City Schools recognizes Arab American Heritage Month by highlighting the vital role Arab American educators play in shaping our school communities, bringing multicultural perspectives that enrich learning environments.
Ms. Hussain is an art teacher at Frederick Douglass High School who is passionate about helping students discover their potential. For the past seven years, she has been a driving force for student creativity and expression in Baltimore City Public Schools, building on her experience teaching at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Background & Identity
Having immigrated from Egypt in 2014, she has spent nearly 15 years in Maryland, including seven as an educator. During that time, she has refined her approach to bridge cultural gaps and ensure all students feel welcome.
Q: How would you introduce yourself to someone who has never met you before?
A: "I am Egyptian, Black, and now American. My students used to ask me how that could be. I explain to them Egypt is in northern Africa. The critical question is always, "Why are you here in Baltimore?" and I explain to them that there is a close connection between both cultures. I chose Baltimore [City Public Schools] because of its diversity."
Q: What do you teach and what do you love most about your role at this school?”
A: "I teach Art I, II, III, and AP Art. I love that the students here are so multifaceted, working in drawing, coloring, painting, and sculptural work—advancing in skill through each process. It's an achievement to witness students grasping more abstract concepts."
Embracing our differences
Through embracing her heritage, Ms. Hussain has come to understand the delicate balance between Egyptian and American cultures, carrying the most meaningful aspects of each into her classroom every day. She shares, "There is no forcing people to accept my culture. It takes a while to listen and understand both sides. Balance is essential to our community."
Q: How has your Arab American heritage shaped who you are today?
A: "My students are like my kids. We laugh together and solve problems together as a family. That is my culture."
Q: What do you teach your students about your educational experience in Egypt?
A: "Respect is first in all aspects in all of Middle Eastern culture. It is number one in any relationship. From parents to kids, from kids to parents, from teachers to kids, and from kids to teachers. Even if it's something they don’t like, we work on explaining it with respect."
Q: What does being Arab-American mean to you personally?
A: "My neighbor and I, if we are close to each other, I have to check frequently. 'Do you need anything? or 'Do you need food?' If we hear there is someone in need, we hurry to support each other... it's done with urgency."
Classroom and community impact
In her classroom and throughout the school community, Ms. Hussain centers her work on empowering students to recognize their own agency. She encourages them to understand the power they have in shaping their futures through their choices, commitment, and self-belief.
Q: How do you hope to impact your students beyond academics?
A: “I hope to inspire them through my story. I’ve been here since 2014, and I remind my students that we are part of a strong, resilient community. I came here with a fine arts degree and what would have been considered a lot of money back home. I quickly realized that prices were not comparable and that I needed to start over and continue my education. This experience has shaped where I am today. I want my students to know that, regardless of their circumstances, they can show up and support themselves.”
Q: Why is representation important for students in a diverse district like ours?
A: "Each student deserves to be served by a professional, certified, model teacher. Students also deserve to know that these model teachers come in all shapes, sizes, and cultures."
Q: “Can you share a moment when you realized you were making a difference for a student?”
A: "In 2024, I taught a nonverbal student in my Introduction to Art class. He went on to win second place in an art competition, with his artwork later displayed at City Hall. That experience reinforced that art is its own language."
Paying it forward
Ms. Hussain is passionate about ensuring that students from all backgrounds develop the ability to express themselves with confidence. In her free time, she mentors Arab American students at Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School alongside another educator. Together, they work to support students in strengthening their English proficiency while also sharing study resources and strategies for success.
Q: What message would you share with young Arab American students in our district?
A: "You have opportunities to learn and succeed. There are a lot of resources out there for education, training, and certificate programming—You just have to search for it!"
Q: What does Arab American Heritage Month mean to you?
A: "It makes me feel super valuable. Recognizing us as a part of this critical community just makes it more welcoming and loving."
Q: Finish this sentence: ‘I teach because…"
A: "I teach because every student deserves to see what’s possible when someone believes in them.”
Learn more about how City Schools recognizes its community, and explore our feature article highlighting the history and origins of Arab American Heritage Month.