Staff and Teachers
Principal: Salwa Abed
Salwa obtained her Bachelors of Art in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. She began teaching at Peace Terrace Academy in 2001 and served as a classroom teacher and Vice Principal until 2007. She has enjoyed working with students of various ages. Salwa lives in the Bay Area with her husband and daughter. She enjoys reading, baking, and outdoor activities.
Vice Principal & Director of Arabic, Quran, and Islamic studies: Siddique Abdullah
Brother Siddique has over 12 years of teaching experience. He has taught Arabic at Zaytuna Institute and Tajweed classes at Ilm Tree. He was also a homeroom, Arabic, Quran, and Islamic Studies teacher at Al-Huda School in College Park, Maryland. Brother Siddique is one of the first graduates from Zaytuna Institute’s Seminary Program with bachelor’s degree in Islamic Sciences. He has also completed the Imam training program from Abu Nour Institute in Damascus.
Office Manager: Basira Rahim
Kindergarten Teacher: Manija Farooqi
Kindergarten Teacher: Dorkhany Arsala
Dorkhany completed her education with a B.A. in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley. She obtained her teaching credentials from Cal State Hayward. Dorkhany lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two children who attend Northstar School. Dorkhany’s hobbies are skiing, reading, and playing with her children.
1st Grade Teacher: Zahra Sabur
2nd Grade Teacher: Afia Mujeeb
3rd Grade Teacher: Dalia Aly
4th Grade Teacher: Aneela Saghir
5th Grade Teacher: Asha Habad
6th Grade Teacher: Haseeb Sadat
7th/8th Grade Teachers: Fadwa Silmi, Mabruka Abudra
Qur’an Teacher: Qari Amar Bellaha
Qari Amar is a well-known and esteemed Hafiz or one who has committed to memory the Quran in its entirety. Raised in Morocco, he memorized the Quran at the age of 17 from Madrasat Imam Nafia. He has ijaza (Islamic teaching licenses) for both the Hafs and Warsh forms of Quranic recitation. In 1994 and 1995, Qari Amar was awarded top prizes in the National Moroccan Tajweed Competition, a competition of the best Quran reciters in all of Morocco. He is recognized for the beauty, clarity, and excellence of his recitation. He is one the Bay Area’s most respected and active Quran teachers, having taught hundreds of students at numerous schools and Islamic centers in the area.
Qur’an/Arabic Teacher: Muna Al-Mawri
Qur’an/Arabic Teacher: Murabit Benavidez
Qur’an/Arabic Teacher: Nahla Mohammed
