An Outdoor, Democratic School in NYC: Education professor, Maysaa Bazna, on creating Pono

Maysaa Bazna haș been involved in education and alternative education for many years. She earned her doctorate in curriculum and teaching at Columbia University, and was a professor in Columbia’s Teachers College and the City University of New York (CUNY). She has taught in the areas of learning disabilities, disability studies, and inclusive education. 

Maysaa is currently the Director of Professional Practice and Community Partnerships at the School of Education, Queens College, CUNY. 

In 2010, looking to create the kind of hands-on, self-directed educational experience she wanted for her child, she launched Pono, an outdoor, democratic education co-learning community in New York City. She continues to serve in an advisory role for Pono while also expanding her passion for outdoor education by partnering with the New York City public schools. 

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