At the September 24 Ithaca City School District (ICSD) board meeting, Ithaca High School 9th-grade biology teacher LJ Lansdowne was recognized with the 2024 Raymond and Joan Loehr Innovative Science Teaching Award. The award honors Lansdowne for her exceptional contributions to science education and commitment to creating an inclusive and innovative learning environment.
Established in 2002 by the Loehr family, the Raymond and Joan Loehr Innovative Science Teaching Award is presented annually by the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) to an ICSD educator who demonstrates excellence in innovative science teaching. The award recognizes educators who utilize creative approaches to inspire interest in the sciences.
“Ms. Lansdowne’s approach to science education elevates student engagement by incorporating real-world, culturally meaningful contexts into her curriculum,” Ithaca High School Associate Principal Hilary Ewing said. “She increases inclusion for all students in STEM and encourages leadership and citizenship within her classroom.”
Lansdowne’s biology classroom is centered around project-based learning, with a focus on culturally responsive teaching. Her curriculum design reflects a deep commitment to both science and social equity. One of her standout projects engages students in analyzing vaccine rates across different subgroups, exploring societal structures that contribute to inequities. Another project on macromolecules encourages students to analyze recipes from their cultural backgrounds, connecting science to family traditions and cultural heritage. Through these hands-on experiences, students learn about the building blocks of life while connecting to their personal stories.
“Project-based learning is the future of education,” Lansdowne said. “Bringing relevance into curriculum, decolonizing our syllabi, holding space for neurodivergence to flourish, and accessing cultural and linguistic backgrounds for the good of all is the basis of project-based learning, and it should be used in every classroom, every school, every subject because kids don’t learn if they don’t see themselves reflected in the curriculum.”
The IPEI has awarded over $1 million in grant funds to ICSD teachers, staff, and students in support of innovative education and leadership. Last year they awarded 55 grants totaling $62,000. For more information about the IPEI and its support of innovative education, visit ipei.org.
Click here to view the presentation at the September 24 board meeting.