2019 National Board of Directors Election Candidate for High School Representative

Tiffany TaylorTiffany Taylor

Rogers Heritage High School
Rogers, AR 72756
treddtaylor@gmail.com

Education

B.A., Psychology, University of Tulsa, 2000; M.Ed. University of Virginia, 2003; B.A., Physics, University of Arkansas, 2010; M.A.T. University of Arkansas at Monticello, 2011.

Professional Experience

  • Praxis Physics National Advisory Committee, 2019
  • Pea Ridge Middle School, 2010 -11
  • Decatur High School, 2011-12
  • Rogers Heritage High School, 2012 - present.

Honors

  • PhysTEC Noyce Scholar, 2010 and 2011
  • PhysTEC Local Teacher of the Year, 2017
  • PAEMST State Finalist, 2017
  • PhysTEC National Teacher of the Year, 2018

Memberships

  • American Association of Physics Teachers
  • American Modeling Teachers Association
  • National Science Teachers Association, Arkansas Science Teachers Association
  • STEMteachersNWA

AAPT/APS Activities

  • Attended first AAPT meeting in July 2018
  • Participant in Physics Teacher Camp
  • Friend of the Committee on Physics in High School

Commentary

Serving AAPT as the High School Representative would be an honor, as this organization and the physics community have been invaluable to my growth as an educator. AAPT and its members have influenced not only my instructional practices, but my passion in physics education research and the application of it in high school classrooms. While there is a national shortage of physics teachers with a strong background in physics, I believe that outreach to these teachers (and all high school physics teachers) can be a start to closing the gap of declining numbers of physics majors, and subsequently, physics teachers. A major step in this process is identifying the barriers that prevent high school physics teachers from participating in AAPT, and then devising methods to reduce and eliminate those barriers. One such method is Physics Teacher Camp, offered at a low cost prior to the National Summer Meeting. I would love to think outside the box and join with other members to create other alternative modes of outreach and participation for high school teachers.