MAYSAA BAZNA

I am an educator, researcher, and an avid advocate for children having a voice in their education. My mission is to help cultivate children‘s intrinsic humanity and wisdom with the goal of creating a more just and harmonious world. I am a keen supporter of educational programs that count on children as active participants by trusting children to initiate and direct their own learning in pursuit of their own happiness.

I founded Pono in 2010. My journey to democratic education took several years of research into the history of various classical and modern systems of learning and education, along with introspection into the purpose of education and the process of learning. 

Prior to starting Pono, I was a Professor in teacher education programs at Columbia University’s Teachers College and the City University of New York. I have taught in the areas of learning disabilities, disability studies, and inclusive education.

I currently hold the position of Director of Clinical Practice at the School of Education, Queens College, CUNY, where equity, excellence, and ethics are the core values that guide the experiences of future teachers.

My research focus has been the development of special and inclusive education programs in the United States and abroad, as well as the intersections of spirituality, post-coloniality, and equity in education.

I hold a B.A. in English literature from Damascus University, an M.A. in learning disabilities, an M.S. in reading and learning disabilities, and an Ed.D. in curriculum and teaching. All of my graduate studies were at Teachers College, Columbia University. I live in New York City and my daughter, Sulaf, was the first student to enroll in Pono.

EMAIL: maysaa@pono.nyc