The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Names Danielle Buggé Recipient of the 2026 Paul W. Zitzewitz Excellence in K-12 Physics Teaching Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Park, Maryland, United States, February 25, 2026—The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) is proud to announce that Danielle Buggé, a distinguished physics teacher at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South in Princeton Junction, NJ, has been selected to receive the 2026 Paul W. Zitzewitz Award for Excellence in K-12 Physics Teaching.
This prestigious award recognizes outstanding achievement in teaching K-12 physics and a commitment to the mission of AAPT. Buggé will be formally honored during the 2026 AAPT Summer Meeting, taking place from July 19–22, 2026, at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, California. As part of the recognition, she will deliver a plenary address.
Buggé is recognized for her “outstanding work in K-12 teaching, for the special connection she manages to forge with her students, for her strong encouragement of others, and for her ability to help her students to develop resilience.”
Regarding her selection for this award Buggé said, "I am truly honored to receive this recognition. This award is a tribute to my students who embrace physics with curiosity, take intellectual risks, ask challenging questions, and grow as scientists. I am deeply grateful for the encouragement and wisdom of my friends and mentors in the physics community who inspire and motivate me every day to continue fostering curiosity, resilience, and a love of learning in the classroom."
Buggé's leadership in the field of physics education is exceptional and undeniable. She was trained in the Rutgers Physics Teacher Preparation Program and in 2020 earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Physics Education Research, also from Rutgers University. Since this time, she has continued to honor her commitment to high school students, while also instructing preservice teachers in their graduate education courses. Her active engagement in the scientific community, through leading sessions and community groups at the national American Association of Physics Teachers meetings, further solidifies her position as a leader in the field. Her continued publication of valuable papers on physics education research, co-leadership in facilitating monthly professional development meetings for the Rutgers University physics teacher alumni community, and collaboratively developing and leading annual ISLE workshops for high school teachers around the country are a testament to her commitment and leadership in the field, providing confidence and assurance to those she works with.
About the Award
Established as the Excellence in Pre-College Teaching Award in 1993 then renamed and endowed in 2010 by Paul W. and Barbara S. Zitzewitz, the Paul W. Zitzewitz Award for Excellence in K-12 Physics Teaching recognizes outstanding achievement in teaching pre-college physics.
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 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./p>
For more information: Contact David Wolfe, Director of Communications, dwolfe@aapt.org, (301)209-3322, (301)209-0845 (Fax), www.aapt.org./p>
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