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Amana Academy's Faculty
Consistent with the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) regulations as they
apply to charter schools, Amana Academy has actively sought the most
highly qualified staff possible. All Amana faculty and staff have been
rigorously screened on the basis of their academic credentials,
relevant experience, validated evidence of student achievement and
recommendations from previous employers, parents and the community.
As even the youngest of children can aspire and exemplify Amana
principles, so too will they react to examples that are inconsistent
with these values. Amana Academy educates by example. As such, Amana
Academy staff must exemplify the qualities we strive to guide our
students towards. In the words of our partner ELOB, we are not
passengers but a "crew". Therefore, ideas and actions of all staff
affect the course to which we steer ourselves. As we truly are
"charting new waters" with our unique emphasis on high academic
achievement, communication excellence, Arabic, ethical character and
stewardship, we strive to attract and retain individuals who show
enthusiasm for and commitment to these areas.
The Organizational Structure of Amana Academy is available in pdf format:
Amana Organizational Chart

Amana Academy Administrators
Jeff Weiner
Executive Director
email: jweiner@amanaacademy.org
Jelena Naim
Director of Curriculum and Development
email: jnaim@amanaacademy.org
Since 1983 Jelena has held various positions of increasing
responsibility devoted to teaching English and English as a Second
Language. She has taught at the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, at the American Cultural Center in Alexandria Egypt,
at the Oxford County Language Office in Oxford England, and most
recently as a Lecturer in the Department of Applied Linguistics &
ESL at Georgia State University.
In addition to her classroom teaching experience at Lilburn
Middle School in Lilburn, Georgia, Jelena has conducted teacher
training programs for international middle and high school teachers and
developed curricular materials at Georgia State University. At GSU, she
also coordinated learning labs and student activities for the
Department of Applied Linguistics, where she served as chairs of the
Lecturer Search Committee and Student Evaluation.
Jelena has a Bachelor's Degree in French with a minor in
History from the University of Illinois at Chicago; she completed here
Master's Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has studied abroad in
France and Spain, and she is certified in Middle School teaching from
Mercer University Graduate School of Education.
Jelena was one of a dozen core team
volunteers who developed the Amana Academy concept and saw it through
to State approval. She served on the Education and Human Resources
committees and as Secretary on Amana's Founding Board. Her
contributions have been significant, and combined with her educational
experience she is especially qualified to be Amana's Instructional
Guide.
Jelena joined Amana Academy in 2005.

Kevin Durkin
Director of Student Services
email: kdurkin@amanaacademy.org
Kevin Durkin joined Amana in 2009.

Jean-Jacques Credi
Grade Level Administrator
email: jcredi@amanaacademy.org
Jean-Jacques
Credi joined Amana in 2006. He graduated from the University of Rochester and earned
his teaching license and Master’s Degree at Indiana University.
As a sixth year teacher, Mr. Credi also serves as a National
Facilitator with the National School Reform Faculty, an organization
devoted to promoting high academic achievement and equitable student
outcomes through collaboration and professional inquiry.
Mary LoCurto
Grade Level Administrator
email: mlocurto@amanaacademy.org
Mary LoCurto joined Amana in 2006.
 Leslie Morrison
Grade Level Administrator
email: lmorrison@amanaacademy.org
Leslie Morrison joined Amana in 2007. Prior to Amana, Ms.
Morrison had 12 years of teaching experience. Most recently she has
been a kindergarten teacher at Mimosa Elementary School in Fulton
County. She is certified in both California and Georgia. She has a BS
in Early Childhood Education and has held many leadership positions.
Sumayya Allen
Business Manager
email: sallen@amanaacademy.org
Sumayya Allen joined Amana in 2005.
Sumaira Akber
School Data Specialist
email: sakber@amanaacademy.org
Sumaira Akber joined Amana in 2009.
Paul Holbrook
Directory of Instructional Technology
email: pholbrook@amanaacademy.org
Paul is responsible for all technology planning, implementation, and maintenance at Amana Academy. Prior to joining Amana in 2008, Paul has worked at EarthLink, CNN, and Georgia Tech.
Ruksana Shibly
Clinic Nurse and Front Desk Assistant
email: rshibly@amanaacademy.org
Ruksana Shibly joined Amana in 2009.
Amana Academy Teachers and Support Staff
Engy Abdalla
Kindergarten Teacher Assistant
email: eabdalla@amanaacademy.org
Engy Abdalla joined Amana in 2008.

Sarah Armbruster
3rd Grade Teacher
email: sarmbruster@amanaacademy.org
Sarah Armbruster joined Amana in 2009.

Hana Arslan
Arabic Teacher
email: harslan@amanaacademy.org
Hana Arslan joined Amana in 2005.
Theresa Ardolino
Kindergarten Teacher Assistant
email: tardolino@amanaacademy.org
Theresa Ardolino joined Amana in 2006.

Angelique Barnett
1st Grade Teacher
email: abarnett@amanaacademy.org
Angelique Barnett joined Amana in 2007.
Hiba Bawji
2nd Grade Teacher
email: hbawji@amanaacademy.org
Hiba Bawji joined Amana in 2009.
Djaouida Bensaadoun
Arabic Teacher
email: dbensaadoun@amanaacademy.org
Ms. Bensaadoun joined Amana in 2007 and was previously a kindergarten teacher's
assistant. She has a degree in dentistry from Algeria and is finishing
her teaching certification through Perimeter College. She currently
certified in Georgia as a French teacher.
Asuza Callaway
1st Grade Teacher
email: acallaway@amanaacademy.org
Asuza
Callaway joined Amana in 2008. Lori Casal
Kindergarten Teacher
email: lcasal@amanaacademy.org
Lori Casal joined Amana in 2008. Vicky Castro
8th Grade Math/Science Teacher
email: vcastro@amanaacademy.org
Vicky Castro joined Amana in 2006.
Shanna Curry
3rd Grade Teacher
email: scurry@amanaacademy.org
Shanna Curry joined Amana in 2009.
Natasha Condoll
3rd Grade Teacher
email: ncondoll@amanaacademy.org
Natasha Condoll joined Amana in 2007. Mrs. Condoll
previously taught 2nd grade at Woodland Elementary Charter School in
Fulton County. She has been a teacher for over 11 years.
She is certified in the states of Georgia and Louisiana for K-5th grades
and ESOL. Throughout her career she has served as coordinator and
chairperson for various committees and teams. She has a BA in
Education and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction.

Cheryl Dill
3rd Grade Teacher
email: cdill@amanaacademy.org
Cheryl Dill joined Amana in 2007. Ms. Dill has been a
2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teacher for the past 8 years. Prior
to Amana, she taught 5th grade at Langston Hughes Elementary in
Washington D.C. While there, she has served as the grade level
chair for the 4 years. She has a BA in Communications and an
M.Ed. in Elementary Education. Basma Elashker
Arabic Teacher
email: belashkar@amanaacademy.org
Basma Elashker joined Amana in 2007.

Cheryl Dill
3rd Grade Teacher
email: cdill@amanaacademy.org
Cheryl Dill joined Amana in 2007. Ms. Dill has been a
2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teacher for the past 8 years. Prior
to Amana, she taught 5th grade at Langston Hughes Elementary in
Washington D.C. While there, she has served as the grade level
chair for the 4 years. She has a BA in Communications and an
M.Ed. in Elementary Education.
Peter Epstein
6th Grade Humanitiesemail: pepstein@amanaacademy.org
Peter Epstein joined Amana in 2009.
Laurie Guthrie
Paraprofessional
email: lguthrie@amanaacademy.org
Laurie Guthrie joined Amana in 2007.
Brooke Heimerl
7th Grade Science Teacher
email: bheimerl@amanaacademy.org
Brooke Heimerl joined Amana in 2005.
Karen Helz
ESOL Teacher
email: khelz@amanaacademy.org
Karen Helz joined Amana in 2007. Merry Herdt
4th Grade Humanities Teacher
email: mherdt@amanaacademy.org
Merry Herdt joined Amana in 2005.

Priya Kadambi
3rd Grade Teacher
email: pkadambi@amanaacademy.org
Priya Kadambi joined Amana in 2009.

Leena Khan
2nd Grade Teacher
email: lkahn@amanaacademy.org
Leena Kahn joined Amana in 2009.

Denise Klein
Kindergarten Teacher
email: dklein@amanaacademy.org
Denise Klein joined Amana in 2007.
Stephanie Kumpf
7th Grade Humanities Teacher
email: skumpf@amanaacademy.org
Stephanie Kumpf joined Amana in 2008.

Eman Maamoun
Arabic Teacher
email: emaamoun@amanaacademy.org
Mrs. Maamoun joined Amana in 2007 and has been a teacher
since 1988 in the United Arab Emirates teaching ESL and serving as a
media specialist. She served as a consultant for Amana while
developing the charter, specifically working with the Arabic
component. Most recently she has been working as a volunteer in
various educational institutions in the area of media. She is
certified in the state of Georgia as a librarian, to teach ESOL, and as
proficient in Arabic. She has a BA in English Literature and an
MA in Information and Library Services.
Ayesha Mawad
4th Grade Math/Science Teacher
email: amawad@amanaacademy.org
Ayesha Mawad joined Amana in 2008.
Shonda McField
Instructional Support Teacher
email: smcfield@amanaacademy.org
Shonda McField joined Amana in 2008.
Kristen McNeil
2nd Grade Teacher
email: kmcneil@amanaacademy.org
Kristen McNeil joined Amana in 2009.

Ghada Mohamed
Kindergarten Teacher Assistant
email: gmohamed@amanaacademy.org
Ghada Mohamed joined Amana in 2008.
Seema Rokarya
Kindergarten Paraprofessional
email: srokarya@amanaacademy.org
Seema Rokarya joined Amana in 2009.
Sarah Passoff
1st Grade Teacher
email: spassoff@amanaacademy.org
Sarah Passoff joined Amana in 2009.
Svetlana Savova
Kindergarten Teacher
email: ssavova@amanaacademy.org
Svetlana Savova joined Amana in 2009.

Melissa Singh
Library Specialist
email: msingh@amanaacademy.org
Melissa Singh joined Amana in 2005. She is a school library
media specialist from Long Island, New York. She holds a Master's
Degree in Library and Information Science from Long Island University
and a BA in Elementary Education/Psychology from Dowling College.
Melissa has 5 years professional experience at the elementary level in
which she had the opportunity to establish and develop a new library
facility. She has also administered an enrichment program, providing
challenging academic activities to those students in need of more
intellectual stimulation. Melissa was attracted to Amana, because of
the opportunity to create a customized library that reflects and
supports students and staff. She is also interested in the philosophy
and learning approaches of a small sized charter school, which is a
refreshing change from New York's public schools. Melissa and her
husband live in Roswell. Ghada Swadek
Student Support
email: gswadek@amanaacademy.org
Ghada Swadek joined Amana in 2005.
Ivan Tcherepov
Physical Education/Health Teacher
email: itcherepov@amanaacademy.org
Coach Tcherepov joined Amana in 2005.
John Temples
6th Grade Science Teacher
email: jtemples@amanaacademy.org
John Temples joined Amana in 2007. He previously taught 6th grade science for two years at Calhoun Middle
School. He has an extensive background in outdoor and
experiential education. His BS is in Recreation and his MEd. is
in Education. He has had experience with teaching conflict
resolution and group therapy.
Dinah Thomas
2nd Grade Teacher
email: dthomas@amanaacademy.org
Dinah Thomas joined Amana in 2008.

Samantha Tunick
Kindergarten Teacher
email: stunick@amanaacademy.org
Sami Tunick joined Amana in 2005..
Maria Vaughan
Health/Fitness Teacher
email: mvaughan@amanaacademy.org
Maria Vaughan joined Amana in 2005.
Michelle Valerius
5th Grade Humanities Teacher
email: mvalerius@amanaacademy.org
Michelle Valerius joined Amana in 2008. Rochelle Wilson
7th & 8th Grade Humanities Teacher
email: rspears@amanaacademy.org
Rochelle Wilson joined Amana in 2007. Ms.
Wilson has taught Language Arts for the past 5 years. Most
recently she has been an English teacher at MceEachern High
School. She has a BA in English and an MA in Professional Writing
(2008). She is certified in Georgia in English, Behavioral
Science, Economics, Geography, History, and Political Science.
She is also a published author.
Lakeem Winborne
Art Teacher
email: lwinborne@amanaacademy.org
Lakeem Winborne joined Amana in 2008.
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