One Team, One Mission
At the American International School of Algiers (AISA), we are proud of the dedicated team that makes our school a special place for students and families. Each grade level is led by a U.S.-certified teacher with international experience, skilled in best practices, differentiation, and multi-grade instruction.
Our team provides a rigorous yet supportive learning environment, with small classes that allow for personalized attention. Alongside our teachers, our talented Algerian staff, administrators, and support team ensure smooth operations and create a safe, welcoming community.
Together, we are committed to nurturing every student’s academic success, personal growth, and love of learning. We believe that when teachers, staff, and families work hand in hand, students are empowered to reach their highest potential. At AISA, we strive to inspire a lifelong love of learning and prepare our students to thrive in an ever-changing world.
Get To Know Us!
Administrative and Student Support Team
Hello! My name is Ariella Knight, but you can call me Ms. Knight. I am the School Director, originally from Boston, Massachusetts.
One of my favorite quotes is by Maya Angelou: “If you are always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be.”
Hello, my name is Julie Cox, but you can call me Ms. Julie. I will be your Elementary Principal, serving Preschool-Grade 5 students, teachers and families. AISA will be my seventh school as a principal, both in the United States and internationally. I am thrilled to join the AISA team.
My message to students is, "Kindness matters every minute, every day, every week."
Hello! My name is Jonathan Harper but you can call me Mr. Harper. I am the instructional coach for secondary and specials teachers. I am originally from Escanaba, Michigan in the United States .
My favorite quote is: "The opposite of war is not peace. It's creation" -Jonathan Larson
Hello!! My name is Steve Luukkonen, but you can call me Mr. L! I am the Secondary Dean of Students and Athletics Director at AISA, originally from Shakopee, Minnesota!
A quote I keep close to my heart is from Steve Prefontaine: "To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift!"
Hello! My name is Sawsen Lyna Malak Boudouaour, but you can call me Ms. Sawsen. I am the HR & Finance Officer, originally from Constantine, Algeria.
My favorite quote are lyrics by Justin Bieber: "Don't do nothing unless your heart's in it".
Hello! My name is Hadia Choukri Bouziani, but you can call me Hadia. I am the Office, Admissions & Marketing Manager, and I am originally from Algiers.
One of my favorite quotes is by Jocko Willink: “Discipline equals freedom.”
My name is Yasmina Azzala, but you can call me Yasmina. I am an Administrative Manager at AISA. I am originally from Aïn Defla, Algeria, but I have spent most of my life in Libya.
My message to students is: “Dream big, work hard, and never stop learning, because every day is a new opportunity to learn, grow and shine ”
Hello! My name is Ahmed Assil Bouhadidja, But you can call me Mr. Assil. I am the Office Assistant, Originally from Mila, Algeria.
My message to students is: "happy to help each one of you".
Hello! My name is Kelley Bodwell, but you can call me Ms. K. I serve as the English Language Learning Coordinator, and I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
A favorite quote of mine is by James Baldwin: “Though we do not wholly believe it yet, the interior life is a real life, and the intangible dreams of people have a tangible effect on the world.”
Hello! My name is Feriel Bekhsis, but you can call me Ms. Feriel. I am the School Counselor, originally from Reghaia, Algiers.
A favorite quote of mine is from Dr. Seuss: “You're off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so... get on your way!”
Hello! My name is Malia Souici but you can call me Malia. I am a Nurse at AISA, and I am originally from Algiers, Algeria
My message to students is: "Be yourself, stay curious, and always remember that you are capable of more than you think. Take care of yourself, look out for one another, and never hesitate to ask for help when you need it."
Hello! My name is Faten Hakimi, but you can call me Ms. Fatine. I am the Front Desk Receptionist at AISA, born and raised in Algiers.
My message to students is a quote by the renowned Arab poet Al-Mutanabbi:
“If you venture toward an honor worth attaining, do not settle for anything beneath the stars.”
«إذا غامرتَ في شرفٍ مرومٍ، فلا تقنعْ بما دونَ النجومِ»
Instructional Team: Teachers and Teaching Assistants
Hello! My name is Fella Ghezali, but you can call me Ms. Fella. I am a the Early Years Teacher, working primarily with Pre-Kindergarten 3, and I am originally from Algiers, Algeria.
My message to students is: “Every day is a new adventure to learn, grow, and shine bright.”
Hello!My name is Coral Anne Green, but you can call me Coral. I am a Pre-K 4 Teacher at AISA, and I am originally from Johannesburg, South Africa.
I believe in inclusive education and creating a classroom where every child feels welcomed, valued, and supported. I love encouraging curiosity through fun, engaging, and hands-on activities and you will almost always find me right there participating alongside the kiddos!
My message to students is: “Be curious, be kind, have fun, and never be afraid to try something new. You are capable of amazing things!”
Hello my name is Lana Nolan. I am from a small town near Ottawa Canada. I will be teaching PreK4 after having taught 4 and 5 year old students for a couple of decades. I love this age group because every year I learn something new from them.
One of the things I often say to parents is, "Hugs and a sense of humour solve most problems." I am really looking forward to connecting and laughing with the AISA community.
Hello! My name is Shubhra Luukkonen, but you can call me Ms. Shubhra. I am the Kindergarten teacher at AISA, and I am originally from India. I hold the ultimate daily pass to a world of endless curiosity, and the occasional untied shoe emergency!
Message to Students: "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't—you're right." — Henry Ford
Hello! My name is Katherine Chwirut, but you can call me Ms. Katherine. I am the first grade teacher at AISA, and I’m originally from Fairfax, Virginia, USA.
School should be a place filled with curiosity, laughter, friendship, and joyful learning.
Dr. Seuss wrote, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
Hello! My name is Cameron Levenstein, but you can call me Mr. Cam. I am the Grade 2 Teacher, originally from Bedford, New Hampshire, USA.
My message to students is: “I am excited to welcome my class in and build up a team that is ready to tackle any problem.”
Hello! My name is Robin France, but my students call me 'Mr. France'. I often get asked if I come from France, but I'm actually from the North of England. I am excited to be joining AISA as the Grade 3 teacher and can't wait to get to know all the Grade 3 students throughout the year.
My favourite quote for my students is this: "Every student in every classroom is better than me at something... My job is about finding out what that is".
Hello! My name is Rehab Mostafa, but you can call me Ms. Rehab. I am the Grade 4 Teacher, originally from Cairo, Egypt.
My message to students is: “I can’t wait to meet each of you—this year is going to be full of growth, laughter, and learning!”
Hello! My name is Kellie Halpenny, but you can call me Ms. Kellie. I am the Grade 5 Teacher and the Elemantary School Librarian, and I am originally from Texas, USA.
My message to students is: “I am so excited to meet you all this year, and I know we will have so much fun together!”
Hello! My name is Theresa Brecker, but you can call me Ms. Theresa. I am the Middle and High School Social Studies Teacher, originally from Westminster, Maryland, USA.
My message to students is: “Welcome! I am so excited to welcome you as leaders and learners and all grow together!”
Greetings! My name is Suhail Rafidi, but you can call me Mr. Suhail. I am the Middle and High School English Language Arts teacher at AISA, and I hail from San Francisco, California.
Message to students: My goal is to inspire your curiosity and affection for books, cultivate your enthusiasm for writing, and help you build the lifelong skills needed to share your thoughts with the world.
Hello! My name is Ben Chwirut, but you can call me Mr. Ben. I am the Middle School and High School Math teacher at AISA, and I am originally from Fairfax, Virginia, USA.
My favorite quote about education is: "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin. I am very excited to meet you all and learn together this year!
Hello! My name is Maryama Ali, you can call me Miss Maryama or Miss Maryam. I am the Upper School Science teacher at AISA! My Hometown is Toronto, Canada.
Here is a quote from Paulo Friere that I think about often: “Apart from inquiry, apart from the praxis, individuals cannot be truly human. Knowledge emerges only through invention and re-invention, through the restless, impatient, continuing, hopeful inquiry human beings pursue in the world, with the world, and with each other.”
Hello! My name is Robert Graham, but you can call me Mr. Robbie. and I am the PE teacher at AISA. I grew up in a town named San Juan Capistrano located in Southern California, studied my undergraduate in Northern Maine and then taught in the Bronx, New York City.
I am truly so excited for the amazing year that awaits our students!
Hello! My name is Silina Adnane, but you can call me Ms. Silina. I am an Art Teacher at AISA, I was born in Algiers and I am originally from Bejaia.
My message to students is a deep quote from the artist Georgia O’Keeffe: “I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way.”
Hello! My name is Nora Oudni, but you can call me Maîtresse Nora. I am the French Teacher, originally from Tizi Ouzou.
One of my favorite quotes is: « Il n'y a pas de barrières infranchissables. Il faut y croire un peu. Il y a bien des fleurs qui poussent dans le sable.» Grand Corps Malade.
Hello! My name is Saida Oulebsir, but you can call me "Maitresse Saida" . I am a French Teacher at AISA, and I am originally from Algiers, Algeria.
I am passionate about making language learning engaging, meaningful, and enjoyable for every student.
My message to students is: “Every new word you learn opens a new door to the world.”
Hi i’m Halla Benzidane, but you can call me Miss Halla. I’m the Arabic Teacher for non-natives at AISA, and I’m originally from Algiers, Algeria.
My message for my students would be: “إنّما العلمُ أن تتعلّم كيف تُفكّر، لا أن تحفظ ماذا تفكّر”
“True learning is learning how to think, not what to think”
Hello my name is Ikram Salah, you can call me, “Mouaâlima Ikram : مُعَلِّمَة إِكْرَام", I am the Arabic teacher for native speakers. Originally from Medea, Algeria.
My message to my students is: “ تعلّم العربيّة، و افتح بابًا لعالم جديد"
Hello! My name is Lyna Hanane Abdelli, but you can call me Ms. Lyna. I am the ICT/STEAM teacher at AISA, and I am originally from Algiers.
Hello! My name is Manel Ahmed-Seid, but you can call me Ms. Manel. I am the Learning Support Coordinator & Upper School Librarian, and I am originally from Algiers, Algeria.
My message to students is: “Your smiles and curiosity are my greatest happiness every day.”
Hello! My name is Imen Nour Imen Ikram Hamour, but you can call me Miss Imen. I’m an ELA Teaching Assistant at AISA.
I’m Kabyle from both sides of my family, but I was born and raised right here in Algiers.
My message to my students is simple: always have fun and never take things too seriously! Learning is important, but it should also be fun, creative, and something you enjoy.
Hello! My name is Ryma Roumane, You can call me Ms. Ryma. I am the ELL teaching assistant and I'm from Algiers, Algeria.
A favorite quote of mine is by Benjamin Franklin : "Tell me and I forget, Teach me and I remember, Involve and I learn".
Hello! My name is Lylia Deghiche, you can call me Ms. Lylia, I am the early years teaching assistant. From Tizi Ouzou - Algeria.
My favorite quote is: "Have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires and a touch that never hurts".
Hello ! I'm Dounia Moula, but you call me Ms. Dounia. I am an Elementary Teaching Assistant at AISA, and I am originally from Blida.
A quote that I myself live by is : "Every day is a chance to learn something amazing, so open your mind and believe in your potential."