JEN CULLERTON JOHNSON
Writer. Educator. Urban Environmentalist.

Jen Cullerton Johnson is an award-winning author, educator, and environmental advocate dedicated to inspiring young people to engage with the natural world through storytelling and education. She holds a Master of Education (MEd) and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA), blending her expertise in teaching and writing to empower students to think critically and take meaningful action for the environment. With nearly 20 years of teaching experience in both public and private schools, including Chicago Public Schools, Jen also teaches writing as an adjunct instructor at Wright College, City Colleges of Chicago.
Jen is the co-founder of Green Literacy.org alongside Mary Gove, an organization that bridges classroom learning with environmental awareness. Their upcoming book, The Green Literacy Handbook for Grades K–5, set to be published in 2025, equips educators with tools to spark critical conversations about urgent environmental issues using children’s literature. 

Her bestselling children’s book, Seeds of Change: Planting a Path to Peace, celebrates Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai and has been a consistent bestseller for over a decade. Recently translated into Spanish, Semillas de Cambio. The book continues to reach new audiences and inspire young readers. Jen's third book about Wangari Maathai is called The Story of An Environmentalist (2019) .
Her work has been recognized with numerous awards and grants, including support from the Illinois Arts Council and a writing fellowship in San Miguel de Allende. She also founded Books on Benches, a nonprofit that brings children’s books into family waiting areas to promote literacy in community spaces.