Burhan Academy

Faculty and Staff

The only way for us to achieve the best results in implementing our vision is to curate a team with the highest and most qualified educators. And to maintain academic excellence, we have decided to establish an educational board with academic and educational veterans. 

• Principal – Dr. Ashraf Arafat: Born in Gaza, Palestine, Dr. Arafat, earned his Masters and Doctorate degrees in the U.S. He has a Ph.D. in educational leadership and certification from Harvard Graduate School of Education. He has dedicated his career to advancing the educational experiences of diverse learners, guided by the Islamic principle that seeking knowledge is a sacred duty. He also has several years of experience as an Islamic School Principal in the U.S.

• School Administrator – Kiran Ansari: Ms. Ansari has an MBA and 25 years of experience working with various educational and Islamic organizations in the United States. She has been raising her family of three children in Elgin for the last 13 years and is well-connected to the local community. Her extensive and relevant experience with content creation, marketing, social media, writing, and community outreach will in sha Allah be an asset to Burhan Academy. 

• Early Childhood Education Director: Nancy Beal:

  Ms. Beal is a State Licensed Child Care Director with Level 3 certification. She has more than 25 years of experience with early and secondary education. She has a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and an M. Ed in Curriculum and Instruction.

  She has run her own childcare center for more than 13 years and has delivered successful training programs across diverse educational industries.

• Preschool Teacher – Sufia Haque: Ms. Haque is a licensed elementary educator and a certified intervention specialist. She graduated with a major in Elementary Education and has more than 6 years of experience teaching at schools in Lombard, Palatine, and Elgin. She has worked in specialized classrooms and enjoys using technology to create digital materials to support learning. We are looking forward to seeing what Ms. Haque has planned for our students.

• Pre-K Teacher – Wafaa Zabadneh: Ms. Zabadneh has more than 7 years of teaching experience at Islamic schools. She holds a master’s degree from Benedictine University. She is also fluent in Arabic and a great public speaker. She is an energetic and enthusiastic educator who is looking forward to setting up her classroom and welcoming students at Burhan Academy very soon, in sha Allah.

• Athletics Director/ Physical Education Teacher – Cliff Paul: Coach Cliff is certified by the NCAA, USA Basketball, and Jr. NBA. He has been the Head Coach for Illinois HoopStars and Power Through Basketball. He has led sports programming for preschool through high school and has also worked with professional adult players. He is looking forward to conducting interactive P.E. classes and introducing Burhan Academy students to a variety of sports, in sha Allah. 

• Kindergarten Teacher – Walaa Zabadneh: Ms. Zabadneh is a certified teacher who graduated from UIC with a degree in Education. She has experience teaching Math, Science, ELA, Islamic Studies, and Quran to students in Kindergarten through 6th Grade. She is passionate about creating a positive and engaging learning environment in Islamic schools. We are excited to add such an enthusiastic member to the Burhan Academy staff.

• 1st Grade Teacher – Heba Gaafer: Ms. Gaafer has more than 12 years of teaching experience at various grade levels. She has served as a Department Head at a large local Islamic school. She has also worked in schools using American, International Baccalaureate, and British school systems. She establishes a great rapport with children and communicates effectively with parents. Burhan Academy students will be in good hands with Ms. Gaafer, in sha Allah.

• 2nd Grade Teacher – Mr. Hisham Arafat – With a degree in Education from the University of Utah, Mr. Hisham is a dedicated educator with more than a decade of experience teaching diverse age groups and subjects. His main area of expertise is designing engaging curricula for ELA and Social Studies from elementary to high school.He has also led athletic programs, judged Spelling Bees, and is proficient in integrating technology in the classroom to engage students in innovative ways. 

• 3rd Grade Teacher – Sophia Latifi: Ms. Latifi has a master’s degree in mathematics for elementary teachers and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and Sociology. She has 35 years of teaching experience both in Chicago public schools and suburban Islamic schools. She believes that the classroom should be set up to stimulate each student’s unique learning style.

• Islamic Studies & Quranic Arabic Teacher – Sh. Ibrahim Orlovic: Shaikh Ibrahim studied Islamic studies and Arabic at a master’s level for six years in Al Hussnain Seminary. He has also taught children how to read and write Arabic. Some of his students went on to become huffaz of the Quran, and some are pursuing further Islamic studies. He is looking forward to sharing his love for both the Arabic language and deen with students at Burhan Academy, in sha Allah.

• Islamic Studies & Quranic Arabic Teacher – Shaykh Muhammad Bilal –

  Shaykh Bilal began his Islamic studies at Jamia Al-Hussnain and went on to complete his Masters In Islamic Studies at the renowned Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi. He has taught Arabic reading and writing to students of various ages and is especially passionate about the Arabic language and Islamic theology (ʿAqīdah). He is committed to cultivating a deep connection to the deen and a strong foundation in traditional Islamic knowledge.

  He also serves as the resident scholar at Masjid Al Wajidi. 

• Head of Security – Devin Tolver: Burhan Academy has enlisted Ultimate Response Consultants to oversee security services on campus. URC will implement a comprehensive security plan ensuring the protection of students, faculty, and staff. URC will also coordinate with local law enforcement for increased surveillance. Focusing on maintaining a visible security presence through patrols and access control, URC is committed to creating a safe learning environment at Burhan Academy, in sha Allah.