Committee on Teacher Preparation


Mission Statement
The role of the AAPT Committee on Teacher Preparation is to influence policy and activities within the AAPT that foster improvement of physics teacher preparation based on the research in physics learning and the physics teaching experience of the AAPT membership. The Committee will:
  1. Provide a forum and support the continued development of a strong and diverse coalition of institutions committed to using inquiry-based, problem-solving, and active-learning strategies in science courses they provide for secondary and elementary teachers of physics.
  2. Sponsor and co-sponsor sessions, workshops, and other activities to make AAPT members and the broader educational community aware of programs that produce teachers who better understand physics and how to teach it so that ALL students can experience physics as an important, engaging, and exciting activity.
  3. Offer assistance in the development of program standards and selection of curriculum for teacher preparation programs. Support AAPT sections in regional or state efforts related to certification/licensure, program requirements, and physics content tests for teachers of physics.
  4. Increase communication, collaboration, cooperation, and joint sponsorship of interactions with other national organizations that have improving teacher preparation as part of their organization's stated mission to share findings and experiences and to exchange constructive critical examination of the physics teacher preparation process.
  5. Develop a strong, working committee with wide representation from other area AAPT committees and liaisons from other organizations to expand and share the work of the committee in AAPT and beyond.

Reports

2016 Annual Committee Report
2015 Annual Committee Report
2014 Annual Committee Report
2013 Annual Committee Report
2012 Annual Committee Report
2011 Annual Committee Report
2010 Annual Committee Report
2009 Annual Committee Report
2008 Annual Committee Report
2007 Annual Committee Report
2006 Annual Committee Report
2005 Annual Committee Report

 

Committee Members

Duane B. Merrell, Chair (Term ending after WM2020)
Brigham Young University
N-143 Eyring Science Center
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT United States 84602
Phone: (801) 422-2255; Fax: (801) 422-0553
duane_merrell@byu.edu

Debbie A. French, Vice Chair (Term ending after WM2020)
Wilkes University
84 W. South St.
Wilkes Barre, PA United States 18766-0001
frenchd14@yahoo.com

Kristine E. Callan (Term ending after WM2021)
Colorado School of Mines
1500 Illinois St Physics Department
Golden, CO United States 80401-1843
Phone: (303) 273-3029
kcallan@mines.edu

Oguz Celik (Term ending after WM2021)
Harmony School of Advancement
3171 North Sam Houston Pkwy W
Houston, TX United States 77038
Phone: (512) 579-6375
celikoguz0@gmail.com

Kathleen A. Harper (Term ending after WM2022)
The Ohio State University
Department of Engineering Education
2070 Neil Ave, 244 Hitchcock Hall
Columbus, OH United States 43210
Phone: 614-688-7538
harper.217@osu.edu

Janie Head (Term ending after WM2022)
Fulshear High School
9302 Charger Way
Fulshear, TX United States 77441
Phone: (832) 223-5000
mhead@lcisd.org

Dan MacIsaac (Term ending after WM2021)
SUNY College At Buffalo
Buffalo State College
1300 Elmwood Ave
Buffalo, NY United States 14222-1095
Phone: (716) 878-3802; Fax: (716) 878-4524
danmacisaac@mac.com

Monica Plisch (Term ending after WM2021)
American Physical Society
One Physics Ellipse
College Park, MD United States 20740
Phone: (301) 209-3273; Fax: (301) 209-0867
plisch@aps.org

Michael C. Wittmann (Term ending after WM2020)
Univ of Maine
Dept of Physics & Astronomy
5709 Bennett Hall
Orono, ME United States 04469-5709
Phone: (207) 581-1237
mwittmann@maine.edu

Rachel Sweeney, Staff Liaison
American Association of Physics Teachers
Office of the Executive Officer
One Physics Ellipse
College Park, MD United States 20740-3845
Phone: (301) 209-3304; Fax: (301) 209-0845
rsweeney@aapt.org

Past Chairs

David Rosengrant, Ed.D (2017)

John C. Stewart (2018)

Dan MacIsaac (2019)