The 2024 Bay Educator of the Year Award Winner
Len Baker
Len Baker is a science teacher at Cranston Area Career and Technical High School.
A deep passion for teaching and dedication to his students is something that is immediately evident when you meet and work with Len. His love of marine ecology and biology is demonstrated in the real-life marine learning lab he has transformed his classroom into for his students. He has definitely passed along his passion for the marine world to his students.
Len’s aquaculture lab provides hands-on experiences for his students to raise and care for fish and plants that can be found in and around Narragansett Bay. Len has been a true resource for our education team in providing opportunities for our staff to visit and tour his marine lab while learning from his students, he has provided professional development opportunities for the teachers we work with, and has been a freshwater science resource for our Aquarist when it comes to adding freshwater species into our new Aquarium.
In addition to these educational opportunities, Len has also donated his time by joining in on our strategic planning process by providing advice based off of his experiences. It is rare to see students enjoy working with a teacher enough to get them to stay after school or come back on the weekends to care for the plants and animals in their lab. He is a true inspiration.