Jeff Rivero
Teacher Award Recipient

Jeff Rivero, a passionate educator at Yosemite High School in Merced, California, is this year’s CEEF educator of the year award winner. With a focus on hands-on, action-oriented learning, Jeff has earned recognition for his important work in both environmental advocacy and social justice. Through initiatives like lithium battery recycling, the creation of a documentary showcasing women's empowerment in Kenya, and the advocacy for healthier oceans, Jeff is showing his students that they have the power to change the world. He teaches students that they have a special power, which he calls their Kid Kryptonite, which is that adults will generally listen to youth when they engage constructively with issues they are passionate about. Together, Jeff and his students have taken on a breadth of issues that improve their local and global environment. CEEF is proud to honor Jeff with this environmental education award.

At Yosemite High School, a continuation school where many students face personal and academic challenges, Jeff’s unique approach to teaching empowers the diverse student body to become environmental advocates and leaders. In his teaching, Jeff blends history, social justice, and environmental stewardship. His students analyze historical events through an environmental lens, exploring how past decisions related to resource management and environmental policies might have impacted societies. This interdisciplinary approach sparks critical thinking and fosters a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of global challenges. Jeff runs the Junior Ambassadors/Interact (JAs) club. The club started a recycling program for lithium batteries. His students dive deep into the environmental consequences of lithium mining, pollution, and resource depletion, and learn the importance of responsible recycling. This project not only reduces ecological harm but also fosters a culture of sustainability and environmental stewardship. Through their work advocating for healthier oceans, Jeff and his students are working on NOAA’s Ocean Guardian status, expanding their commitment to environmental responsibility.

One of the most powerful examples of Jeff's influence as an educator is the student-driven documentary, Girls Can WISH: Women of Int in egrity, Strength, and Hope. This documentary, being written and produced by his students, follows the journey of a female student at the Daraja Academy in Kenya who overcomes immense gender inequality to achieve higher education. His Interact students received a full-ride sponsorship from their sponsoring Rotary Club, Merced Sunrise. The documentary also highlights the intersection of environmental justice and social justice, as these young women strive for equality while advocating for sustainability. Jeff has guided his students through this project, creating a platform that amplifies the voices of those advocating for change on a global scale. The film has already garnered significant support, and the students look forward to entering it in film festivals after its production, making it an invaluable educational tool and an advocacy platform. Jeff’s students engage with global issues and become empowered to raise the bar for addressing international, national, and local concerns.

Jeff’s passion for agriculture stems from his father’s and grandfather’s backgrounds in sweet potato farming and dairy work. Merced County produces over 80% of California’s sweet potato crop, making the state the second-largest producer in the nation, and Jeff believes that connecting smaller farms to green and STEM-related technologies is vital for their survival in a competitive market. He advocates for giving all students, including those in urban areas, the opportunity to explore agricultural STEM, as they might develop innovations that help small farms thrive. Through this, students will also create a deeper respect for the work and dedication required to produce food crops. Jeff’s goal is to support policies that promote sustainable STEM education and regenerative agriculture, helping to sustain the Central Valley as the breadbasket of the world.

Outside of the classroom, Jeff has dedicated himself to promoting environmentally aware legislation. Through his self-funded advocacy trips to Washington, DC, he has championed such programs as Green Ribbon Schools, which is awarded to K–12 schools, school districts, and County Offices of Education that demonstrate exemplary achievement in three key areas: resource efficiency, health and wellness, and environmental and sustainability education. By meeting with lawmakers, senators, and policy advisors, Jeff not only influences policy but also demonstrates to his students the power of civic engagement. “Students today have the power to make a difference, and I want them to see they can use that power to bring about change,” says Jeff. 

Perhaps the most profound impact Jeff has had is on his students’ sense of purpose and direction. “I see myself as a coach,” says Jeff. “I want my students to be the quarterbacks of their own future, directing their path with confidence and passion.” Through his mentorship, Jeff ensures that his students are not only academically successful but also equipped with the leadership skills needed to take on environmental and social justice issues in the real world. His students that commit to over 50 hours of after-school lab work consistently achieve a 100% graduation rate — a remarkable feat for a continuation school.

Jeff’s work has earned widespread recognition, including his involvement with the California Environmental Literacy Initiative and his mentorship of youth leaders in the California Youth Climate Policy Leadership Program. Through his work, Jeff Rivero is helping to shape the next generation of environmental leaders. His visionary approach not only educates students about pressing global issues but also empowers them to take action. Jeff’s work reminds us that when we connect students’ passions to the pressing issues of our time, we ignite their potential to create real and lasting change.