Teacher Spotlight: Agoura High's Paul Kanter

Agoura High School physics teacher Paul Kanter didn't always know that he wanted to work in education. It was one of his professors at UC San Diego, urging the recent graduate to volunteer as a tutor to inner-city students, who set Kanter on the teaching path. Now 40 years later, Kanter is stepping back from that role as he says goodbye to full-time teaching. 

"You have to engage the students, get them interested," he said about his approach. "You have to make them responsible for themselves."

For many former and current students at AHS, Kanter was their favorite teacher. He arrived at the school in 1980, and one of his biggest accomplishments was his implementation of the AP Physics program. In that class and others, his teaching style was firm but fair, students say. Dynamic lectures were his trademark.

He says all students have a spark but sometimes even they don't know it.  To ignite that spark, Kanter approached each student as an individual.  He was so successful with certain students that some have gone on to receive recognition from prestigious science entities such as NASA.

And it's not just the students who have appreciated Kanter's talents. During the Culver City native's 37-year career with the Las Virgenes Unified School District, he has won awards from civic organizations, the Chamber of Commerce and the district.

Fortunately for those students who have yet to take his class, Kanter will return next year on a part-time basis, although no longer as a regular staff teacher. Kanter is also considering a stint teaching in the private sector overseas, likely in Europe. 

"I will miss engaging the students," he said, "and seeing them take initiative in science and in their education in general."