teaching practice at Anne Frank Elementary School in both first and third grades. Her teaching philosophy centers around individualized support, inclusion and enforcing a strong sense of academic ownership among students. Ms. Al-Sulaimani values building strong relationships with students, families, and communities to create a unified learning environment that encourages active engagement and growth. She is dedicated to creating meaningful learning experiences that empower children to excel academically, while fostering a strong sense of identity and confidence in their Islamic faith. She is looking forward to teach and work with her second grade students. In her down time, Ms. Al-Sulaimani enjoys soap-making and candle-making.

  • THIRD GRADE TEACHER

    Zehra Demirtas brings over five years of experience in both teaching and educational leadership across diverse settings, including Islamic and international schools. She studied Early Education at Bucks County Community College and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Western Governors University. Additionally, she has received Ijazah in Islamic Studies in Istanbul, Turkiye.

    Zehra has served as a Pre-K teacher and assistant director at various educational institutions, where she led curriculum development and integrating academic material with Islamic values. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes creating an inclusive and nurturing environment where students feel valued and excited to learn. She is dedicated to fostering strong partnerships with families to support each child’s holistic development. 

    Zehra is fluent in English and Turkish, with basic proficiency in Arabic. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, embroidery, and exploring new cultures through travel. 

  • FOURTH/FIFTH GRADE TEACHER

    Jeanine Hammad is 22 years old, born in New Jersey, and raised in Philadelphia. Jeanine is starting her first year teaching at Nibras Day School, with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and a minor in ESL from Penn State Abington. Working with kids requires commitment, patience and enthusiasm, as Jeanine has those traits to create relationships and a comfortable environment for her students. Allowing students to feel safe and included is one of the main goals Jeanine has, and will place, in her classroom. Jeanine enjoys learning new things, playing sports such as basketball, and being creative in the classroom. Jeanine looks forward to seeing what the future holds! 

  • QUR’AN & ARABIC TEACHER, Kindergarten-1st Grade

    Humaira Saeed joins Nibras Day School with a master's degree in Arabic Language from the University of Punjab Lahore, along with a bachelor's degree with a double major in Psychology and Islamic Studies from Lahore College for Women University. Her extensive educational background gives her a strong foundation in Quran and Islamic Studies, allowing her to effectively impart her knowledge to students.

    Mrs. Saeed has 11 years of expertise in teaching Quran and Islamic Studies in North Penn Islamic School. She has gained valuable experience teaching Quran and Islamic Studies to a wide range of students. Mrs. Saeed has been actively involved in various teaching programs, including summer camps, group classes, and workshops, where she has successfully helped students improve their understanding of the Quran and Islamic teachings, as well as enhance their language skills.

    In addition to her academic qualifications, she also possesses excellent communication and interpersonal skills. She is patient, understanding, and able to adapt teaching style to accommodate different learning styles. Mrs. Saeed strives to build strong relationships with her students and create a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

  • QURAN & ARABIC Teacher, 2nd Grade-5th Grade

    Mohamed Lamine Bensmina is a passionate teacher of the Quran and Arabic language, with strong knowledge of Quranic recitation rules, including Hafs and Warsh. He works to help students grow both spiritually and academically by making the language and meaning of the Quran easier to understand. 

    Raised in an environment where a deep appreciation for the Arabic language and classical texts was part of daily life, Mohamed Lamine developed a strong foundation in grammar, vocabulary, and Quranic pronunciation from an early age. The scholarly atmosphere of his upbringing left a lasting influence, nurturing both his love for the language and his commitment to its preservation. 

    Though he holds a Master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Algiers 3 and was academically trained in management sciences, Mohamed’s true passion lies in Islamic education. Since 2006, he has been actively involved with a charitable organization that operates a private school focused on Quran and Arabic instruction. Starting as General Secretary and later serving as Education Committee Supervisor, he played a key role in organizing Quran memorization competitions, Islamic workshops, cultural trips, and youth development programs. 

    Now living in the United States, Mohamed Lamine is excited to bring his skills and experience to NIBRAS Day School. He looks forward to helping students grow in their learning and faith in a caring, Islamic environment. 

  • KINDERGARTEN TEACHER

    &

    ACADEMIC CURRICULUM COORDINATOR

    Meet one of our Kindergarten teachers and the Academic Curriculum Coordinator, Surayya Catovic. She was born and raised in North Jersey and is a mother of four, as well as a grandmother of two. Surayya is a certified teacher with over 25 years of experience, having taught Kindergarten through Fourth Grade.


    Throughout her career, she has supported the accreditation process at Noor-Ul Iman School by reviewing and developing curricula across various grade levels. Surayya is passionate about teaching and finds many creative ways to help children learn. During the Covid years she made many read-aloud videos on Youtube to reach kids all across the world. She has written songs and plays for school presentations. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Marketing Management and a Master's degree in Restorative Practices and Education.

    Her enthusiasm for working with children is evident, and she loves watching them grow into wonderful adults. Surayya has a love for animals and has had many pets throughout the years. Currently, she cares for four hens, one cockatiel, two cats, and maintains a small pond that houses fish and snails. Additionally, she enjoys gardening and taking care of her many indoor and outdoor plants.


  • ISLAMIC STUDIES TEACHER, Kindergarten-5th Grade

    Derya Aygun joins Nibras Day School with over two decades of experience in Islamic education, youth mentorship, and community leadership across the U.S. and Canada. She holds an Ijazah in Islamic Studies from Istanbul and has taught Quran, Tajweed, Seerah, Fiqh, and Islamic character development to students ranging from early childhood through adulthood.

    Throughout her career, Derya has played a key role in establishing Islamic schools, leading curriculum development, and mentoring teachers, youth, and women’s groups. She has a deep passion for teaching and community service, organizing educational programs, lectures, and events that foster a sense of belonging and spiritual growth.

    Her teaching philosophy centers on compassion and connection, building a nurturing environment that allows students to develop strong moral character and deepen their understanding of Islam. She believes in teaching from the heart, inspiring students to find personal meaning and confidence in their faith.

    Derya is fluent in English and Turkish, with basic Arabic, and enjoys spending time researching, reading and continuously educating herself for personal and spiritual growth.