IB Science Teacher Shares Passion for Environmental Education

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Gantt is pictured near the Arenal Volcano.

Craig Gantt of Hoffman Middle School embodies the characteristics of the IB (International Baccalaureate) learner. IB learners strive to be inquirers, thinkers, communicators, risk-takers, knowledgeable, principled, caring, open-minded, balanced and reflective. Gantt certainly proves he is passionate about learning and the environment. The eighth grade science teacher has been to Costa Rica several times within the past year to expand his knowledge as well as to help maintain the country’s rainforest.

“Costa Rica is rich in natural beauty,” said Gantt. “It’s hard not to be captivated by the diversity of the environment and its species.”

Gantt has also shared his passion for Costa Rica with his students. During spring break 2012, he took three students to experience the country’s tropical rainforest.

“The trip during spring break was a great educational opportunity for the students,” Gantt stated. “The experience not only gave them a desire to see the world but also educated them about ecology as well as the environment and what we can do to keep the rainforests thriving.”

This summer Gantt traveled alone to Costa Rica to help plant a land bridge of tropical rainforest trees from one rainforest section to another.

“Costa Rica, which was once covered by one large rainforest, is suffering from deforestation,” explained Gantt. “There is a growing concern about pasturelands separating the rainforests. Planting the corridor of tropical plants will allow rainforest species such as sloths, monkeys, reptiles, birds, insects, etc. to travel between forests allowing them to survive without competing against their own or other species.”

Students will enjoy Gantt’s stories of his experience planting the land bridge as well as the menagerie of animals in his classroom and the large photo prints of Costa Rica that decorate the science lab.

The International Baccalaureate® (IB) is a non-profit educational foundation that is focused on the student. IB Organization’s four programs for students help develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world. Founded in 1968, the IBO currently works with 3,464 schools in 143 countries to develop and offer challenging programs to more than 1,049,000 students aged 3 to 19 years.