Tiffany Taylor, a University of Arkansas alumna and physics teacher at Rogers Heritage High School, was recently named one of nine local Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC) Teachers of the Year.

PhysTEC created the award to highlight the impact of graduates from physics teacher preparation programs in the classroom. Each of the winners was nominated by the PhysTEC member institution from which they graduated or received their teaching credentials. One national winner and nine local winners were selected.

Taylor is a graduate of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, where she received a B.A. in physics in addition to the B.A. in psychology she received from University of Tulsa. She teaches AP Physics and is also the head softball coach at Rogers Heritage High School.

"I am honored to be recognized as a local PhysTEC physics teacher of the year, and to represent the University of Arkansas and those who helped to prepare me as an educator," Taylor said.

As a local PhysTEC Teacher of the Year, Taylor will receive a certificate of recognition as well as official acknowledgement to her school administrators.

"Tiffany's contributions to physics education are significant and impactful on her students, colleagues, school district, and state at a time when the nation is in desperate need of highly qualified STEM educators," read a statement provided by Monica Plisch, PhysTEC Project Director, and Beth A. Cunningham, Executive Officer. "Tiffany's contributions are highly valued and respected, and we wish her many years of continued success as an educator."

In addition to Taylor, the local winners include:

• Reed Anderson, Juab High School, Graduate of Brigham Young University
• Zachary Armstrong, Greeley West High School, Graduate of University of Northern Colorado
• Geoffrey Hart, William P. Clements High School, Graduate of University of Houston
• Zachary Kovach, La Joya High School, Graduate of Arizona State University
• Paul Lee, Howard County Public Schools, Graduate of Towson University
• Elizabeth Rachford, Druid Hills High School, Georgia State University
• Danielle Tinkham, Somerset Berkley Regional High School, Graduate of University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
• Richard Wright, St. Andrew's Upper School, UTeach at the University of Texas at Austin

The National PhysTEC Teacher of the Year is Alexandra (Solender) Boyd from Elon University, who is currently teaching at Holly Springs High School in Holly Springs, North Carolina. Boyd will receive a certificate of recognition from PhysTEC, funding to attend two professional physics conferences focused on teaching and teacher preparation, as well as a classroom materials grant of $1,000.

About PhysTEC: The United States has a severe, long-term shortage of qualified physics teachers. In 2013, the National Task Force on Teacher Education in Physics reported, "the need for qualified teachers is greater now than at any previous time in history." Of the approximately 1,400 new teachers who are hired to teach physics each year, only 35 percent have a major in physics or physics education.

PhysTEC, led by the American Physical Society and the American Association of Physics Teachers, aims to improve the education of future physics teachers by transforming physics departments, creating successful models for physics teacher education programs, and disseminating best practices. The project has supported more than 40 sites to build physics teacher education programs and established a national coalition of over 300 institutions committed to improving physics teacher preparation.

The PhysTEC project receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the APS Campaign for the 21st Century and is led by the APS in partnership with the American Association of Physics Teachers.