A global network of educators, Buddhist practitioners, artists, performers, students, and curriculum developers support Bala Yana. Many contributed to

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Noa Jones is an educator, author, and school founder with over 30 years of experience in education and contemplative practice. She holds an MSEd from UPenn's Graduate School of Education and has developed educational initiatives across the United States and Asia. She spent three years in the Kingdom of Bhutan working on intiaitives in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and various NGOs. In 2018, she founded Middle Way Education and the Middle Way School, an award-winning independent elementary school in Upstate New York. Noa has studied for decades with respected Buddhist teachers and brings deep respect for wisdom traditions alongside a commitment to inclusivity and child-centered design. Her children's book "How Do You Know What You Know" (Penguin Random House 2023) was honored with a 2024 NAPPA Award.