This Boston teacher is running the marathon for his students

Boston Marathon

Dan Jentzen has been teaching at Boston Arts Academy for 13 years and is raising funds to support his school community.

By Kelly Chan

April 17, 2025 | 1:32 PM

1 minute to read

In our “Why I’m Running” series, Boston Marathon athletes share what’s inspiring them to make the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston. Looking for more race day content? Sign up for Boston.com’s pop-up Boston Marathon newsletter.

Name: Dan Jentzen
Age: 39
City/State: Chestnut Hill, Mass.

This is my 13th year teaching at Boston Arts Academy (BAA). I love it, and I think BAA is a great community. We really get to know our students as individuals, and create an educational journey that really empowers them towards their goals.

At BAA, I teach lighting design and serve as Technical Director. My focus is on professional-level skills education, and giving students real responsibility and independence as they work backstage on our shows. I’m also very proud of helping design our new building, which is a facility custom-designed for learning, access, learning, and empowerment. I ride a bike to school every day, even when we were in our temporary home in Fields Corner.

I also founded the Brighter Boston internship program, a nonprofit organization that gives teenagers paid internships backstage on professional shows. Outside of my dedication to arts education (and marathoning), I am an avid hiker, rock climber, snowboarder, and dad. 

Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.