Janna Mahfoud

Bio

Science Educator

Janna Mahfoud joined BSCS in May 2020 as a Science Educator working across professional learning and leadership development, with a focus on transforming science teaching and learning for historically marginalized populations. She is also co-chair of the BSCS Equity and Social Justice working group.

Prior to BSCS, Janna taught 5th-8th grade science in Hawai’i, California, and Arizona. She also served as the Science & Engineering Specialist for a K-8 school district rich in cultural heritage, family ties, and global links. Janna worked in partnership with families, teachers, and other educational leaders to address structural inequities and provide quality science teaching and learning for students facing systems designed to meet the needs of dominant groups. Janna has used the lens of access and equity to guide the implementation of science instructional materials, development of professional learning tracks, and in providing coaching services to teachers, teacher-teams, site-based instructional coaches, and site administration. In her work, there is a strong emphasis on language development for multilingual students through three-dimensional science learning.

In her homebase of Phoenix, Arizona, Janna was part of the working group that developed the K-12 Arizona Science Standards and served on the Arizona Science Teachers Association Equity Task Force. Janna also completed two EdReports review cycles for grades 3-5 and 6-8 as a science content reviewer.

Janna has a B.A. in Natural Sciences-Chemistry from Fresno State, an M.A. in Teaching Elementary Education from Chaminade University, and an M.A. in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut. Her graduate studies focused on multi-racial identity development, education, and human rights. Janna was also a research fellow, learning with Indigenous educators in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Outside of work, Janna enjoys traveling, spending time with her spouse and two young children, and seeking out new culinary experiences.