AUGUST 2019

ack to SCHOOL
Teaching is a two-way street
Chaldean teachers on the lessons they’ve learned in the classroom
BY MONIQUE MANSOUR
Areej Hakim and her students, Rodney Karromi’s students, and Mary Ann Kassab-Ayar
Areej Hakim of Rochester
Hills, Mich. has taught for
14 years. She now serves as a
school counselor at Sterling Heights
High School.
“My most recent position in
teaching was teaching English Learners,
or EL, for high school students.
This was the most challenging and
rewarding part of my career,” said
Hakim. “I learned so much from our
refugees…their bravery and insight
are incredibly inspiring. Despite
their monumental challenges, they
are resilient. They are my heroes.”
For Hakim, teaching is in her
blood. “My mom taught in Detroit
Public Schools for more than 30
years. Her influence and dedication
inspired me to help others, too,” she
explained. “My brother and sister are
educators as well. I’m also married
to an educator. I feel fortunate to be
able to communicate on a daily basis
with these family members. Without
their knowledge and guidance,
I wouldn’t have been able to stay in
the field of education.”
Hakim’s beginning years in the
classroom taught her many lessons.
“I learned that it’s okay to not know
everything. You can always research
and continue to learn yourself as the
teacher, as you can learn just as much
from your students,” she said. “I also
learned that one has to dedicate a
lot of time and energy into this field,
but it’s so rewarding and fulfilling.
It makes me proud when my former
students reach out to me to let me
know how they’re doing.”
Rodney Karromi was born and
raised in southeast Michigan and is
currently a resident of Novi. He’s
currently a business teacher at Sterling
Heights High School. “I decided
I wanted to become a teacher
in 2001. I realized that life is short
and teaching could provide me with
a good work-life balance, so I went
back to school to earn my teaching
certification,” he said.
Karromi’s overarching teaching
philosophy is simple. “Be kind. During
my first year of teaching, I primarily
taught immigrants and refugees
Gabby Mansour, a former student of
Mary Ann Kassab-Ayar.
from Iraq,” he explained. “They were
wonderful! It was a challenge teaching
student in one class that were at
so many different learning levels, but
being kind and encouraging kindness
in the classroom made for a fruitful
educational experience for all.”
“If there’s advice I can offer to
students,” said Karromi, “It would be
the following: get involved at your
school! Do your best, respect your elders,
and always be reading!”
Karromi is also married to an educator,
Raneem Jamil. “Rodney and I
met at Warren Mott. We were married
in 2008 and now have two children,
Jude and Julia,” said Jamil. “I currently
am a Language Acquisition Teacher
at Warren Mott, while Rodney has
been moved to Sterling Heights High
School within our district. He teaches
his students to be fiscally responsible,
and I couldn’t be prouder.”
Jamil credits her Chaldean heritage
for her ability to connect with
students. “My Chaldean upbringing
has become an asset to me since I
started working in Warren Consolidated
Schools in 2002. The Chaldean
students at Warren Mott High
School have treated me like family
since day one,” she explained. “They
confide in me when they need to
because I speak their language and
I understand where they are coming
from. Over the years, my husband
and I have even attended the weddings
of former students. To hear
32 CHALDEAN NEWS AUGUST 2019