2011 - 2012 Staff

All Sunflower Montessori LLC staff are trained in first aid and CPR. In addition, all staff are checked against the Central Registry for child abuse or neglect, as defined in Act No. 238, Public Act of 1975. They are required to have ICHAT clearance before starting work. They are also certified by a physician to work around children, including being free from tuberculosis.

Sunflower Montessori LLC will also be providing its staff with a thorough understanding the program, curriculum, and the Montessori philosophy. Staff will be encouraged to grow both personally and professionally. All cultures and people will be respected at the school.

Sr. Farida Azeez | Program Director

Sr. Farida graduated from Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, India with a Bachelors in Home Science and from Osmania University, India with a Bachelors of Education. In 2001, she completed her Montessori training at the Michigan Montessori Teacher's Education Center in Rochester Hills, MI and received the Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate from the American Montessori Society. She currently is working towards a Master's degree in Education.

She has 18 years of experience teaching both preschool and kindergarten students. She pioneered the setup of the Montessori program at Michigan Islamic Academy and again at Sunflower Montessori LLC. Her way of teaching children is well-known throughout the southeastern Michigan community.

Sr. Maryam Moid | First Grade Teacher

Sr. Maryam was recently hired as the homeroom teacher for First Grade. She is a welcome addittion to our team, bringing 5 years of experience teaching different age groups. She has previously served as a home room teacher, as well as an Arabic and Islamic Studies teacher. Sr. Maryam completed her BA Honors in Modern Languages from the University of Westminster in London, UK in 2002. Thereafter, she completed her Master's in the Art of Teaching from Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia in 2008. She also has her Georgia Educator Certificate.

Sr. Buthayna Farah | Arabic & Qur'an Teacher and Assistant Program Director

Sr. Buthayna graduated from Ibrahimia College, Jerusalem with an Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Development. She is currently working towards another Associate's Degree in Child Care - Special Education.

In 2005-2006, Sr. Buthayna served as the lead teacher for Rainbow Child Development's preschool. She has also been involved in Islamic schools, serving as a lead teacher in both the Muslim Community of Western Suburbs (MCWS - Canton, MI) and Stroudsburg Islamic Center's (Stroudsburg, PA) Sunday School programs. She played a key role in developing the curriculum for these programs. She has also served as an assistant teacher for first and second grade children at the Ibrahimia School in Jerusalem.

She joined the Sunflower Montessori team in 2006 and has been with us for three years now, goin on her fourth Insha'Allah. She will be handling Arabic and Qur'an for all three grades.

Sr. Halimeh Ghanim | Preschool/KG Islamic Studies Teacher and Assistant

Sr. Halimeh has a Bachelor’s Degree in Arabic and Islamic Studies. She has taught in public and private schools all around the Middle East and North America and brings with her eleven years of teaching experience. She has attended numerous professional workshops and certification programs geared towards teaching in Islamic schools, with an emphasis on Arabic, Qur'an, and Islamic Studies. She most recently completed the Montessori Paraprofessional Certification in the Summer of 2011. She is an assistant in the Preschool and KG classroom and will be teaching Islamic Studies.