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Academics

Our instructional continuum begins with a holistic approach to learning, based on a unique blend of American and Finnish pedagogies and curricula in the primary years, transitioning to the project-based, experiential learning of the American curriculum in the secondary years.

Learning at Dar Essalam American School promotes students' skills in:

A Unique Philosophy:

DAS combines well-being, equity, and creativity with structure and innovation, creating a unique educational experience.

Educator Expectations

Teachers are encouraged to broaden their horizons, adopt innovative practices, and align with the school’s vision and mission, fostering a collaborative and research-driven environment.

Student-Centered Learning:

The blend promotes joy in learning, academic excellence, and holistic growth while preparing students to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

Learning Spaces

Created by the world-renowned American architectural firm, FXCollaborative, in partnership with Omar Alaoui, Morocco’s preeminent architect, the school was designed with modular and agile spaces to offer total flexibility for learning activities.

State-of-the-art spaces include the Black Box Theater, where students have the freedom to explore traditional and alternative performance techniques, express their art in different forms, and organize events; and the Makerspace, a universe dedicated to design, exploration, and experimentation, where learners familiarize themselves with the latest technology equipment.

These specially designed environments for learning and growth provide a link between instruction and interests. Activities are offered and promoted in the areas of athletics, visual arts, music, and theater. Students are also encouraged to pursue new avenues such as community outreach services, student leadership, and mentoring. The intersection of curricular and co-curricular activities are a central part of the extended community at Dar Essalam.

Our teachers

Relationships. Teachers. More often, research tells us that the relationship students develop with their teachers goes a long way to making a difference in their educational success.

This idea has guided us as we recruited our teachers for Dar Essalam American School. Our teaching staff this first year is made up of teachers with extensive international teaching practice. They have over 16 years, on average, of teaching experience.

Hailing from the UK, Australia, the US and Finland, we have gathered a strong group of educators who are ready to do their finest work here in Morocco. We are excited to introduce them to you! 

Nicole Roetter Gresback

Elementary TEACHER

Liz (Elizabeth) Wolden

Elementary Music TEACHER

Sirkku Huuska

Elementary teacher

Alex Maros

ELEMENTARY TEACHER

Johanna Winberg

Elementary Principal

Michelle Khallafi

Elementary Teacher

Alison Pluim

Secondary Counselor

Joseph McPherson

Design teacher & EAL support TEACHER

Nancy Shay

International Diploma Programme Coordinator & English TEACHER

Angel Araoz

Wellness TEACHER

Chantal Butzbach

ELEMENTARY TEACHER

LaShonda Terry

Elementary TEACHER

Anniina Kapanen

French Language Specialist

Lyubov Borisova Waters

ELEMENTARY COUNSELOR

Sandi Engler

College Counselor

Eeva Sirkku Konola

Elementary teacher

Joan Bolander

Learning Support TEACHER

Shalin Guillen

PREK TEACHER

Jeffrey Gresback

Middle school social studies teacher, and high school business management TEACHER

Wilson Ashton

Secondary Mathematics TEACHER

Megan Skaggs

ELEMENTARY TEACHER

Adil El Megaless

ARABIC TEACHER

Michelena McPherson

ELEMENTARY TEACHER

Mohammed Omari

ARABIC TEACHER

Ali Bougrine

Health and Physical Education TEACHER

Mark Martin

Middle School Maths TEACHER

Melanie Tahan

Librarian

Elementary TEACHER

Nicole Roetter Gresback

Nicole Roetter Gresback has been an elementary teacher for 26 years. She taught in the United States, Taiwan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and most recently in Myanmar.

Elementary Music TEACHER

Liz (Elizabeth) Wolden

Liz is the Elementary Music Teacher at DAS and has taught in the US, Egypt, Myanmar, India, UAE and Vietnam.

Elementary teacher

Sirkku Huuska

Sirkku Huuska is an elementary school teacher at DAS. She studied in the USA and UK. She has a master’s degree in sciences of education from The University of Helsinki in Finland. She has more than 15 years of experience in professional teaching in Finland and Denmark. 

ELEMENTARY TEACHER

Alex Maros

Alex Maros is the teacher for Grade 4. He is from the US and has been teaching at different schools in the USA for the past 6 years.

Elementary Principal

Johanna Winberg

Johanna Winberg is the Elementary School Principal. She is a teacher and principal from Finland, and she has a master’s degree in Education. Johanna has previously worked in Sweden, Qatar and Lebanon.

Elementary Teacher

Michelle Khallafi

Teaches Kindergarten at DAS. She is from the United States with a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and is certified in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). She has over 7 years of teaching experience at different schools in the USA.

Secondary Counselor

Alison Pluim

As a secondary school counselor at DAS, she is here to support our students’ social and emotional well-being. Her previous experiences include working as a DP psychology teacher and upper school counselor in other international schools in  Indonesia, UK, & Marrakesh. At home in Canada, she has worked in private therapy and as a counseling therapist with children & youths in clinical mental health settings.

Design teacher & EAL support TEACHER

Joseph McPherson

Joseph is our Design & EAL support teacher.  He has taught in Japan, China, Vietnam and the US. After 3 years of supporting IB Design teachers at his previous school in Vietnam, he is excited to share his love of the creative process with the students of DAS. Mr. Mac also enjoys cycling, sailing and exploring music through the flute and guitar.

International Diploma Programme Coordinator & English TEACHER

Nancy Shay

Nancy Shay is the International Diploma Programme Coordinator and an English teacher at DAS. She taught in the United States for over three decades and has also taught internationally in Israel and the Cayman Islands.

Wellness TEACHER

Angel Araoz

Angel Araoz is originally from Cuba where he taught physical education for 9 years. He came to DAS from Finland where he worked for the past four years.

ELEMENTARY TEACHER

Chantal Butzbach

Chantal Butzbach is our Kindergarten Teacher. She is from the United States and has over 19 years of experience teaching in Morocco, Congo, and China.

Elementary TEACHER

LaShonda Terry

LaShonda Terry started her teaching career as an elementary school teacher in the U.S. She later earned her MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, and went on to teach in the UAE and Mauritania. She also taught online classes to students in China.

French Language Specialist

Anniina Kapanen

Anniina Kapanen is a French acquisition teacher.  She taught French, Spanish and literature in Finland for the last ten years. She has also worked as an educator in Portugal and Mexico.

ELEMENTARY COUNSELOR

Lyubov Borisova Waters

Lyubov Borisova Waters is our Elementary School Counselor. She is an American citizen with over 27 years of experience working as a school counselor and principal.

College Counselor

Sandi Engler

Sandi Engler is our College Counselor and Student Well Being Team Leader. Originally from the USA, she has spent the last 35 years working overseas in India and primarily Turkey where she served as a teacher, Director of English, and Director of College Counseling. Sandi is a member of both IACAC (International Association of College Admissions Counselors) and NACAC (National Association of College Admissions Counselors). Her expertise spans across setting up and managing college counseling departments; advising and preparing students for university applications worldwide, as well as maintaining strong relationships with university representatives.

Elementary teacher

Eeva Sirkku Konola

Ms. Eeva has a master’s degree in education. She is also a qualified subject teacher of mathematics, English, Finnish, Literature and has a diploma in leadership and administration in education (Principal’s qualification).

She has more than 35 years of teaching experience in all grades, from KG to Middle School, mainly the Finnish educational system. She has been teaching overseas for 8 years, in the UAE, Oman and Maldives.

Learning Support TEACHER

Joan Bolander

Joan Bolander is our learning support teacher. She taught students with a variety of disabilities, learning and behavioral challenges in the United States.

PREK TEACHER

Shalin Guillen

Shalin Guillen teaches students in PreKindergarten at our school. She is from the United States and for the past 5 years has taught at schools in France, Morocco and the USA.

Middle school social studies teacher, and high school business management TEACHER

Jeffrey Gresback

Jeffrey Gresback is our middle school social studies teacher and high school business management teacher. He has M.Ed. from the University of Minnesota, USA. His intellectual pursuits have brought him to delve deeply into the history of the Middle East while studying at the American University of Cairo. His initial academic foundation lies in the social sciences of geography, economics, and history. The countries he has taught before include Bangladesh, Pakistan, Taiwan, Myanmar and Saudi Arabia. 

Secondary Mathematics TEACHER

Wilson Ashton

In his 12th year of teaching both in the United States and overseas, Wilson Ashton taught secondary and IB math. Wilson taught in Texas, China, and Colombia, from Algebra to Calculus. Aside from math, Wilson has two United States Soccer Federation coaching licenses, and has also coached volleyball, table tennis, and the math team.

ELEMENTARY TEACHER

Megan Skaggs

Megan Skaggs teaches Grade 1 at DAS. She is from the United States and has spent the last 10 years at different schools in the USA, Egypt, Albania, and China.

ARABIC TEACHER

Adil El Megaless

Adil El Megaless teaches Arabic Language to Grades 1 to 9. He is from Morocco and has been teaching at different schools in Morocco for the past 16 years.

ELEMENTARY TEACHER

Michelena McPherson

Michelena McPherson teaches Grade 5 at DAS. She is American and has over 24 years’ experience teaching at schools in Japan, USA, China and Vietnam.

ARABIC TEACHER

Mohammed Omari

Mohammed Omari teaches Arabic Language to Grades 1 to 9. He is Moroccan and has been teaching Arabic at various schools in Morocco for the past 6 years.

Health and Physical Education TEACHER

Ali Bougrine

Ali Bougrine is a Wellness Teacher for Grade PreK4 to Grade 5. He is from Morocco and has taught at international schools in Morocco and Indonesia for the past 7 years.

Middle School Maths TEACHER

Mark Martin

Mark Martin is from Athens, Georgia, United States. He has 15 years of experience as an educator in mathematics and has served on several departments like School Improvement Leadership Team, Mathematics Chair, Curriculum Writer Committee, Data Team Leader, and Benchmark Assessment Committee member.

Librarian

Melanie Tahan

Melanie Tahan is our PK-12th grade school librarian. She has been a teacher and school librarian for over 25 years. She has taught in the United states, Japan, Morocco, Scotland and Myanmar.

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Elementary School

Early childhood: Prek 3 to Kindergarten (Age 3-5)

The Finnish preschool curriculum is renowned as one of the most innovative and effective early learning systems in the world, designed to foster creativity, independence, and a lifelong love of learning. Grounded in decades of research on child development, it emphasizes play-based and child-centered learning, which studies have shown enhances cognitive, social, and emotional development. 

By focusing on holistic growth rather than rigid academics, Finnish early education nurtures curiosity and problem-solving skills, laying a strong foundation for future success. This approach not only makes learning exciting and enjoyable but also equips children with the resilience and adaptability needed in an ever-changing world.

Elementary school: Grade 1 to 5 (Ages 6-10)

Students in grades 1 to 5 will be assigned to a homeroom teacher and a grade level assistant. They will combine core subject lessons in math, science, social studies and English with supplemental learning in art, music, crafts and physical education. Their time is not limited to in class work, but also outdoor learning experiences with much time for recreation and movement activities. Students will be exposed to the Arabic and French languages from the early years program, through song, dance and storytelling. They will continue in subject classes for both languages with additional opportunities to practice the language during selected units for classes in art, music and other subjects.

Our Cultural and Entrepreneurial paths begin in these elementary years and provide students with true experiences in Moroccan culture as it relates to their learning objectives.

Secondary School

Secondary School: Grade 6 to 12   (Ages 11-17) 

Our secondary school program, spanning Grades 6 through 12, supports students through a journey of growth, independence, and preparation for future success.

Middle School (Grades 6 to 8), students transition to a more independent learning model. Core subjects are taught by specialized teachers, and students move between classrooms with the necessary materials. This stage introduces unique opportunities, including our Makerspace curriculum and Life X-perience course, where students develop practical skills for daily living. Language learning in Arabic and French emphasizes literacy and conversational fluency, while cultural and entrepreneurial explorations of Morocco bring learning to life through field trips and hands-on experiences beyond the classroom.

High school (Grades 9 to 12) builds on this foundation, giving students more autonomy and choice in their education. The curriculum includes traditional American courses in English, math, science, and history, alongside international language and cultural studies. Additionally, students explore 21st-century subjects like art and Design and select from various elective courses tailored to their interests.

Throughout secondary school, students receive personalized counseling to support their social-emotional development, boost self-esteem, and assist with career planning and university selection. These formative years are designed to help students find their voice, cultivate their passions, and prepare for a future as global citizens.

At Dar Essalam, our comprehensive secondary school program equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Boarding

Our boarding program is open to students starting in Grade 7. Students follow the same course of study as their day-school peers, with the added benefit of complete immersion in DAS’s student-centered, multilingual learning environment, plus 24/7 social-emotional support and mentorship from caring and qualified boarding staff.

Our secondary teachers support the boarding program through regular pastoral care, involving additional subject-area instruction, individualized academic support, outings across Rabat, and dynamic extracurricular activities.

Students also benefit from supervised, after-hours access to DAS’s state of the art learning environments, plus the boarding program’s very own “Atelier”, a digital design and media lab.

Student Support: English as an Additional Language Program

We offer students learning support in the area of English language acquisition and overall academics. Our programs are inclusive and developed alongside classroom teachers and their instructional program.

Our English as an Additional Language program (EAL) provides supplemental teaching of skills that are essential to reading, writing and speaking English in the classroom. We use the teacher’s lessons to reinforce vocabulary, practice fluency and increase production in written tasks. Students will be monitored using the WIDA language assessment and will work towards a proficiency level to be independent in their core classroom learning.

Calendar

Our school year calendar has 180 instructional days, spread out over ten months. Students will be given the national Moroccan holidays, as well as breaks in the fall, winter and spring. The school year will be divided into two semesters with twice a year report cards and meetings with parents, teachers and students.

2024/2025 School Calendar
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