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Alice Flarend to be a Recipient of the 2023 Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service

Alice Flarend to be Recognized as a Recipient of the 2023 Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service

Alice FlarendAlice Flarend to be Recognized as a Recipient of the 2023 Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Park, MD, August 17, 2022—AAPT has announced that Alice Flarend will receive the association's Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT, during their 2023 Winter Meeting. Flarend, physics teacher at Bellwood-Antis High School, Bellwood, PA is honored for exemplary service contributions to the mission of the American Association of Physics Teachers through exceptional leadership and motivation to the PTRA community, AAPT's Committee on physics in Pre-High School Education, and to individual members.

Regarding her selection to receive this citation, Flarend said, “I am honored with this award. AAPT does excellent work supporting physics teachers and I am glad I am able the help increase the capacity and effectiveness of physics teachers.”

Flarend’s B.S. in Nuclear Engineering is from the University of Illinois – Urbana. She earned her M.S. in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, her Certification in Secondary Physics and Chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh – Johnstown, and her Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction at Pennsylvania State University – University Park.

Flarend has served with distinction on AAPT committees providing service that is essential to the working of the organization. This service is typical of Alice, she just does the next thing that is needed efficiently and effectively. One of the most recent examples of this service to the community has been her work in developing and leading the PTRA effort to provide educational materials and workshops for high school teachers and students in quantum physics.

Because of her nuclear engineering background and interest, she was uniquely positioned to refine and expand the work done by the Perimeter Institute in this area. Her work to develop hands-on and virtual quantum physics materials has allowed teachers and students to build their understanding.

A PTRA since 2007, Flarend presents workshops and programs for the Central Pennsylvania Section of AAPT. She continues to present workshops and develop materials for the PTRA program. Currently she is serving as the High School Representative to the section.

In her role as a PTRA workshop leader she has dedicated herself to further the mission of providing excellent professional development programs for other teachers. In addition to the workshops in Central PA, Flarend has presented a series of workshops for the Western PA Section of AAPT and has been actively involved in presentations at National AAPT meetings and meetings of other sections (including Texas, New York and New England).

She is passionate about teaching about climate change and provides resources for others. She is one of the developers of the K-12 Digi-kits for AAPT. As part of this process, she spends long hours in the K-12 lounge at most AAPT conferences. Her instructional materials and lesson plans are thoughtful and use materials that are easily accessible to most classrooms.

Flarend continued to teach high school and to support other physics teachers, while earning her Ph.D. and thinking more about developing student understanding through questioning. She continues to be knowledgeable and willing to share new insights about pedagogy and physics research without making others feel inferior or unprepared. She works to strengthen the equity and inclusion work in teacher preparation in Pennsylvania.

About the Award

 Established in 1953 and renamed in recognition of AAPT founder Homer L. Dodge in 2012, the Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT is presented to members in recognition of their exceptional contributions to the association at the national, sectional, or local level.

About AAPT

AAPT is an international organization for physics educators, physicists, and industrial scientists—with members worldwide. Dedicated to enhancing the understanding and appreciation of physics through teaching, AAPT provides awards, publications, and programs that encourage teaching practical application of physics principles, support continuing professional development, and reward excellence in physics education. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.