JENNIFER RICHARD-GANTKA
John F. Kennedy High School’s Global Leadership and Environmental Action Magnet (GLEAM)
Los Angeles Unified School District
Jennifer Richard-Gantka, an inspiring science educator at John F. Kennedy High School’s Global Leadership and Environmental Action Magnet (GLEAM) in Los Angeles, has been honored as the 2024-2025 Magnet Schools of America Region 2 Teacher of the Year. With over two decades of teaching experience, she has dedicated her career to fostering environmental literacy, social justice, and leadership among her students.
As the founding teacher of GLEAM, Richard-Gantka played a pivotal role in shaping a magnet program that integrates environmental action with global citizenship. She has developed hands-on learning experiences that connect science to real-world challenges, from student-led sustainability projects to interdisciplinary research on climate justice. Her commitment to experiential learning extends beyond the classroom—through partnerships with local organizations like the SOW Collective, she empowers students to turn their knowledge into action, tackling urban agriculture, food insecurity, and environmental sustainability.
Her leadership in service-based learning, including projects tied to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, ensures that students not only gain academic knowledge but also develop the critical thinking skills necessary to advocate for change in their communities.
“I believe you learn science by doing science,” Richard-Gantka shared. “I want my students to leave my classroom feeling empowered to make a difference in the world.”
Raise the level of performance consistent throughout school districts nationwide and creates a platform from which all magnet schools can flourish. Magnet Schools of America’s national certification process is designed to recognize the hard work of the best magnet schools in the nation and to help them as they grow.
