Naela El-Hinnawy

With a decade as a teacher in the American classroom, and world-class training in ethnographic and multiple methods, I bring with me not only stellar research skills, but the real-world know-how and experience which can provide insight, support the educative work of our democratic polity. 

I started my career as an ethnographer consultant at Scenarios USA, a Brooklyn-based educational nonprofit. After some time in a PhD program and teaching college courses, I turned my life in a new direction and got my teaching license to become a K-12 educator, specifically in early childhood based on my understanding of Friere and Montessori. I was a teacher in Baltimore City Public Schools for four years before moving to Washington and teaching in a public charter school for three years and in DC's public schools for one year. 

I have a bachelor's in sociology from Princeton University where my interest in education policy analysis was empowered by my experiences as an Americorps volunteer. This led to a master's degree in the social sciences from the University of Chicago where I became more interested in urbanism, inequality, and intersectionality. Currently, I am a PhD matriculant with twelve years of professional experience in education. I am looking to use my professional experience and schooling again in a new career outside of the classroom where I can bring my expertise to help increase understanding of the importance of education in our democratic polity.