IN THIS ISSUE

• 3rd Grade Team Feature
• Fridley Mayor Visits Al-Amal School
• College & Career Readiness Activities

Br. Alper Günay

(3A Homeroom Teacher)

Br. Alper Günay brings a rich and international background to his role as the Grade 3A Homeroom Teacher at Al-Amal School. He holds a Law Degree (J.D. equivalent) from a university in Turkey and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Education to further strengthen his instructional practice and deepen his understanding of effective teaching, learning, and student development.

His educational experience spans multiple countries and a variety of learning environments. Before joining Al-Amal School, Mr. Alper taught in Vietnam, where he developed a strong appreciation for cross-cultural communication and global perspectives in education. After moving to the United States, he served in several roles, including Paraprofessional, Special Education Teacher, and Substitute Teacher. These positions gave him extensive hands-on experience supporting students with diverse academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs.

This is Mr. Alper’s first year at Al-Amal School, and he finds great fulfillment in witnessing the daily academic and personal growth of his 3A students. He strives to create a learning environment that is structured, encouraging, and engaging—one in which every child feels capable, supported, and empowered to succeed.

Outside of school, Mr. Alper enjoys spending time in nature, gardening, and reading. Most of all, he cherishes quality time with his wife and their two young children—a five-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son.

A fun fact about him: before entering the field of education, he practiced law in Turkey, a background that continues to shape his emphasis on critical thinking, clear communication, and thoughtful problem-solving in the classroom.

Sr. Tasneem Osman Keval

(3B Homeroom Teacher)

Sr. Tasneem is honored to serve as a Third Grade teacher at Al-Amal School this year. Although new to the Al-Amal community, she is certainly not new to the field of education. Before entering the classroom, she worked as an Investment Analyst, later discovering her true passion for teaching. Over the past 23 years, she has taught and tutored students in Milwaukee, Los Angeles, New Haven, and Minneapolis, gaining extensive experience across a variety of educational settings.

Her background spans public and charter schools, with much of her career dedicated to Private Islamic Schools—places where her own children learned alongside the students she taught. In addition to her full-time teaching roles, she has been an active instructor and volunteer in Islamic weekend schools for many years, including within the Twin Cities community.

Sr. Tasneem holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Science in Education (K–6) from Connecticut State University. She also brings strong experience in curriculum development, instructional design, and creating meaningful learning experiences for diverse learners.

In her classroom, she emphasizes accountability, responsibility, and independent thinking. She incorporates mindfulness and emotional-regulation strategies to help students strengthen both their “Wise Owl” (prefrontal cortex) and “Bulldog” (amygdala) brain skills. She especially enjoys witnessing students’ “aha” moments, particularly those sparked by Constructivist approaches.

Deeply rooted in the Twin Cities Muslim community since the 1970s, Sr. Tasneem is a proud mother of two college students. She enjoys the outdoors in every season, traveling, the arts, yoga and wellness, and listening to podcasts.

Sr. Basma Elkishawy

(3rd Grade Educational Assistant)

Sr. Basma Elkishawy brings a strong professional background and a deep dedication to student growth to her role as an Educational Assistant in the 3rd grade at Al-Amal School. Although she joined the staff this year, she has been part of the Al-Amal family for many years as a parent—an experience that strengthened her appreciation for the school’s mission and its commitment to nurturing well-rounded, confident learners.

Sr. Basma holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business and Economics from St. Catherine University. Her academic work in global business, data analysis, economics, and organizational leadership helped her develop strong communication, research, and analytical skills. These strengths shape her thoughtful, collaborative approach in supporting students and teachers in the classroom.

Before transitioning into education, Ms. Basma built an accomplished career across multiple professional fields. She served as an Unemployment Insurance Analyst for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, where she supported employers statewide with clarity, empathy, and exceptional attention to detail. She also worked as a Technical User Support Analyst for Medtronic, providing solutions to international clients while consistently maintaining customer satisfaction ratings above 95%. Her earlier experience in customer service, product support, and team supervision strengthened her skills in relationship-building, time management, and process improvement.

Sr. Basma was twice recognized with Medtronic’s IT Tech Spotlight of the Month award in 2020. She is grateful to bring her diverse experience to Al-Amal, where she works each day to help students feel capable, supported, and excited to learn.