DATE: February 17, 2015
MEDIA CONTACT: Diana Guidry
Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division
PHONE: 954-519-0317
EMAIL: dguidry@broward.org

BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Linda Gancitano, physical education teacher at Driftwood Middle School (DMS) Academy of Health and Wellness, has been named a White House Climate Education and Literacy Champion of Change.  Gancitano was recognized at a special ceremony and reception at The White House on February 9, 2015.

Gancitano was selected for engaging students in programs to reduce energy use and learn about climate change.  She started the DMS Green Team in 2008 and subsequently created a school-based challenge to reduce energy use called "How Low Can You Go?" that gets students engaged as energy auditors for classrooms.  This program is now districtwide through a partnership with the Miami Heat basketball team.

Gancitano has led efforts to win other awards and has been an active participant in a partnership agreement with Broward County to implement NatureScape landscaping within the County school system.  Driftwood Middle School was the recipient of the 2014 P3 Eco-Challenge Award and the 2015 Broward County NatureScape Emerald Award.

Gancitano has been an educator for 25 years and has received recognition as a Florida Green School Teacher of the Year, DMS Teacher of the Year, and Broward County Physical Education Teacher of the Year. Prior to working as an educator, she was a collegiate soccer player at the University of Central Florida and a member of the first-ever U.S. women's national soccer team. She was also the first girl to play on the high school boys' soccer team at Coral Springs High School.

About Environmental Planning and Community Resilience
Broward County's Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division protects, restores and enhances the quality, abundance and diversity of the County's natural resources through coordinated management efforts in five areas: water resource policy and planning, urban and natural lands management, beach and marine resources, energy and sustainability, and environmental monitoring. For more information call 954-519-1270, visit our website or follow us on Twitter.