Leadership & Staff
Leadership Team
Aman Alcharbji
Principal
Aman is an experienced educational leader and the Principal of Carriers of Light, with over two decades of experience in teaching and school leadership. She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and an Illinois secondary mathematics teaching license, and is dedicated to academic excellence, professional growth, and meaningful, experiential learning.
Her background includes teaching mathematics in international settings, mentoring educators, and leading school improvement initiatives. She also holds a Qur’an certification (Ijazah) from Sheikh Abo Alhasan Alkurdi (Syria, 2004) and has devoted many years to teaching Qur’an and Tajweed through individualized instruction and community programs. As the founding teacher of Carriers of Light, Aman is passionate about nurturing a love of Qur’an from an early age and believes deeply in its transformative power.
Fluent in Arabic and English, Aman brings a bicultural perspective to education and leads with integrity, collaboration, and vision. Outside of school, she finds peace in nature, cherishes time with loved ones, and enjoys travel, adventure, and nasheeds. She remains committed to developing confident, compassionate learners who carry forward the light of Islam and its mercy for humanity.
Saba Umer
Assistant Principal, Elementary School
Saba Umer serves as the Assistant Principal for Elementary, bringing over 18 years of experience in elementary and middle school education. Her professional expertise includes curriculum design, with more than a decade of experience developing Islamic Studies curriculum for contemporary learners.
Ms. Saba is a certified Mental Health First Aider and Trauma and Resilience Specialist, guiding character development and social-emotional growth at Carriers of Light. She also holds certifications in World-Class Instructional Design, Assessment Administration, Effective Learning Environments, and Leading Learning from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She holds three ijazahs in Hadith, which form the heart of her educational philosophy and leadership.
Abeer Saleh
Assistant Principal, Middle School
Abeer Saleh serves as the Assistant Principal of the Middle School Department, bringing over 20 years of experience in both public and Islamic education. She works closely with school leadership to ensure a seamless continuation of Carriers of Light’s vision and a strong, purposeful expansion into Middle School.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and two Master’s degrees in Instruction and Educational Leadership. She previously served as Director of Operations at MCC Academy and has led numerous student programs, including Science Olympiad, National Junior Honor Society, and a Qur’an and Science initiative that inspired a curriculum-based book now used in Islamic schools nationwide.
She is dedicated to building a strong middle school foundation supporting staff development, and ensuring a cohesive and enriching K–8 experience grounded in faith, academic excellence, and collaboration.
Batul Mirza
Qur’an Department Head
Ms. Batul Mirza serves as the Qur’an Lead at Carriers of Light. She holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Virginia Tech and an Ijazah in Qur’an recitation. With nearly 20 years of experience teaching Qur’an reading and memorization, she is passionate about nurturing young learners’ connection to the Qur’an.
Outside of school, she enjoys visiting national parks and traveling to Muslim countries around the world.
Teachers & Staff
Ms. Younas specializes in creating a warm, structured, and developmentally appropriate learning environment that supports early academic skills and social-emotional growth. She is committed to fostering high academic expectations, strong character, a love of learning, and Islamic values during these foundational years. Ms. Younas enjoys building meaningful relationships with her students and supporting their growth during these foundational years.
She is dedicated to nurturing a love for the Arabic language and the Qur’an while guiding students in developing strong manners and Islamic character. She creates a warm and structured classroom environment that supports early learning, respect, and confidence. Outside the classroom, she enjoys caring for indoor plants and supporting children’s spiritual growth.
She is passionate about early education and committed to supporting students not only academically but also in developing strong work habits and character. Outside of school, she enjoys baking and playing pickleball with her family.
She is dedicated to nurturing a love for the Arabic language and the Qur’an while guiding students in developing strong manners and Islamic character. She creates a warm and structured classroom environment that supports early learning, respect, and confidence. Outside the classroom, she enjoys caring for indoor plants and supporting children’s spiritual growth.
A valued member of the Carriers of Light community for the past ten years, Ms. Maisaa is passionate about supporting both the academic success and personal growth of her students. Her teaching philosophy centers around creating a positive, respectful, and engaging learning environment where all students feel supported, confident, and motivated to reach their full potential. Outside the classroom, she enjoys building social connections, going for walks, and baking.
She fosters a supportive and engaging classroom environment that helps students grow academically and spiritually while developing strong Islamic character. She is passionate about helping her students reach their full learning potential. Outside the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her family.
Ms. Sabeeha Abdul Quader has been part of the Carriers of Light community for four years and currently teaches Upper Elementary Math and Science. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, where she completed the Teacher Education Program, and a Master’s degree in Education with a concentration in STEM from Louisiana State University Shreveport. She is certified to teach middle and high school science and social studies in Illinois.
With 14 years of experience across private and public schools in North America, she is passionate about empowering students through education, particularly in STEM fields.
Ms. Sabah Memon is in her fifth year at Carriers of Light and teaches Upper Elementary English Language Arts and Social Studies. After completing her Alimiyyah degree in 2012, she earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Benedictine University, with middle school endorsements in ELA, Social Studies, and Science.
A Chicago native, Ms. Sabah is committed to helping students grow as thoughtful, critical thinkers rooted in strong Islamic values. She also teaches women’s classes in the community and enjoys the outdoors, DIY projects, and reading.
Ms. Khadija Ahmed is a Qur’an Review and Tajweed teacher at Carriers of Light (COL), where she teaches students in grades 3 through 6. She has been serving as a Qur’an Review teacher at COL since 2015 and has accumulated over 11 years of teaching experience within the organization. In addition, she has been teaching Tajweed to students in grades 3 through 6 for the past six years.
She earned her college degree in 1992 from Saint Lawrence College in Karachi, Pakistan. In 1997, she relocated to Chicago with her family, where she continued to grow both personally and professionally.
Ms. Khadija holds a Tajweed Certificate endorsed by Ms. Aziz B. Ali from the Muslim Education Center in Morton Grove, as well as a Qur’an Recitation certification from the Muslim American Society (MAS). She also completed advanced Tajweed coursework and earned certification through Itqan Academy in 2021.
Ms. Khadija has been teaching the Qur’an to children since 2001, offering instruction both in person and online. With over 26 years of experience in Qur’anic education, she is committed to building strong foundations in Qur’anic recitation with Tajweed and inspiring students to apply the teachings of the Qur’an in their daily lives. Outside of teaching, she enjoys reading Islamic literature and spending quality time with her family and her cats.
Ms. Samira Alkhateeb serves as the Qur’an and Arabic teacher for grades 3–6 and has been part of Carriers of Light for over seven years. She holds a degree in Mathematics and multiple certifications in Qur’anic Tajweed, along with a teaching methods certification through the Open University.
With over twenty years of experience, Ms. Alkhateeb brings extensive expertise and a strong commitment to student growth. She is dedicated to helping students develop accurate Qur’an recitation, strong Arabic language skills, and a love of learning rooted in Islamic values.
With decades of teaching experience, she is deeply committed to excellence in Qur’an education and nurturing a strong connection to the Book of Allah in her students. She wishes to be one of the people who the prophet Muhammad ﷺ referred to in the Hadith:
خيركم من تعلم القرآن وعلمه
The best of you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it
Miss Sakeena Younus serves as the Islamic Studies teacher for 3rd to 6th grade, bringing a strong passion for nurturing students’ connection to their faith.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and has completed her memorization of the Qur’an, currently pursuing her ijazah. She holds ijazat in three collections of Hadith and has studied Aqidah, Arabic, Sirah, and Tafsir through Ribaat Academic Institute, currently pursuing her Islamic Studies Teacher Certification.
She loves using storytelling and exciting activities to create engaging, memorable learning experiences for her students, guiding them to truly embody what they learn. She is especially passionate about nurturing adab and good character so that it reflects both within and outside of the classroom.
As a Carriers of Light alumna who attributes much of her journey to her connection with her own teachers, she values building strong relationships with her students and helping them develop a lasting connection with the deen.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, long walks in nature, playing with & training her two parrots, singing nasheed, and playing the duff.
Dr. Sawsan Ahmed Al-Kurdi holds a PhD in Qur’anic Readings and a Master’s degree in Tafsir and Qur’anic Sciences. With over 20 years of experience teaching Qur’an and Islamic Studies across various grade levels, she brings deep scholarly expertise to the classroom.
She is dedicated to fostering a deep understanding of Islamic knowledge, strong character development, and a respectful, positive learning environment that supports both academic, moral and spiritual growth.
Ms. Sana Khan serves as the Upper Elementary Arabic teacher and has over a decade of experience teaching Arabic to both adults and children. A dedicated student of Islamic sciences and the Arabic language, she continues her own studies while teaching.
She is deeply passionate about connecting students to the Qur’an through Arabic and Tafsir and inspires a love of language and faith in her classroom.
Ms. Aqsa Hashmi is a licensed K–6 educator in Utah and Illinois who views teaching as an amanah and a means of nurturing the whole child. With three years of experience teaching art in a school setting and over eight years leading art workshops, she fosters creativity, character, and a love of learning rooted in Islamic values.
She believes every child can grow academically, creatively, and spiritually when guided with care and intention.
Tayyaba Syed leads our Physical and Health Education program at Carriers of Light. She actively strength-trains and regularly participates in the Chitown Muslimah Athletics sports tournaments like volleyball and badminton. Coach Syed believes that we need to treat our bodies as an amanah and brings in reminders to our students how intentional exercise can be worship and make us stronger believers. She is an award-winning author, journalist, and certified Islamic studies teacher. She conducts literary and faith-based presentations for all ages, sits on the board of directors for a women’s non-profit called Rabata, and served four years as an elected member of her district’s board of education. She lives in Wheaton with her husband and kids and is a mom of three. Learn more at www.tayyabasyed.com.
She believes every child can grow academically, creatively, and spiritually when guided with care and intention.
Khadija Basith is an accomplished educator and instructional leader with over 16 years of experience in both private Islamic and public school settings. She holds a Master’s degree in Mathematics Education from DePaul University and completed a two-year Principal Preparation Program at Concordia University, earning her Illinois school leadership certification, in addition to completing a five-year Alimah program through Darululoom Online. Throughout her career, she has served as an Instructional Coach and Director of Enrichment Programs, designing initiatives that cultivate confident, spiritually grounded learners. Khadija is committed to high academic standards, meaningful character development, and classrooms rooted in Islamic values. She is passionate about supporting teachers and students in fostering a lifelong love of learning and excellence.
She believes every child can grow academically, creatively, and spiritually when guided with care and intention.