Steve Henning2020 National Board of Directors Election Candidate for Vice President

Steven L. Henning

52 Dick Drive, Worcester, MA 01609
physfsh@gmail.com
2012-2013, 2010-2011 Concordia College, Bronxville, New York
1982-2010, Clarkstown High School North, Clarkstown Central School District (CCSD), New City, New York
1973-1981, Albertus Magnus High School, Bardonia, New York

 

Education

  • BS Physics, Iona College, 1973
  • MA Science Education, New York University, 1982
  • State University of New York (SUNY), New Paltz
  • School Administrator and Supervisor Certificate, 2002

Professional Experience

  • Concordia College, Adjunct Professor, General College Physics
  • Clarkstown High School North (CHSN), Teacher, New York State Regents Physics, 1987-2010
  • Advanced Placement Physics Level C, 1985-2010
  • Chair, Science Department/Physics and Chemistry, 9/04-6/10; Chair, Science Department/All disciplines, 5/01-6/04, General Organization Treasurer, 2008-2010, 1993-2002
  • Teacher Representative, CCSD Technology Committee, 2007-2010
  • CHSN Middle States Ten Year Evaluation, Chair, Science Department Committee, Fall 1987
  • Albertus Magnus High School, Teacher, Scientific Study of Societal Problems, 1980-81
  • Advanced Placement Chemistry, 1978-81; New York State Regents Chemistry, 1975-80; Physical Science, 1973-75; Advanced Placement Calculus, 1973-74
  • Other Courses Taught Revised New York State Regents Physics, 1986-87 (field test); New York State Regents Physics, 1973-86; General Physics/Project Physics, 1983-84

Honors

  • AAPT: 7/86-present, Physics Teaching Research Agent (PTRA) Leadership Institut
  • 2016, Physics Master Teacher Leadership Institute.
  • 7/87 National Center for Excellence in Education, Summer Institute for Outstanding Physics Teachers, Long Island University/Southampton College.
  • Summer/88-Summer/89, National Leadership Institute for Physics Teachers Rutgers University.
  • 6/90-8/90, SUNY Purchase/Westchester School Partnership, Research Opportunities Program for High School Teachers (in local industry), Thomas J. Watson Research Center, IBM, Yorktown Heights, NY.
  • 8/94-2/98, Teacher Moderator for “Labnet” on America Online.
  • 1/98, 7/98, C3P Mentoring Training, New Orleans, LA and Western State College, Gunnison, CO.
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Memberships

  • American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) 1982-present;
  • AAPT, New England Section, 2014-present;
  • AAPT, New York State Section, 2011-present;
  • National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) 1982-present;
  • Rockland County, NY Physics Teachers 1986-2010;
  • Science Teachers Association of New York State (STANYS), 1973-2010

AAPT Activities

  • PTRA 1986-present
  • Board Member NYS Section AAPT 2011-present
  • PTRA Advisory Committee 2020-present
  • Consultant and Workshop Presenter, Activity Based Physics e-dition 2010-present
  • Member AAPT Physics Master Teacher Leader Task Force, 2016
  • Lead PTRA Rural Physics Program Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, 2006-2009
  • Workshop Presentations AAPT New York and New England Section Meetings, 2011-present
  • Math For America PTRA Workshops NYC, NY 2017
  • Summer Meeting paper sort, 2017.

Committees

  • Committee on Physics in High Schools (2013-2014)
  • Committee on Teacher Preparation (2016-2018)
  • Nominating Committee (2018)
  • Committee for Design and Implementation of High School Video Contest (2011).

Commentary

My teaching career started in September 1973 at a private parochial high school in “upstate” New York and in 1982 continued at a public high school; teaching was more than my career, rather a calling, which I enthusiastically embraced. Next came a graduate degree in science education from New York University. Through that process I recognized the importance of professional development and membership in professional organizations such as AAPT and NSTA. In 1986 I was accepted to the PTRA Leadership Institute and from that point on my role in education was more than just a classroom teacher.

In the late 90’s my professional development and leadership skills were enhanced by attending C3P and the Urban PTRA and Rural PTRA programs. The PTRA Programs trained me to lead workshops and ultimately to become the lead PTRA for the four-year summer PTRA Rural Institutes at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY, in concert with Kiko Galvez. The institutes were for rural northeast, often isolated, teachers and included follow ups in each subsequent school year. In June 2002 I earned a professional certificate to become an administrator and became the chair of the science department in my school.

The PTRA and other professional development work including department chair responsibilities allowed me to grow into the role of teacher leader. I continue my role in retirement as a teacher leader with PTRA summer institutes, giving workshops at AAPT section and national meetings along with working on the Activity Based Physics Curriculum with Priscilla Laws, Maxine Willis, David Sokoloff, and Ron Thornton.

Giving back to the physics teaching community has been my goal ever since becoming a PTRA. At this point in time with students and teachers across the US and the world undergoing distance learning, the role of AAPT is even more critical. As president of AAPT I would continue to focus on virtual and in person professional development opportunities for teachers and students engaged in physics education on all levels. It is an honor to be nominated for election to the presidential chain.