Jackie Freitas is the ninth through 12th grade natural resources teacher and Future Farmers of America (FFA) advisor at Leilehua High School in Wahiawa, Hawaiʻi. 
 
Freitas received a Bachelor of Education in elementary education at the University of Hawaiʻi at West Oahu and an alternative certification for career and technical education in natural resources from Leeward Community College. She is currently pursuing her National Board Certification in natural resources. 
 
Freitas has taught all 13 years of her career at her alma mater in her hometown of Wahiawa, Hawaiʻi. She believes that more hands make light work and has followed this motto to develop and expand the animal husbandry program to provide students with hands-on experiences. Pedagogical priorities for Freitas include a strong emphasis on native Hawaiian agricultural land, practices and indigenous plants while welcoming new agricultural technology. Freitas introduces a variety of ag tech equipment into the curriculum, such as zSpace, smart farms, farm bots and off-the-grid aeroponic vertical towers, and teaches students to grow produce through coding and stem research. Freitas created an organic farming curriculum to give students the opportunity to become certified organic inspectors for the state of Hawaiʻi, as well as formed partnerships with the Hawaiʻi Department of Education for food handling certification and the Department of Land and Natural Resources for hunter education certification. 

 
Freitas has pioneered proficiency-based learning at the secondary level in her district. She serves as a leader in Hawaiʻi, providing professional development and hands-on training to teachers across the state.