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

But this year, Taylor is taking home the top award — she's been named the 2018 PhysTEC National Teacher of the Year.

The award is designed to highlight the impact of recent graduates from physics teacher preparation programs in the classroom, and winners are nominated by the PhysTEC member institution from which they graduated or received their teaching credentials.

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 advanced placement physics and is also the head softball coach at Rogers Heritage High School.

"I was so honored last year, and now to be recognized by PhysTEC as physics teacher of the year, I can't tell you how much that means," Taylor said. "I'm incredibly grateful for my students, and to be able to represent the University of Arkansas and those who helped to prepare me as an educator in this way."

Learn why Taylor was selected for this award and read more in the Fulbright Review.